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

[gearofwar]

I have a full review of Mojo vs Zx2 here. Each people hear it differently. Even now, Zx2 still keep on impressing me

http://www.head-fi.org/products/chord-mojo/reviews/14960

People had been mistaken that Sony stock player is the God and endgame because it was made by Sony....it is not. Sony ZX2 was made so friendly to 3rd party apps for this very reason. The preferences and the differences by using different playback apps

The one thing that DP-X1 is heavily lacking off, the friendliness toward 3rd party app

DP-X1 current UI, battery and unfriendly to third-party apps will disappoint you. 

 

[PoRidge]

As for third party apps, with exception of two user's (so far, plus testing and peer-to-peer feedback), and ignoring DSP based apps, everything else seems good.

 
 
I found a group of people tested and had this issue.(http://tieba.baidu.com/p/4210456277)
 
I myself can hear hiss on all AK players, QP1R on low, L5 pro on ultra low, dx90 on low, with at least two of my iems(westone um2 and FA-4E XB). The maximum volume I can bear with on the DP-X1 is 80 on low gain SE and volume 1 on AK320/380 is already too much for me on single end. hiss level for me: Walkman A25 >> ZX1/100 > ZX2 > AK ~ QP1R > L5 pro > X7 ~ dx90(this is the level i don't find annoying) > DP-X1 with stock player(Yes, I think it is very important that you state how well your ears and gears can detect hiss.)
 
I tested with two of the players stated in the link(QQ player and Netease Cloud player)(streaming and offline files) in comparison to the stock. (on a loan x7, these two player performs as good as the stock fiio app)
Conclusion:
hiss on balanced mode is louder than in se. ACG has no audible effect.
SE hiss is on the ZX1 level(in memory)
Balance hiss in louder than A25
streaming is the same as offline files

 

[Whitigir]

So....are you saying DP-X1 has hiss ? Or ...what ? I am lost lol.

Regarding 3rd party app, I am ok with Onkyo own app, and like it in a way. Not a deal breaker....streaming is not my priority, I listen to my collections offline only. What I want is audio quality, soundstage, clean background and organic tonality. If it is better than Zx2, it is a keeper...otherwise I will have to sell it.

 

[Sonic Defender]

I still don't see many reports of issues with streaming being reported. @PoRidge, I'm not asking in the sense of putting this on Onkyo's agenda, I don't really care about that now. I want prospective buyers of the DP-X1 to be able to gauge if problems with streaming are at all common or rare. Sometimes when you read only parts of a huge thread like this you might focus on a few isolated reports and feel that they are representative for the device.
 
So again, people should start reporting if they have had any issues with streaming. If so please also provide details of your ISP if possible and the wireless modem. I am inclined to suggest it may be a combination of hardware interacting between the modem and the DAP. I of course am not sure, how could I be, but I think it is worth trying to get more information. Somebody just saying they have an issue doesn't provide enough information.
 
Anyway, as I said before I have no issues at all with Tidal, works like a charm. I will set-up a Spotify account and test if I get some time today.

 

[McCol]

I don't know what to say, i bet those people just base it on measurement. If you have owned many DAPs and high-end equipment like Rudi - a headfier, he will gladly tell you the same thing since he owns whole line of AK and all other high-end equipment. AK380 is the king of DAP 

I'm not sure what to say either because i was referring to external reviews as well as headfi. Rudi's opinions i respect but it doesn't make him right. Right for him, you and many others but not necessarily right overall.

I have no axe to grind with the dp-x1 as I'm waiting for mine to make its way to the UK(hopefully in the next week) but I do have the Mojo and the wee thing amazes me every time I listen to it.
Just think sometimes we make sweeping statements about our head gear lol.

I can't personally wait to try my Angie's in balanced mode, never used balanced before so something new for me to get excited about.

 

[Zenifyx]

So....are you saying DP-X1 has hiss ? Or ...what ? I am lost lol.

Regarding 3rd party app, I am ok with Onkyo own app, and like it in a way. Not a deal breaker....streaming is not my priority, I listen to my collections offline only. What I want is audio quality, soundstage, clean background and organic tonality. If it is better than Zx2, it is a keeper...otherwise I will have to sell it.

He is saying that the dp-x1's hiss level (to his ears) is lower than any other DAP he has tried.
That's a positive comment.

Regarding third party apps, @TheOneInYellow has reported that he hears distortion with DSP based players such as Neutron, but no distortion with non-DSP players like YouTube, Spotify and Tidal.
Others (such as myself) have reported distortion even on apps such as YouTube, Spotify and Tidal.
It is entirely up to you to make your own conclusion.

 

[PoRidge]

  I still don't see many reports of issues with streaming being reported. @PoRidge, I'm not asking in the sense of putting this on Onkyo's agenda, I don't really care about that now. I want prospective buyers of the DP-X1 to be able to gauge if problems with streaming are at all common or rare. Sometimes when you read only parts of a huge thread like this you might focus on a few isolated reports and feel that they are representative for the device.
 
