[goody]

After a few days listening to my A306, I can confirm its overall better than my A55 mod in clarity with brighter sounds. Its battery life is also amazing, playing youtube music drained only 8%~9% per hour, and its SQ is also good. By turning on the DSEE Ultimate, songs from youtube music seems to have fullier mids , better dynamics and extensions. BTW, I have to change my router channel setting in order to make my JP version A306 able to detect the 5G signal. I think A306 is a very good alternative to the dongle/phone synergy for streaming, needless to say its SQ of playing files is great too !

Good to hear i have now sold my A55 as i knew the A306 would be better

 

[emilsoft]

After a few days listening to my A306, I can confirm its overall better than my A55 mod in clarity with brighter sounds. Its battery life is also amazing, playing youtube music drained only 8%~9% per hour, and its SQ is also good. By turning on the DSEE Ultimate, songs from youtube music seems to have fullier mids , better dynamics and extensions. BTW, I have to change my router channel setting in order to make my JP version A306 able to detect the 5G signal. I think A306 is a very good alternative to the dongle/phone synergy for streaming, needless to say its SQ of playing files is great too !

I hope the a306 is not brighter than the already bright and aggressive sounding a55 (even with mod) - I sold the a55 as it was a bit too much, too forward and unrefined (also it’s high output impedance didn’t help)

 

[abitdeef]

I missed that feature, but I didn't even know that balanced 3.5mm even exists, I wonder how much this can improve because the output power still the same mW, it doesn't show in the specs that it changes if using balanced or unbalanced.. I'm trying to find some MMCX cable for my headphones to buy and try but I always lead to cables with microphone, any hint for the search?
btw, did you try deeper the difference in sound quality with the balanced 3.5mm @abitdeef ?

Yes it appears to have a bit bigger stage, not night and day but enough to notice. No not any power increase but a ground for each channel. You have to use a balanced cable too. My adapter is 3.5 balanced to 2.5 balanced. I would also like to say the sound of mine has smoothed out a bit, well it seems to have anyways it still sounds open and clear but not as peaky. Never had a problem with the bass. I will say it doesn't sound like older/bigger sonys ive tried which had a more rounded bass it's more of a punchy fast bass. Honestly the bass on my hodizs sounds bloated in comparison. I do think there's a correlation in power also, and the output impedance is also a bit higher.
I'm very happy because with my 3 iems it sounds fantastic, I've got full Android, BT works good, and battery life is fantastic for a tiny dap. Even when using a dongle battery life is good.

 

[psikey]

It improves by a fair bit, better separation. Get it if you can.

Search for 3.5mm trrs balanced mmcx

Only seen this one on ebay in quick search

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/23409983...ikUNJeNMyIa5ba/hZyQeDXIds=|tkp:Bk9SR6C_vfzJYQ

 

[abitdeef]

Only seen this one on ebay in quick search

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/23409983...ikUNJeNMyIa5ba/hZyQeDXIds=|tkp:Bk9SR6C_vfzJYQ

That would do it, or you could look for and adapter if you already have balanced cables. It's cheaper mine was 9 dollars and change. I'm not sure I'd spend that much for the slight improvement in sonics.

 

[psikey]

That would do it, or you could look for and adapter if you already have balanced cables. It's cheaper mine was 9 dollars and change.

You mean a 2.5mm or 4.4mm balanced to 3.5mm TRRS ?

 

[abitdeef]

You mean a 2.5mm or 4.4mm balanced to 3.5mm TRRS ?

Yes, 3.5 male balanced to either 2.5 or 4.4 balanced. I'll link mine in a bit when I fully get up lol.

Here's the pic from Amazon

 

[emilsoft]

Only seen this one on ebay in quick search

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/234099830764?hash=item36816fefec:g:JWwAAOSwKb1bLf~J&amdata=enc:AQAHAAAAoMQ36swLPzEhoX2xLN5iNdM440P8aJkKOlIRJugc3iT+lpOvFuARzmc4Z88KR+Sn8j3khywfLuT09R3q5ZCKzO6Fc+IpwhYhVP/eyAcfi9gDNDhL/dS+WYbe5spvSs77mIc9FH0IVnqw9VAyr7K8Oz4m/hwP9y6ia9KapYXOdDIW/ztqBs9vqQlyhfohs6ikUNJeNMyIa5ba/hZyQeDXIds=|tkp:Bk9SR6C_vfzJYQ

Yip that should do the trick. Might also be possible to find 4.4mm > 3.5mm trrs adapter.

 

[psikey]

Yes, 3.5 male balanced to either 2.5 or 4.4 balanced. I'll link mine in a bit when I fully get up lol.

Here's the pic from Amazon

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07BK4BRLV?linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1&tag=superofcom09-21

 

[abitdeef]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07BK4BRLV?linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1&tag=superofcom09-21

That's it, that will work. Mines just a right angle one.

 

[psikey]

Yip that should do the trick. Might also be possible to find 4.4mm > 3.5mm trrs adapter.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B081CHRPHT/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A1Z9JDUNXKNJVN&psc=1

I've ordered this one purely out of curiosity and have 4.4mm cables for all my IEM's

Assume in a Non balanced 3.5mm this would sound wrong ?

 

[emilsoft]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B081CHRPHT/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A1Z9JDUNXKNJVN&psc=1

I've ordered this one purely out of curiosity and have 4.4mm cables for all my IEM's

Assume in a Non balanced 3.5mm this would sound wrong ?

Just be cautious - i'm reading some bad reviews on this one. You shouldn't use this in unbalanced.

 

[abitdeef]

Yep, only a 4 pole jack. Otherwise you'll only get one channel, or no sound 3.5 4 pole Jacks aren't common so probably a lot of people think this will work in a normal 3 pole jack.

 

[psikey]

Yep, only a 4 pole jack. Otherwise you'll only get one channel, or no sound 3.5 4 pole Jacks aren't common so probably a lot of people think this will work in a normal 3 pole jack.

What I thought, people buying thinking they could use in a standard 3.5mm port instead of buying the regular one.

I'm expecting to hear no difference and then just stick with regular 3.5mm cables Its only ~ £10 so worth a punt.

 

[psikey]

Good to hear i have now sold my A55 as i knew the A306 would be better

And I'm so pleased with mine, don't need balanced or high-gain power for my IEM's, so I've just sold my WM1AM2 !

This is what the A100 series should have been. Size/weight and battery life perfect for my needs, especially now most phones don't have 3.5mm out and Bluetooth can still be unreliable in busy BT/cellular use areas. OS/CPU plenty fast enough for Walkman Music & music streaming apps. Plenty OS life with Android 12.

No more BT adapters, separate DAC/AMPs, finding best link cables & joining methods I'm downsizing. A300 & M9 a perfect match. My Fiio FD7 sound great too, only my SE846 is a negative with the slight amp hiss detectable due to higher output impedance vs the WM1AM2, but I use that with my BTR5/Phone combo anyway.