[Electrolite]

EDIT: So the Breeze Audio ESS seems very interesting I'm just wondering if I can bypass it's amp using the RCA cable since soon I'll own the O2 amp

https://pt.aliexpress.com/item/2016...8.0&pvid=ae16bcd8-939d-4414-85d2-2c33f1cfd389

 

[danimoca]

Hi!

I'm thinking of buying a sub-25$ USB DAC, that:
- Doesn't require external power (only USB)
- Has a complete case (not just a board)

Anyone tried these?
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/201...6d92-485b-af92-ab58739d04bc&priceBeautifyAB=0
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/SA9...555.html?spm=a2g0s.8937460.0.0.33182e0eTXvEjC

If so, how do they compare to the TDA1305T that everyone talks about?

Thanks!

 

[VonBoedfeld]

I'm wondering if any of you have experience with the SaoMai HA8 DAC / AMP:
https://de.aliexpress.com/item/SAOM...-Switch-For-Car-MP3s-Digital/32815677420.html

Specwise actually looks very promising:
ES9038Q2M + OPA1642

 

[maxxevv]

I'm wondering if any of you have experience with the SaoMai HA8 DAC / AMP:
https://de.aliexpress.com/item/SAOM...-Switch-For-Car-MP3s-Digital/32815677420.html

Specwise actually looks very promising:
ES9038Q2M + OPA1642

If you look carefully, you'll notice that a USB data connection is missing...
I have asked the seller, its purely via BT connection for the DAC.

 

[VonBoedfeld]

If you look carefully, you'll notice that a USB data connection is missing...
I have asked the seller, its purely via BT connection for the DAC.

Thank you very much - so I will delete it from my shopping list.
Curios, I think much too bulky for a bluetooth only dac.

 

[Hokum]

Is there a obscure amp (or dac-amp) that you would recommend for a high-impedance headphone (300ohms of a HD600)? thanks!

 

[skinnie]

I was lurking over this thread and found this one:
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/253969030505

Any opinion?

 

[baszek]

I am thinking about that SE4:
https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z10.3-c.w4002-15493940501.70.763e1cfaRvjmOk&id=568408593852
there are two version:
SE4-SE ~20.86$ PCM2706 + ES9028Q2M (not supporting DSD = PCM2706)
SE4 ~28.16$ SA9226 processing solution + ES9028Q2M (supporting DSD)

What do you think about that DAC ? Is it ok - I heard it is quite good considering price/value.


I have found today also SA9227+ES9038Q2M combo boards = but price is higher than SE4

sth like 43$ and there is external DC power supply needed.
https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=2013.1.0.0.474c319dc3FiUe&id=575728410474

 

[yurt28]

Ok, so Im gonna tell you the secrets of secrets when it comes to sound for how its really good and that is without a Dsp processor especially a seperate chip you will only hear Flat wave algorathm, but in time inside the dacs that par is moved around when transisitance is worked up. If you ever look at the frequency 20khz which is almost everything (16khz) all this portable stuff is just as good as a cell phone and still 15 years later not much has changed.

 

[parthabhatta]

Anybody knows about this one?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/PCM2706-Po...h=item2852e586f2:g:My8AAOSw9OFZKEHE:rk:7:pf:0

I think PCM2706 is backdated and nothing is said about DAC chip. It does only 16/48. It has so many buttons, even Forward / Back buttons and full metal body which made me curious. Just wanted to know about it if anybody owns this

 

[NymPHONOmaniac]

So okay....make lotta time I did not work on this thread....now that I test more dac-amp I can come back!

So, my last love story is this cheap DIY DAC that use 4 TDA1543 dac and is a worries free plug and play with anything.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Lus...oard-for-hifi-finished-board/32880513465.html

Sound is vast, lush and ultra layered, as if it was oversampling your music with hearble positive effect. Its on warm side but ultra detailed due to timbre thickness.

Other great discovery is this little 25$ OTG USB DAC-AMP using the excellent ES9018 dac:https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Lus...der-for-Computer-Android-Set/32868505086.html

Dumbess buy ever was this crap that do not improve sound of LG G6 (if there is its ultimately subtle) and offer same amping power:https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Lus...-PC-laptop-hifi-amplifier-A7/32867955791.html

As well, less obscure great dac amp and bluetoot receiver is the Radsone ES100:https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/radsone-earstudio-es100.23284/reviews#review-21617

And I really like the Xduoo XP-2 Bluetooth receiver dac-amp as well, very powerfull portable amp!https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/xduoo-xp-2-bluetooth-usb-dac-amp.23597/reviews#review-21757

 

[Dobrescu George]

My review of The Audirect Beam is live now!!

For the first time, I made a Tidal Playlist of my test tracks, at least most of them (some simply weren't available on Tidal...), and now I also included a link to my Youtube short unboxing of The Beam!

https://www.audiophile-heaven.com/2019/03/pocket-fun-audirect-beam-dacamp-review.html

 

[Naughtnaps25]

If you look carefully, you'll notice that a USB data connection is missing...
I have asked the seller, its purely via BT connection for the DAC.

Whats bad about BT connection for a DAC?

I found another shop selling this and the third picture looks like there is a USB data connection although maybe that is the charger... https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/Lusy...expid=098465ca-401e-4386-96fe-5c16ea551243-32

If you wanted to go direct connect would it work to run one of the cheap Dac Nymphono has been posting with it?

Just ordered the argon mk3 and looking for a quality portable amp (dac is a plus) for these power suckers. Mostly going to use it for gaming (xbox and pc) and watching movies so BT might be a plus for me..

 

[Naughtnaps25]

Found it on Taobao with quite a few reviews. Most of them good, some complaining about battery life. Last person says it is OK to push the HD650 but google translate can be iffy at times lol

$66 if you create an account. $66 for 1000mw/32 ohm may be worth a try...
https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=566323093853&_u=t2dmg8j26111

 

[NymPHONOmaniac]

So, I continue my quest about dac-amp and try the Xduoo XP-2 wich is bluetooth receiver dac-amp, usb-otg dac amp and portable amp with gain switch. Sound is slightly warm but expand soundstage and mid presence. COnstruction is incredible. Amping is quite powerfull and can drive headphones up to 300ohm (tough sensitivity should be high at this impendance rate)
Dac chip is AK4452. Price 100$. Review HERE

I'm testing right now the AUDIRECT BEAM, sound is clean, liquid, sharp and detailed, but you need high sensitivity iem to enjoy it, sound is not powerfull even if it can drive nicely my Meze 99 Neo (its 22ohm, wich explain why). 100$ is a little pricey tough if we compare with....

The SA9023A + ES9018K2M portable USB DAC AMP. This is cheapest otg dac-amp right there with a real ES9018 dac, sound marvelous, ultra clean and delicate, but as the BEAM its not powerfull and only for easy to drive earphones (at 25$ its the best bargain out there)

My biggest love story for ultra portable dac-amp is the RADSONE ES100, using dual AK4375a and having ultra powerfull balanced output this is the greatest gadget of the year for me. Work as a bluetooth dac, otg-usb dac.

NOW, i wanna try this ultra cheap dac-amp using es9028 Q2M dac:https://www.aliexpress.com/item/201...op-DAC-with-Headphone-Output/32956529081.html


We need more impressions here....more guinea pigs too!!