Pioneer XDP-300R | Twin DAC ES9018K2M | Balanced Out | Android | MQA | 2x MicroSD | WiFi | AptX

[sandman2575]

Oh no that bit of cable is there for good reason. You definitely wouldn't want a 2 inch rigid adapter sticking out from your fragile 300R 2.5mm port. That's begging for trouble. Hell just the 2.5mm part of the adapter is too long as it is, gotta be careful if you put it in your pocket and honestly I rarely put mine in my pocket and if I do it's only very briefly and I'm walking on eggshells the whole time.

Thanks for the heads-up. I gotta say, I kind of wish I had read more thoroughly in this thread before purchasing. I had no idea about how fragile the jacks are. Yikes. I'm thinking about doing the epoxy treatment you and Steve did -- though part of me worries I'd somehow manage to get glue *in* the jacks, which would be just as bad as having the jack break off. Hmmm....

I guess it's a good thing I didn't have much intention of using the 300R as a portable device. Happy to just use it at home, keeping it on the desk or table. It does sound fantastic with the balanced headphones.

 

[zombicube]

I wonder whether it would be worth finding a truly flush 90-deg micro USB adaptor cord and attaching it--then only charge through it, to minimize wear on the actual USB port?

Something like this, though this isn't exactly right...

Slim Flat Micro USB FPV Flat Slim Thin Ribbon FPC Cable Micro USB 90 Degree up to Micro USB 90 UP for sync and Charging (10CM) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078HS9CSM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_7-oLCb0YSJZGE

 

[CoryGillmore]

Thanks for the heads-up. I gotta say, I kind of wish I had read more thoroughly in this thread before purchasing. I had no idea about how fragile the jacks are. Yikes. I'm thinking about doing the epoxy treatment you and Steve did -- though part of me worries I'd somehow manage to get glue *in* the jacks, which would be just as bad as having the jack break off. Hmmm....

I guess it's a good thing I didn't have much intention of using the 300R as a portable device. Happy to just use it at home, keeping it on the desk or table. It does sound fantastic with the balanced headphones.

Honestly I would do it if I were you. And yeah you do need to be careful not to get epoxy inside the jack. What I did was get the epoxy on the end of a toothpick and dab it around the edge of the jack. Was a pretty drama free process really, although I do intricate work with my hands for a living.

 

[Colors]

I’m not sure if it’s the sound signature or impedance matching but the ER4SR sounds very good with the XDP300R using the slow filter. Almost life like.

 

[miguel.yarce]

Honestly I would do it if I were you. And yeah you do need to be careful not to get epoxy inside the jack. What I did was get the epoxy on the end of a toothpick and dab it around the edge of the jack. Was a pretty drama free process really, although I do intricate work with my hands for a living.

Hi!

Do you have a picture of the result? I am using the 300r as portable device I mean I bring it everywhere, I am very carefull to dont use It in my pocket connected to the headphones. I will may do the epoxic process just to be aware.

Regards!

 

[sandman2575]

@miguel.yarce -- See posts #2098 and #2110 a few pages back -- both Steve and CoryGillmore posted pics of their work.

While we're at it -- would something like this be advisable for the epoxy application (link)?

 

[CoryGillmore]

Hi!

Do you have a picture of the result? I am using the 300r as portable device I mean I bring it everywhere, I am very carefull to dont use It in my pocket connected to the headphones. I will may do the epoxic process just to be aware.

Regards!

Yeah check a few pages back, I posted one and so did someone else even further back. It looks like hell but it does its job.

@miguel.yarce -- See posts #2098 and #2110 a few pages back -- both Steve and CoryGillmore posted pics of their work.

While we're at it -- would something like this be advisable for the epoxy application (link)?

That's pretty much exactly what I used, except I used Gorilla Glue brand. The package had a little tub built into it and you squeeze both tubes into the tub and mix it. I did just that and dipped a toothpick in the tub to get epoxy on it.

 

[435279]

Its certainly worth glueing the sockets IMHO, its quite a simple process, using a toothpick as @CoryGillmore did or matchstick. One thing I would add is I did get a little bit of epoxy on the top surface of the socket but a quick scrape with a sharp scalpel blade when it was fully cured soon removed that.

All this talk about failing USB sockets has got me concerned about that issue too now. As long as the USB socket lasts until the Fiio M11 is available (I have my eye on that as a replacement for the 300r) I will be happy.

 

[miguel.yarce]

Its certainly worth glueing the sockets IMHO, its quite a simple process, using a toothpick as @CoryGillmore did or matchstick. One thing I would add is I did get a little bit of epoxy on the top surface of the socket but a quick scrape with a sharp scalpel blade when it was fully cured soon removed that.

