Looking for a DAP that beats the LG V30+

[infinityfine]

Hi. I'm currently rocking my Shozy Hibiki, ACS T15, HIFIMAN HE-4XX(it's weird for using this on mobile, I know), on a LG V30+, but I want more!

Can you recommend some DAPs that would beat the V30+ in terms of sound quality(only, i'm not particular with comfort and battery life ) at 150-200$ price range? I would really love it if you can rank them somehow. (thanks)

-infinityfine

 

[Dulalala]

Hi. I'm currently rocking my Shozy Hibiki, ACS T15, HIFIMAN HE-4XX(it's weird for using this on mobile, I know), on a LG V30+, but I want more!

Can you recommend some DAPs that would beat the V30+ in terms of sound quality(only, i'm not particular with comfort and battery life ) at 150-200$ price range? I would really love it if you can rank them somehow. (thanks)

-infinityfine

Just stick to your phone. You're not going to get much from a DAP at $200.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

Hi. I'm currently rocking my Shozy Hibiki, ACS T15, HIFIMAN HE-4XX(it's weird for using this on mobile, I know), on a LG V30+, but I want more!

Can you recommend some DAPs that would beat the V30+ in terms of sound quality(only, i'm not particular with comfort and battery life ) at 150-200$ price range? I would really love it if you can rank them somehow. (thanks)

Your IEMs won't really use any more power than what the V30 can produce (and without a lot of harmonic distortion either) and any IEM in that price range isn't going to provide as much power as a desktop amp to effortlessly push the HE4XX. And since you don't care about battery life and can't use the 4XX as a portable anyway you might as well put that money towards a desktop DAC-HPamp that will effortlessly drive the HE4XX. Something along the lines of the AudioGD NFB-11.

 

[cash1489]

I agree with the previous poster, I don't think you will beat the LG V30 with a dap under $200....the V30 has a quad ESS dac and anything at that price will most likely have a single dac of lower quality...

 

[infinityfine]

I agree with the previous poster, I don't think you will beat the LG V30 with a dap under $200....the V30 has a quad ESS dac and anything at that price will most likely have a single dac of lower quality...

hi, does this mean that the V30+ is better than a Shanling m2s or a Cowon Plenue D?

 

[ProtegeManiac]

hi, does this mean that the V30+ is better than a Shanling m2s or a Cowon Plenue D?

No. We're saying most of your headphones don't need the additional power no matter how much cleaner it can be (not that it's absolutely impossible to notice it, just not worth it for the expense) but for the one headphone that needs it the M2S isn't going to get you as much clean power and current as a DAC-HPamp for the same or even a little less money.

 

[SilverEars]

Hi. I'm currently rocking my Shozy Hibiki, ACS T15, HIFIMAN HE-4XX(it's weird for using this on mobile, I know), on a LG V30+, but I want more!

Can you recommend some DAPs that would beat the V30+ in terms of sound quality(only, i'm not particular with comfort and battery life ) at 150-200$ price range? I would really love it if you can rank them somehow. (thanks)

-infinityfine

In that price range, just save your money and use a smartphone headphone output.

 

[Rokkiteer]

I'm giving my LG V30 a shakedown using Audeze LCD-2's vs. my Onkyo DP-X1 with MQA source file. Folks, I'm actually thinking that the V30 is doing more than holding its own with if anything, tighter bass. The test is still underway and I've yet to do a side-by-side with the full amp but will do as soon as I've moved the source file and done enjoying "Love for Levon" on the phone. By the way, the phone has no problem blowing my eardrums through these cans at 3/4 volume. OK so the DP-X1 is more than the price mentioned earlier, but if the phone works this well, who cares?

 

[D Rob]

I'm not convinced the Plenue D or M2 even outputs as much power as the V30 FWIW. The V30 pushes more than=to a LOT of portable amps. Source: I own a V30, Fiio E7, E18, Cayin C5 Spark Dac/Amp, Walkman A35, Schiit Fulla 2...

 

[ProtegeManiac]

I'm not convinced the Plenue D or M2 even outputs as much power as the V30 FWIW. The V30 pushes more than=to a LOT of portable amps. Source: I own a V30, Fiio E7, E18, Cayin C5 Spark Dac/Amp, Walkman A35, Schiit Fulla 2...

AFAIK the V30 is rated for 50mW. Fiio X1 is rated for 100mW at 16ohms. If anything the X1 was explicitly designed for a lot of power for the size but more importantly, low gain plus a 100-step volume control as it was primarily intended for IEMs. Mainstream brands are never shy about using more gain so I won't be surprised if the V30 gets louder faster. All my smartphones get louder sooner considering they all have less than 10 steps from mute to full volume; the X1 has 10x as many adjustment steps.

 

[cocolinho]

Just stick to your phone. You're not going to get much from a DAP at $200.

pretty much the same opinion here since you have already a very nice phone/dap. Maybe you can add a small amp if you feel you need just more power but don't really think so honnestly

 

[D Rob]

AFAIK the V30 is rated for 50mW. Fiio X1 is rated for 100mW at 16ohms. If anything the X1 was explicitly designed for a lot of power for the size but more importantly, low gain plus a 100-step volume control as it was primarily intended for IEMs. Mainstream brands are never shy about using more gain so I won't be surprised if the V30 gets louder faster. All my smartphones get louder sooner considering they all have less than 10 steps from mute to full volume; the X1 has 10x as many adjustment steps.

The V30 is considerably more powerful than 50mW. Has 75 steps of volume. Low and high gain. I'm not sure if you're familiar with it at all so let's not make assumptions. Drives my T50RPs, HE400i's, HD600s, etc. I had a X3 mark 1. This absolutely has more power.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

The V30 is considerably more powerful than 50mW. Has 75 steps of volume. Low and high gain. I'm not sure if you're familiar with it at all so let's not make assumptions. Drives my T50RPs, HE400i's, HD600s, etc. I had a X3 mark 1. This absolutely has more power.

I still wouldn't assume it has 100mW. Not that IEMs need that much either - not sure if you've read my other posts but I've always advised to not bother with a DAP when using an LG Quad DAC with IEMs anyway so let's not make assumptions.

 

[Rokkiteer]

I might also caution that at least from my experience that the term "portable" needs to be unpacked a bit. Are DAPs portable? Well yes, but not in the same sense as a mobile phone. DAPs are portable in the sense that you can walk around the house sit at your desk and so forth, but it isn't portable in the sense that you can comfortably carry it around in your pocket, jog, ski, get it wet and many of the other things we've come to expect out of our portable devices. Sure, they've got metal cases, but the power and headphone jacks can be quite fragile. Experience talking.

So, in a nutshell, since you have in your hand a Quad DAC with MQA, FLAC, etc. compatible DAP that can drive headphones at the higher end of the impedance range, has the robustness of a mobile phone (a two-year warranty, no less) and get this - makes phone calls, texts, takes selfies and all the other goodies, you might eventually find something, but why? To get anything better, you'd have to spend at least as much as you did on the phone itself - probably a lot more.

Best wishes and Good Listening!

 

[ProtegeManiac]

...has the robustness of a mobile phone (a two-year warranty, no less)...

A mobile phone with the right case is also tougher than DAPs with thin fitted rubber cases designed to protect from scratches and mild bumps than outright drops, not to mention some of these cases can have another battery built in to double the battery life of the phone.