Personal BEST DAC-AMP & DONGLES discoveries thread (Best finds Reference List)

[LaughMoreDaily]

IThey made a 2021 variant of their popular BTR5, added MQA support, and upgraded the DAC chip, and now, after some serious testing, I can say for sure that if you listen to LDAC and enforce it to play in the proper resolution, you shouldn't hear any differences between LDAC and RedBook FLAC files or CDs

So you're saying no matter what format of music you listen to it all sounds amazing with no difference between the formats?

 

[Dobrescu George]

So you're saying no matter what format of music you listen to it all sounds amazing with no difference between the formats?

BTR5 2021 in particulat sounds very similar between formats. Most other sources have higher diffeences...

 

[LaughMoreDaily]

BTR5 2021 in particulat sounds very similar between formats. Most other sources have higher diffeences...

That sounds like a bad thing, no?

 

[Dobrescu George]

That sounds like a bad thing, no?

Can be both good and bad. I know that most sources will show differences between file types and source files, so it means that both it is very optimised, but it has a ceiling of quality it won't go above even if you feed it just hi res files

 

[NymPHONOmaniac]

I just receive the XDUOO LINK2 BAL.....man this is sure a power beast, be cautious when you plug it.....the built blow my mind too, super sturdy and all these physical button is SO needed imo

In term of sound, thats very first impressions with UM 3DT (which im not super afound of so....). Firstly, it doesnt sound like the Tempotec BHD at all, again a proof DAC implementation is crucial for final sound presentation.....or independant amping section? Now with FINAL A8000, it isnt as bright (yeah, 3DT timbre kinda suck). man, i need more listen as said....its a surprising sound im not familiar with.

It's crisp but not harsh, very energic and revealing, timbre is very textured, its VERY generous in sound info, same level than ES9038q2m in that regard but with thicker rounder timbre. This isn't a boring dongle at all. The UM 3DT arent easiest to drive and man, at 1/4 of volume its super loud balanced way at high gain, or 4/10 for low gain, which offer slightly cleaner sound.

Yep, this is a NEW sound flavor hourray. Now its time to fully taste it before sharing valuable thoughs and impressions.

 

[NymPHONOmaniac]

I'm back on the DAC-AMP track guys. WHy? Well, because of this:

It just keep piling up so it would be selfish to not share impressions about them!

My fav in there are Tri TK2, Xduoo Link2 Bal, Tempotec E44 and HD V.

I just receive the FIIO KA1, very good and tonaly more appealing than KA3, which is more analytical lean bright...

On the way: Questyle M15. I'm Extremely excited about this one!

Oh, and I have the new Xduoo Poke II, will share pic, i struggle to find musicality in this one even if technical performance are insane....surely the cleanest dac-amp I heard, more transparent and delicatly detailed too, yet, dynamic is lean, even leaner than Tempotec HD Pro-Jcally JM20.

 

[NymPHONOmaniac]

See how small is the FIIO KA1 compared to KA3, i really like the form factor and built seem very sturdy.

First thing I do when I go this, apart from comparing fastly to KA3 that have near polar opposite tonality, is to compare it to the AUDIRECT ATOM2 which use same ES9281C DAC but with extra OPamp section. I don't know which OPamp it is, but it sure affect the resolution while giving a little more power than KA1 (65mw vs 45mw) that doesnt really translate in more energic dynamic....in fact, i was thinking KA1 is more powerfull due to the more punchy and open sound.

KA1 is cleaner and more detailed with better accuracy and resolution. This make the Atom2 feel a bit blurry in definition, we can say euphonic too but unlike Xduoo Link2 Bal it doesnt translate in a lush open holographic presentation. Sens of silence between note and instrument isn't there compared to KA1. So, warmer and dirtier is the Atom2. To some extend this remind me comparison between Tempotec E44 and Xduoo Link2 Bal, since i find technical performance better with E44 due to more accurate attack timing and overall cleaner noise floor and resolution, but fact Xduoo have near 100mw more of amping power and thicker lusher timbre make me prefer it's tonality as well as all it's features.

 

[NymPHONOmaniac]

My review of FIIO KA1 is complete.
And right now its on sale for 35$ on Ali express Jade Audio store, which make it a no brainer bargain unless you need high power output.
https://nobsaudiophile.com/2022/05/05/2927/

I hope this thread will come back alive....we need diversity of impressions about DAC-AMP and dongles.

