[dgjl]

welll it seems to me the low latency fast has just a touch more energy at the top. It’s what I pretty much use on all daps if they have it.

Is there a semi-technical explanation for what to expect with the different filters? Something which explains what happens to the sound in each setting and why it matters?

 

[Stuff Jones]

Any suggestions on a good quality, flexible USB C to USB C cable that isn't at audiophile prices?

 

[quimbo]

Any suggestions on a good quality, flexible USB C to USB C cable that isn't at audiophile prices?

I bought this for my BTR5 and now use it with the W2, you need to pay attention to the direction of the arrows

https://hifigo.com/products/fiio-lt...ecoding-cable-for-fiio-k3-m9-m11-m5-btr5-btr3

Penon also has it - https://penonaudio.com/fiio-lt-tc1.html

 

[abitdeef]

I’ve been using my iPhone mini and I’d like to ask for cable recs over the stock cable.

 

[vanez1985]

I bought this for my BTR5 and now use it with the W2, you need to pay attention to the direction of the arrows

https://hifigo.com/products/fiio-lt...ecoding-cable-for-fiio-k3-m9-m11-m5-btr5-btr3

Penon also has it - https://penonaudio.com/fiio-lt-tc1.html

I use the same with S1 as a replacement for faulty stock cable, works ok though a bit too long (which is sometimes useful to fight EMI)

 

[Stuff Jones]

I bought this for my BTR5 and now use it with the W2, you need to pay attention to the direction of the arrows

https://hifigo.com/products/fiio-lt...ecoding-cable-for-fiio-k3-m9-m11-m5-btr5-btr3

Penon also has it - https://penonaudio.com/fiio-lt-tc1.html

Is it 0.5 meters (hifigo) or 12 cm (penon)? Hifigo actually lists it at less than or equal to half a meter, which is a strange level of imprecision.

 

[quimbo]

i don't have a ruler here, it is 6 inches plus one of the plugs long so about 6.6 inches? so 12CM (excluding plug) from Penon is probably correct

 

[abitdeef]

Is there a semi-technical explanation for what to expect with the different filters? Something which explains what happens to the sound in each setting and why it matters?

Simplified it’s a high freq filter- Slow is a more gradual filter which is usually smoother and fast is a more abrupt cut off which results in a sharper filtered sound. In other words the slow filter attenuates the sound more - smoother peaks of higher frequencies. Fast/short has sharper peaks in the high frequency wave comes through. This is all relative to the low frequencies which are being filtered out.

the Low pass filter does just the opposite.

here is good info https://audiouniversityonline.com/audio-high-pass-filters/

 

[abitdeef]

Any suggestions on a good quality, flexible USB C to USB C cable that isn't at audiophile prices?

search cable in the thread, someone gave me a good suggestion of a couple of cables but the one I liked wasn’t on Amazon US site only on UK Amazon.

It was very reasonably priced.

 

[milkdudd]

We want black cables too.

I thought the goal was to live in a color blind society

 

[mico1964]

I’ve been using my iPhone mini and I’d like to ask for cable recs over the stock cable.

I tried many, best are DD MFi06 (https://aliexpress.com/item/1005002246584187.html) and Penon (https://penonaudio.com/type-c-to-lightning-silver-plated-cable.html).
Both are high quality; Penon looks sturdier, but definetely stiffer.

 

[eloelo]

My impressions:
Initially, I connected the W2 to my desktop PC and played spotify tracks or youtube music. I wasn't blown away as it sounded quite thin compared to other sources.
Even on the warmest setting (Personally it was high gain/Tone 1/NOS filter), the sound was barely meaty enough. I'm not sure if it certainly beat the cheaper dongles when it comes to general listening. DC04 served me well in this aspect.
So I dug up foobar which I havent been using because Spotify has been way more convenient. So with this more "serious" listening setup thru ASIO4ALL, the W2 actually shines, with decent dynamics and resolution. It doesn't sound anemic even on the leanest setting. Respectable sound, but not quite up to my personal benchmark DX160, or even more expensive DAPs like Lotoo Paw 6K or DX220.
Aw man, I was hoping it would be my best desktop dac/amp for general listening, but my JDS LABS atom backed by a dongle is still my best desktop source so far.

Next, for its intended use, plugged to my Samsung A52. Playing spotify after plugging in, it just doesn't sound right. Even on warmest setting, the upper mids feel too boosted and delicate and the tone too digital. W2 must dislike spotify haha.
I know that Spotify does not bypass the Android sample rate conversion so there is unwelcome processing being done, but I would even prefer using the headphone jack of my phone for spotify.
Switching to UAPP player on bit perfect settings....now I understand the hype behind W2. This was probably THE intended use case for W2, because dynamics were amazing, and there is actual warmth, meat in vocals, no random smearing or boosted upper mids.
Up to this point, I had been doubtful about the performance of W2, but with this setup it has the same performance as my DX160. It has perhaps a tad more dynamics than DX160, at the cost of some soundstage.
Noted that DX160 still has more settings to play with since it is a DAP, but I do appreciate that W2's filters and tone settings all add a nice flavour. Since I prefer the warmer side of things, Slow filter/Tone 2 is my choice for now.
If playing music out of UAPP/Neutron/Hibymusic on the phone/transport is your thing, I can recommend the W2 as the best dongle I've heard for this setup. I could see myself bringing it outside on days I find the DX160 too clunky.

Iems I've used for testing were Thieaudio Monarch and Prisma Azul. I wouldn't say W2 is a basshead's dongle. I do not feel the bass/lower mids being boosted like say DC04, but the sound signature seems pretty neutral. That said, it has no issues triggering the deep subbass of the Monarch. Bass is punchy and tight. Cleanliness is its strong point, though it also means it won't cover up things such as BA timbre in your iems.

WARMTH rating:
WARM/THICK------- Meizu Pro
----------------- DC04, JDS Atom
----------------- PAW S1, DX160, W2(UAPP)
NEUTRAL---------- Sonata HD, BTR5
----------------- 9038S, W2(Foobar), Apple Dong
-----------------
BRIGHT/THIN------ oversampled playback, and several dongles without bypassing android src lol

Dongle rating: W2 > DC04 > 9038S > BTR5 > Apple Dong > Sonata HD > PAW S1(disappointing tbh) > Meizu Pro

 

[abitdeef]

I tried many, best are DD MFi06 (https://aliexpress.com/item/1005002246584187.html) and Penon (https://penonaudio.com/type-c-to-lightning-silver-plated-cable.html).
Both are high quality; Penon looks sturdier, but definetely stiffer.

Thanks much

 

[CFAX2]

Any suggestions on a good quality, flexible USB C to USB C cable that isn't at audiophile prices?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086YYWL4...abc_HH66KW64T0FFKASTBSX9?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

I'm happy with that one.

 

[AlexaMan]

Has anyone tried w2 compare with Fiio M15 DAP?