ONKYO DP-X1 | Dual Sabre Dacs | Balanced | Sabre BTL Amp | MQA | DSD 256 | Android 5 |

[headwhacker]

  I hear you on the fragility of MMCX, it's a very real thing.
 
I was thinking of buying a balanced cable and then use a 2.5mm TRRS to 3.5mm TRS adaptor if I need to connect to a single ended. Will see, so far I'm only using single ended, but there are a couple DAPs with balanced outputs eyeing up my wallet.

 
That is all you need. to do and don't have to worry about MMCX connector. 

 

[Riley Beale]

Will a single ended adapter being put on the plug of a balanced cable cause any damage to the electrical parts?  Ir is it only single ended with a balanced adapter?  Just curious.  Not saying my opinion or trying to cause stress with anybody.  I honestly do not understand this subject.

 

[headwhacker]

  Will a single ended adapter being put on the plug of a balanced cable cause any damage to the electrical parts?  Ir is it only single ended with a balanced adapter?  Just curious.  Not saying my opinion or trying to cause stress with anybody.  I honestly do not understand this subject.

A headphone terminated in 2.5mm TRRS balanced plug is just fine using a 3.5mm TRS unbalanced adaptor.
 
But not the other way around. You won't find an adapter like that. If you do it (DIY) you are creating a short circuit in your amp. You don't want to know what will happen after that.
 
That is why people discuss re-terminating there headphone cable or replace the cable with the balanced plug.

 

[Riley Beale]

  A headphone terminated in 2.5mm TRRS balanced plug is just fine using a 3.5mm TRS unbalanced adaptor.
 
But not the other way around. You won't find an adapter like that. If you do it (DIY) you are creating a short circuit in your amp. You don't want to know what will happen after that.
 
That is why people discuss re-terminating there headphone cable or replace the cable with the balanced plug.

Thank you headwhacker for the clear easy to understand explanation.  I understand now.

 

[phthora]

Anyone have a 2.5mm TRRS balanced to 3.5mm TRS single-ended adapter that they can recommend?

 

[qsk78]

  Anyone have a 2.5mm TRRS balanced to 3.5mm TRS single-ended adapter that they can recommend?

I use this one. Works just fine.

 

[DBaldock9]

  Anyone have a 2.5mm TRRS balanced to 3.5mm TRS single-ended adapter that they can recommend?

I'm planning to build my own 3" - 4" adapters, by cutting in-half some short cables with two 90° 3.5mm 3-Pole Male Plugs, and then soldering on some 2.5mm 4-Pole Female Jacks.
 
The issue I'm running in to, is that the wires inside the cables consist of three groups of individually enameled wires, all run together in the same channel, with nothing but the enamel insulating one circuit from the other.  This means having to remove the enamel from each wire of each group, before they can be soldered to the contacts on the Jack.  I don't have a technique for removing the enamel from such small wires, without damaging them.
 
So I'll probably start again, by buying some 90° 3.5mm 3-Pole Male Plugs, and provide my own wire to solder between the 3.5mm & 2.5mm ends.
 
Take Care,
David Baldock

 

[phthora]

That's intense, David. I wish you luck. I've been searching around for an adapter that is more of a short cable so that I don't put undue strain on the port. So far, nothing. I'm leaning towards this one from Norne:
 
http://www.norneaudio.com/litzheim/norne-audio-cable-cables-hypershort-ultrashort-eidolic-balanced-trrs-4-pole-female-3-5mm-rhodium-astell-and-kern-a-k-adapter-direct-soldered-conversion

 

[DBaldock9]

  That's intense, David. I wish you luck. I've been searching around for an adapter that is more of a short cable so that I don't put undue strain on the port. So far, nothing. I'm leaning towards this one from Norne:
 
http://www.norneaudio.com/litzheim/norne-audio-cable-cables-hypershort-ultrashort-eidolic-balanced-trrs-4-pole-female-3-5mm-rhodium-astell-and-kern-a-k-adapter-direct-soldered-conversion

 
The adapters I've seen are straight like that, which means you're putting more torque on the headphone jack in your DAP.

One thing that I did see recently, is that if you order the VE Zen earbuds, in the Balanced 2.5mm configuration (Standard Edition = $158; Black Edition = $358), they include a short 3.5mm-to-2.5mm cable (just like what I'm trying to build).
Click on either image with "25" in the title - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Venture-Electronic-VE-Zen-high-impedance-320-ohms-earbud/32302987270.html
 
Take Care,
David Baldock

 

[danieldpagan]

Just got my micro SD card and downloaded about 600 songs from tidal. While others say there is distortion with music on the micro SD card mine works great still. Can not hear any hiss at all even when the song is at a part that is dead silent.

I have the Samsung Evo+ 128gb micro SD card.

 

[doofalb]

  That's intense, David. I wish you luck. I've been searching around for an adapter that is more of a short cable so that I don't put undue strain on the port. So far, nothing. I'm leaning towards this one from Norne:
 
http://www.norneaudio.com/litzheim/norne-audio-cable-cables-hypershort-ultrashort-eidolic-balanced-trrs-4-pole-female-3-5mm-rhodium-astell-and-kern-a-k-adapter-direct-soldered-conversion

I agree with @DBaldock9: I would be worried about the strain on the jack, particularly on the DP-X1.
 
I ordered a custom 2.5 TRRS to 3.5 TRS cable adapter from @PETEREK via Etsy (Shop name VERBESSEN). $40 plus shipping.

 

[Peridot]

  I don't have a technique for removing the enamel from such small wires, without damaging them.
 

 
I've previously has success used a hot soldering iron to burn the enamel off. 
 
Just like normal tinning of the wire but keeping the iron in contact for longer until the enamel burns off and the solder 'takes'.

 

[DBaldock9]

   
I've previously has success used a hot soldering iron to burn the enamel off. 
 
Just like normal tinning of the wire but keeping the iron in contact for longer until the enamel burns off and the solder 'takes'.

I've used a soldering iron on the enamel of larger gauge wires, as found in crossover inductors, but I think it would be pretty difficult on the really fine gauge wires inside one of these small, flexible cables.  For size scale, I'll try to post a photo of the wires when I get home from work this evening.
 
Thanks,
David Baldock

 

[Riley Beale]

Would the DPX1 hiss with Shure SE846?  How much compared to an original Fiio X5?  I find no hiss with my X5.  My computers hiss very bad.  Would the DPX1 power my V-Moda M100 enough?  I find the X5 does not have near enough power on high gain.  Is the UI smooth and responsive?  I find my X5 very slow in UI and it doesn't respond to pushing buttons well.  It is getting frustrating.

 

[headwhacker]

  Would the DPX1 hiss with Shure SE846?  How much compared to an original Fiio X5?  I find no hiss with my X5.  My computers hiss very bad.  Would the DPX1 power my V-Moda M100 enough?  I find the X5 does not have near enough power on high gain.  Is the UI smooth and responsive?  I find my X5 very slow in UI and it doesn't respond to pushing buttons well.  It is getting frustrating.

 
If you don't find M100 loud enough with X5, you will find it the same with the single-ended output. You need to use the balanced output to tap the maximum power output of DP-X1 which I'm pretty sure is plenty for M100.