 

[NymPHONOmaniac]

aaaaaand I just receive today something phenomenal, the much expected QUESTYLE M15!

I'm in awe right now....lively dynamic, full and transparent timbre, ultra fast and snappy attack timing, natural sustain-release, ultra black noise floor, and very powerfull!

Reference sound that offer high level of both technicality and musicality.

Very different than Xduoo Link2 Bal sound wise, cleaner, more detailed and faster in dynamic....deeper in spatiality too, while Link2 is denser warmer in timbre and overal tonality is more analog like....

Its the first Questyle product I ever try....the expectation was very high but i was afraid about 2 things: amping power and dynamic due to current amping type (Xduoo Poke II have current amp and dynamic is ultra lean-cold even distant). Let say it surpass all my expectation.

 

[NymPHONOmaniac]

My detailed review of the QUESTYLE M15 is up here on headfi and HERE on my No Borders Audiophile blog.
Simply put, its the new high end dongle benchmark in term of hi fidelity rendering with lively dynamic.
It sound like having a portable SMSL SU9 DAC+SMSL SH9 THX AMP but with weightier dynamic, yet lower power output.
Pros:
-Clear and neutral sound with lively dynamic
-Excellent Pace, rythm and timing (PRaT) performance
-Great imaging with open spatiality
-realist timbre with good transparency
-weighty dynamic
-clean linear current amping
-gain switch
-more powerfull than the specs suggest (75mw@32ohm)
-doesn’t get hot or drown battery too fast
-best ES9281C DAC implementation i heard
-great balance between technical and musical audio decoding
-versatile pairing with high sensitivity and high impedance IEM
-unique geeky design for circuit board lover

Cons:
-while powerfull, it will struggle to drive very low sensitivity IEM or Headphones
-micro-definition isn’t the cleanest nor the sharpest
-bass and treble seem just slightly tamed
-glass cover can be scratched and is worrysome for durability
-protective case make it hard to use gain switch

 

[NymPHONOmaniac]

Better late than never, my Tempotec E44 review is up here:
https://nobsaudiophile.com/2022/06/17/tempotec-e44-review-sooooo-delicious/

Simply put, it's still the best dongle from Tempotec, second one would be HD V, third one HD PRO.
You got a very similar tonality than Xduoo Link2 Bal but with hint better technical performance in term of clarity, resolution, imaging and attack control. (and near 100mw less power output at 180mw vs 270mw for Xduoo)
Biggest drawback to me its the single buton volume control which is too sensible to touch.

 

[Protek67]

Hi.

Anyone that happens to know anything about this brand https://www.amazon.de/-/en/gp/product/B08CVG6YV4 . Im looking for a cheap AMP/DAC in that price range. I saw a few people doing reviews on the FOSI Audio Q4 and this looks identical. Im guessing that both are just rebranded products, but other than that identical.

The AIYIMA is 10-15€ less, so if its the same as the FOSI, i cant see any need to spend more

The Fosi Q4 has a worthless DAC? What ever the problem is it outputs to the pre-out's and changes with the knobs so some kind of pre-amp issue? The Syba Sonic SD-DAC63116 is far superior and the same price. It's about on par if not slightly better than the Q4 while giving added creature comforts.

 

[jared basshead]

I'm back on the DAC-AMP track guys. WHy? Well, because of this:


It just keep piling up so it would be selfish to not share impressions about them!

My fav in there are Tri TK2, Xduoo Link2 Bal, Tempotec E44 and HD V.

I just receive the FIIO KA1, very good and tonaly more appealing than KA3, which is more analytical lean bright...

On the way: Questyle M15. I'm Extremely excited about this one!

Oh, and I have the new Xduoo Poke II, will share pic, i struggle to find musicality in this one even if technical performance are insane....surely the cleanest dac-amp I heard, more transparent and delicatly detailed too, yet, dynamic is lean, even leaner than Tempotec HD Pro-Jcally JM20.

Hi,

Awesome collection there.

I was looking for sub 100$ USB dac (desktop or portable, anything) and was hoping for your input. There are so many new models out there in 2023. I can get 2021 Btr5 for 96$ will you recommend anything that's better or would you say the new 2021 Btr5 does it?

Thanks