[nimorose]

If budget is not a concern, then it starts to get interesting.

Based on a survey of 22 Chinese Trail liu users (you can find it on the first page of this thread), people mainly use 3 DAPs, each of which has very different pros and cons:

• AK SP2000. Pros: Good sound, have streaming services, Roon comparable. Cons: Lack of 4.4 support (need an adapter); the mids can get too forward.
• Lotoo Paw Gold Touch Ti. Pros: TOTL reference sound. First-class UI, very very easy to use. Limited edition very well built, gorgeous machine. Cons: No streaming native to the machine (you can do Bluetooth or USB DAC with it though).
• Luxury & Precision P6 Pro: Pros: R2R TOTL musical and organic sound. Very lightweight. Cons: relatively poor and unstable UI. No native streaming support (although again you can use Bluetooth or the USB DAC function).

My suggestion is that, since you seem to be fairly new to this, consider getting a TOTL DAP to pair with the bird and then go from there. From this experience, you may know a lot about what you like/dislike about the sound, the functionality of the gears, and so on.

Thanks for this information, im leaning towards AK SP2000 vs Lotoo Paw Gold Touch, i thought about adding the c9 but if will probably be bulky.

 

[nimorose]

Thanks, any specific dongle you have in mind ?

 

[RTodd]

Orpheus is a $4.5k cable.

Stock bird cable is $2.2k.

That still crosses a line for me, 4.5k oh my “to the moon Alice” NASA cable?

 

[michaelc]

Thanks, any specific dongle you have in mind ?

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/lux...ew-fw-available-update-info-on-post-1.949448/

Few owners here have this pairing

 

[bluestorm1992]

Well i got these adapters, they will be enough?

For AK 4.4 adapters, consider one of the three adapters. They all make use of both the 2.5 and 3.5 outputs to create a better sound (AK’s 2.5 does not have ground, so it is important to join it with its 3.5 output).

 

[Frankie D]

Question for Traillii owners.
Do I buy one bird or two other TOTL iems ex EE Oden & VE Elysium?

I'm switching from headphones to IEMs for various reasons.

I personally consider the bird better than the Ely in every way. I own a custom Ely and do enjoy it, but the Traillii is just superior. So I would recommend the Traillii. However, I have never heard the Odin. Tks.

 

[Frankie D]

Thanks for this information, im leaning towards AK SP2000 vs Lotoo Paw Gold Touch, i thought about adding the c9 but if will probably be bulky.

I prefer the Cayin N8 from its 4.4mm SS output. I have still not heard from others that the C9 is much better than that output ( if at all ). Everyone compares using the Tube or single ended SS output from what I have read. It might be worth a try for you. Cayin is not great at the interface though.

 

[huuchuc]

Question for Traillii owners.
Do I buy one bird or two other TOTL iems ex EE Oden & VE Elysium?

I'm switching from headphones to IEMs for various reasons.

TBH Sometime i wish the bird has apex module like 64a, because after long listening session, my ears really get fatigued by its bass. Though this is only flaw i found until now. Leonidas2 cable can make it sound warmer and more comfortable by reducing bass quantity.
Elysium is better than the bird only in this situation.

 

[aaf evo]

TBH Sometime i wish the bird has apex module like 64a, because after long listening session, my ears really get fatigued by its bass. Though this is only flaw i found until now. Leonidas2 cable can make it sound warmer and more comfortable by reducing bass quantity.
Elysium is better than the bird only in this situation.

Have you tried tip rolling?

 

[huuchuc]

Have you tried tip rolling?

Not so much, though I've tried all stock tips, then bought new spinfit cp145.
I think the default one produces the most balanced sound to my ears.

 

[xenithon]

TBH Sometime i wish the bird has apex module like 64a, because after long listening session, my ears really get fatigued by its bass. Though this is only flaw i found until now. Leonidas2 cable can make it sound warmer and more comfortable by reducing bass quantity.
Elysium is better than the bird only in this situation.

Would also love to see something like that. I am a big fan of Apex and can feel the difference with my Noir. But alas, different brands and it’s proprietary tech. I do wish there was at least a port or vent, despite not having a DD.

I would agree though that is worth tip rolling. I found the stock tips to create a vacuum like suction that my ear drums didn’t like. I don’t feel that when I use the Sedna or the JVC Spiral Dot which are my two preferred tips.

 

[Tristy]

For AK 4.4 adapters, consider one of the three adapters. They all make use of both the 2.5 and 3.5 outputs to create a better sound (AK’s 2.5 does not have ground, so it is important to join it with its 3.5 output).

I'm a bit of a layman when it comes to the science of Audio. Is someone able to explain to me how having the ground of the 3.5mm alongside the balanced connections of the 2.5mm increases sound quality? I have the PW audio adapter but I've yet to do any experiments as I only have one 4.4mm cable.

 

[bluestorm1992]

I'm a bit of a layman when it comes to the science of Audio. Is someone able to explain to me how having the ground of the 3.5mm alongside the balanced connections of the 2.5mm increases sound quality? I have the PW audio adapter but I've yet to do any experiments as I only have one 4.4mm cable.

Probably someone else can do this better than me. I was told that adding a ground helps to remove some background noise. I have also seen other users stating that without such a ground connector, the sound is too bright when using a “traditional” 4.4 to 2.5 adapter with AK DAPs.

 

[hybridnut]

I feel I was hearing a headphone

 

[Tristy]

Probably someone else can do this better than me. I was told that adding a ground helps to remove some background noise. I have also seen other users stating that without such a ground connector, the sound is too bright when using a “traditional” 4.4 to 2.5 adapter with AK DAPs.

Hmm interesting.... I may have to do some experimenting and try to get hold of 2 versions of the same cable to test it out.