So again, people should start reporting if they have had any issues with streaming. If so please also provide details of your ISP if possible and the wireless modem. I am inclined to suggest it may be a combination of hardware interacting between the modem and the DAP. I of course am not sure, how could I be, but I think it is worth trying to get more information. Somebody just saying they have an issue doesn't provide enough information.
 
Anyway, as I said before I have no issues at all with Tidal, works like a charm. I will set-up a Spotify account and test if I get some time today.

 
i edited. not just streaming, but playing offline files has this problem.
that thread i posted was only for this 3rd party app issue.
 
and in terms of hiss, it really depends on the gear and the person's standard. ak players, qp1r and l5 pro are generally well regarded in hiss control, yet i still find the hissing annoying on these machines. so i think the reports of buyers may not tell the story behind this issue. they may not hear the hiss even when there is. a measurement comparison would be a more direct way of confirming this issue.

So....are you saying DP-X1 has hiss ? Or ...what ? I am lost lol.

Regarding 3rd party app, I am ok with Onkyo own app, and like it in a way. Not a deal breaker....streaming is not my priority, I listen to my collections offline only. What I want is audio quality, soundstage, clean background and organic tonality. If it is better than Zx2, it is a keeper...otherwise I will have to sell it.

with the stock player, it is the BEST in hiss control i have heard and the only one beating dx90. and it is very very close to what i consider "no hiss". (you know in a very quiet environment, you can hear blood stream through your ears. if the hissing is below this noise of blood stream, i will consider it "no hiss").

 

[muso]

Can anyone recommend a balanced cable for the akg k7xx for use with dpx1. Tempted to make my own but worth looking at the options first.

 

[PoRidge]

He is saying that the dp-x1's hiss level (to his ears) is lower than any other DAP he has tried.
That's a positive comment.

Regarding third party apps, @TheOneInYellow has reported that he hears distortion with DSP based players such as Neutron, but no distortion with non-DSP players like YouTube, Spotify and Tidal.
Others (such as myself) have reported distortion even on apps such as YouTube, Spotify and Tidal.
It is entirely up to you to make your own conclusion.

 
to all,
i have not yet tested this distortion thing, just talking about hiss. and i did not hear any hiss using my dt880/250ohm single ended on 3rd party apps.

 

[Sonic Defender]

   
i edited. not just streaming, but playing offline files has this problem.
that thread i posted was only for this 3rd party app issue.
 
and in terms of hiss, it really depends on the gear and the person's standard. ak players, qp1r and l5 pro are generally well regarded in hiss control, yet i still find the hissing annoying on these machines. so i think the reports of buyers may not tell the story behind this issue. they may not hear the hiss even when there is. a measurement comparison would be a more direct way of confirming this issue.
with the stock player, it is the BEST in hiss control i have heard and the only one beating dx90. and it is very very close to what i consider "no hiss". (you know in a very quiet environment, you can hear blood stream through your ears. if the hissing is below this noise of blood stream, i will consider it "no hiss").

I'm sure this won't be the much, if any of your issue, but just for the sake of comprehensiveness I'll mention this. There are some songs that will always hiss as that is at the mastering level. I have some nice material that starts off very quietly that has that definite analogue hiss, but that is from the recording equipment used in studio. Is it possible that might explain at least some of your observations?

 

[bflat]

There are over 300 posts in this thread so far that mention Sony ZX2. This is 1 out of every 10 posts say something about ZX2. Can we please make this a DP-X1 thread?

 

[TheOneInYellow]

I am still at work.

This sucks.

So much to reply to.

:'(

Just a quick message to muso; I own (but currently unused) AKG K 701, and own + currently use the AKG K 712 headphones.
The vast majority of in production AKG headphones use a single sided cable input, including the AKG K 7XX (usually on the left earcup).
For that reason, no single-ended AKG headphone in production can be made into balance via a cable swap.
Each headphone has to be modified on the hardware itself. A new connection on the second earcup needs to be made (coupled direct to the diaphragm) and original single ended wiring between the earcups needs to be disabled. This is to make sure each diaphragm has it's own ground connection.
Then a balanced cable will be required.
Only after the above can an AKG headphone become balanced.
I should add that the AKG K 812 headphones are more difficult to mod due to design of the headphones itself.

Or, just get a beautiful single-ended AKG cable


...

Back to work (cry cry)...

 

[muso]

Some lovely Bonobo 'The North Borders' in 24/44.1 with my KEF Audio M500 on-ear headphones (Normal Gain) for the morning commute!

Hah my son was learning to play this on the drums this am! Great song. And thanks for the tips re AKG k7xx cables. Bummer so difficult to balance

 

[Sonic Defender]

  There are over 300 posts in this thread so far that mention Sony ZX2. This is 1 out of every 10 posts say something about ZX2. Can we please make this a DP-X1 thread?

We do seem to have a bit of a ZX2 activist here, I wonder who that is ....

 

 

[TheOneInYellow]

Hah my son was learning to play this on the drums this am! Great song. And thanks for the tips re AKG k7xx cables. Bummer so difficult to balance

Lol, saw your reply on my Moto 360 (2014) smartwatch and had to reply!

That's awesome, Bonobo has great music; very calming, blissful yet energetic ^^