All this talk about failing USB sockets has got me concerned about that issue too now. As long as the USB socket lasts until the Fiio M11 is available (I have my eye on that as a replacement for the 300r) I will be happy.

Thanks for the tip!

Why the M11? Do you think that is an upgrade from the 300r? I was thinking about a complement such as the Dragonfly Red or IFI Nano black label just to have the Full MQA and DSD compatibility.

Regards!

 

[435279]

Thanks for the tip!

Why the M11? Do you think that is an upgrade from the 300r? I was thinking about a complement such as the Dragonfly Red or IFI Nano black label just to have the Full MQA and DSD compatibility.

Regards!

The Fiio seems to be compatible to the Pioneer, I'm not sure if its an upgrade though, a side-grade maybe, early reports seem to indicate that the M11 sounds very nice and it does have two memory card slots but doesn't have the ability to install UAPP so I'm not really sure.

I have both the DFR and the Nano BL, the both sound good but the BL is better if you can stretch the budget especially when using its s-balanced capability and it has a proper volume control so you can turn it right down before plugging things in. Believe me that is a good feature to have.

 

[AdamQK]

The Fiio seems to be compatible to the Pioneer, I'm not sure if its an upgrade though, a side-grade maybe, early reports seem to indicate that the M11 sounds very nice and it does have two memory card slots but doesn't have the ability to install UAPP so I'm not really sure.

I had the Fiio X5ii and, despite all the raves, found the sound really dead, as if coming from a room next door. I went through tons of different earphones and even an amp, but nothing seemed to help. Still, it was solid and dependable compared to the FiioX5iii, which I had for about six weeks and became so unreliable - dropping artwork, splitting double albums I'd re-tagged to run as one and crashing three times in half an hour - that I sent it back. The M11 looks good on paper, but I'm a little gun-shy after that.

 

[435279]

I had the Fiio X5ii and, despite all the raves, found the sound really dead, as if coming from a room next door. I went through tons of different earphones and even an amp, but nothing seemed to help. Still, it was solid and dependable compared to the FiioX5iii, which I had for about six weeks and became so unreliable - dropping artwork, splitting double albums I'd re-tagged to run as one and crashing three times in half an hour - that I sent it back. The M11 looks good on paper, but I'm a little gun-shy after that.

I just noticed I wrote compatible instead of comparable. I had an X5ii myself and I agree it was just OK. I can't blame you for being wary of the Fiio brand though, Ive read reports of poor firmware, and of course 12 months after release Fiio completely drop support for the old model in favor of the new one. I'm waiting for a few good reviews before purchasing and I may even consider a Hiby R6 Pro or an iBasso DX220, or even stick with my Pioneer, V30 and ZX300.

 

[Andrew Harper]

I had the Fiio X5ii and, despite all the raves, found the sound really dead, as if coming from a room next door. I went through tons of different earphones and even an amp, but nothing seemed to help. Still, it was solid and dependable compared to the FiioX5iii, which I had for about six weeks and became so unreliable - dropping artwork, splitting double albums I'd re-tagged to run as one and crashing three times in half an hour - that I sent it back. The M11 looks good on paper, but I'm a little gun-shy after that.

Yes I will admit coming from a 100% reliable (admittedly old) iPod Classic to the 300R I was a little concerned I would have issues but I've had no problems whatsoever. I had more issues trying out a 3rd party player app, so I just went back to the native Pioneer one and I've been fine ever since.

Really growing to love the player now and I listen to it all day long (when work permits! ) I was listening to some MQA albums last night. If the recording is good this player just shines.

With regards to the headphone jack. I've had mine for over a year now and as long as you are careful, you'll be fine. I think the main danger is just having any sort of plug that's too large. So a large headphone plug will act too much like a giant lever and break it easily. I would never risk carrying the player in a jean pocket for example.

I've had friends who've broken headphone jacks on iPhones, iPods, and various makes of tablets so it's not an issue unique to the Pioneer. Not quite the same but I would imagine the same thing could happen to the charging port if you were accidently too rough with it or accidently flexed the plug whilst charging, etc. One feature that I would have changed really. USB C for me just feels sturdier.

I suppose it's just the way I am but I've always been very careful with what I own, I treat this player gently though. I suppose partly because of how much it cost more than anything else.

Admittedly though I'm not sure how it would cope in the gym (where I still use the Classic), mind you it's not designed for that purpose; it's too large.

 

[LightBlue77]

Right, if the recording is good.
Tidal recordings of the 90's music are at most mediocre and i feel it. Some eq needed to adjust it.

 

[miguel.yarce]

Right, if the recording is good.
Tidal recordings of the 90's music are at most mediocre and i feel it. Some eq needed to adjust it.

Do you have the link of one 90s record that you feel mediocre? Just to compare.

Thanks!