They are different and both is good. S1 sound is clean, neutral warmish while N3Pro is more warm bias with unique tubey sound. S1 has a more open presentation esp. on 4.4 output. N3Pro has a more intimate presentation in tube modes. Its 3.5 output is good too with a slightly warmer sound but 4.4 output is more powerful than S1. S1 is more versatile and in my opinion, performs best with quality source and better power supply. I enjoy both hence i leave the S1 attached to my N3Pro most of the time.
This is one of the mysterious modes, where no one shows what's being done to S1. Someone mentioned in this thread that cables are replaced, but once you unscrew S1 shell there are no cables and the board is so tiny I would be surprised if any molding is done on the board.
If it would be my guess they shield S1 from the inside to get rid of EMI noise and increase output power of S1 which can be done via software, but thus draining more of your phone battery
I'm considering buying the S1 because my ifi Hip Dac is so pwerful that I have to be very careful with volume knob or it blows away my ears.
With balanced cable on my Ath-msr7b I can't listen to music at low volume because they get immediatly loud. If I put it in my pocket sometimes the volume knob moves and it bothers me.
The closest thing that doesn’t sound like bass murder is the warm setting. There is a website that graphed the sound differences. The warm setting does both a low and high boost if I remember correctly.
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