Obscure Chinese DAPs

[vapman]

Anything under $150 with 2.5mm trrs?

 

[neog007]

i don't think so I didn't find in any case. Maybe an used cayin n5 but it's not true balanced -as the n6 is-. Maybe you can try connect the dap to this balanced amp -but I've no information at all about it-

https://es.aliexpress.com/item/Bph-01-high-fidelity-portable-amp-fully-balanced-single-ended-balanced-input-output-Dual-TPA6120/32725923272.html

 

[Fabi]

Anything under $150 with 2.5mm trrs?

There is Lotoo paw5000 but $199 

 

[vapman]

  There is Lotoo paw5000 but $199 

I can afford 199. Thanks Fabi!!!

 

[Fabi]

  I can afford 199. Thanks Fabi!!!

Looking forward to your impressions with balanced earbuds LOL

 

[thesheik137]

Does anyone have any impressions for the Xuelin IHIFI 990 dap or IHIFI 100 amp yet? I really dig the design continuity, but I haven't been able to find any impressions/reviews anywhere. Looks like they would stack great:

 

[neog007]

  There is Lotoo paw5000 but $199 

the paw5000 is still not true balanced but it can do the trick for $200

 

[vapman]

  the paw5000 is still not true balanced but it can do the trick for $200

What makes a thing true balanced or false balanced? I already have some DAPs i love so if i'm plunking down that kind of money I would like to know it's properly balanced...

 

[neog007]

ok properly speaking  there´s no false balanced in those daps don´t worry, true balanced is just an expression to identify those players with dual specific identical circuitry-components so each channel has his own instead to share the same. That´s the correct way in my humble opinion -but the most expensive too..-
Again, this is about the sound, and the lotto can do it well. It´s very subjective  i just don´t know

 

[T.R.A.N.C.E.]

What makes a thing true balanced or false balanced? I already have some DAPs i love so if i'm plunking down that kind of money I would like to know it's properly balanced...

 
The dac of the paw5000 does not have differential output, aka not balanced, overall topology is not true balanced so to speak. Paw5000 doesn't actually even have a proper dac, it uses a budget codec chip, and budget solution amp, it is fairly weak, 100mW at 16ohm. It's not what I'd call a hifi design, several corners cut to keep costs low.
 
For me Pono Player is easily the best value dap when it goes on sale every couple of months at Fry's for $240, just keep an eye on Pono thread for notification. Pono is a true balanced design with discrete class A amp section comprised of metal film resistors, uses dual 3.5mm for balanced (like sony pha3). Pono is a weird triangle shape, not for a gimmick, but so it can fit 2,000uF of capacitance and 18650 battery (cylindrical), which enables higher current delivery, there really is no other dap like Pono, imo it's easily worth it's $400 regular price, and even punches above it in performance, so for $240 it's freaking awesome. btw Pono is engineered by Ayre Acoustics, it's the complete opposite of an obscure Chinese dap, lol. Only thing to be aware of is Pono uses a no feedback circuit design (better for SQ), but this creates 3 ohm output impedance, double that in balanced mode (6 ohm), so you need to be sure the iem won't be affected badly by this for a good pairing. Pono rocks with headphones like AKG K7XX, Beyerdynamic DT1990, Senheiser HD700, Fostex TH900.
.

 

[Fabi]

Thanks for explanation guys.
Often read that Pono is a very good balanced dap for the price but you have to like the triangle shape lol.

 

[neog007]

I was considering a pono some time ago. If you don't mind the non-2.5trrs connection, a 2nd hand pono is the cheapest option to go balanced with some quality as he said yes

 

[bzfrank]

I am waiting also for a review of the iHifi990.

 

[hqssui]

  I am waiting also for a review of the iHifi990.

 
Hopefully this has a better firmware support than 770c. In order to update the firmware for 770c, you should have access to have Windows 7 /Vista 32 bit computer.

 

[hqssui]

   
The dac of the paw5000 does not have differential output, aka not balanced, overall topology is not true balanced so to speak. Paw5000 doesn't actually even have a proper dac, it uses a budget codec chip, and budget solution amp, it is fairly weak, 100mW at 16ohm. It's not what I'd call a hifi design, several corners cut to keep costs low.
 
For me Pono Player is easily the best value dap when it goes on sale every couple of months at Fry's for $240, just keep an eye on Pono thread for notification. Pono is a true balanced design with discrete class A amp section comprised of metal film resistors, uses dual 3.5mm for balanced (like sony pha3). Pono is a weird triangle shape, not for a gimmick, but so it can fit 2,000uF of capacitance and 18650 battery (cylindrical), which enables higher current delivery, there really is no other dap like Pono, imo it's easily worth it's $400 regular price, and even punches above it in performance, so for $240 it's freaking awesome. btw Pono is engineered by Ayre Acoustics, it's the complete opposite of an obscure Chinese dap, lol. Only thing to be aware of is Pono is not the best for multi BA iems due to it's no feedback design (better for SQ), but means it has 3 ohm output impedance, double that in balanced.
. 

Very helpful post. Thanks a lot. I always disliked the shape of Pono, but now understand the reason behind it.