If mDSD is so sensible like you say, the Indiegogo project comment section would have been flooded with complains. But do you see any? There are a few people with problems with Windows device driver installation and they eventually solved it (which is not related to mDSD). There is a customer who tried to use mDSD to drive relatively inefficient headphone and could not enough volume out of it so he is sending it back for refund.
And you can send it back for refund too (follow the RMA and return process on www.sonicunity.com
I suggest that you try an IEM just in case your headphone requires more power then allowed.
I tried multiple headphones, and all exhibited the same issue. I was not aware of a "spec" for the headphones used, other than the "30-300ohm" spec on the campaign page. I don't even own a set of IEM's, except the ones I got with my iPhone. As I said in my original post, it could be a stack up of tolerances in the electronic components that makes mine so
sensitive and apparently draw too much power. It is entirely possible, since it is not unheard of to get multiple components that are at the high end of their spec range on the same board in the same circuit. I have seen such things when doing failure analysis when I worked in design engineering. Also, I would assume that it is close to the limit of what an iPhone will allow as far as power draw, just to accomplish what it needs to do. I never saw any specs, and honestly, I have not looked up the specs for what the iPhone will allow. I am guessing from your general tone, that you are somehow involved in this product? I had no idea when I posted. If so, surely you realized that a large number of buyers would be phone users, right? The minimal sized package would appeal most to people tired of hauling larger DAC/Amp combos around, rather than laptop users. If I am already slogging a laptop around, I would not really care how big my DAC/Amp is, as long as it fits in the laptop bag. But now I do see another post about a phone user having similar issues, so maybe this is not widespread, but it is not as improbable as you made it sound. I assumed since there was a post about how to adjust the volume on the phone and the unit specifically addressed to iPhone users that there had at least been some complaints, if not outright issues with iPhone compatibility. The fact that there was a post made at all seems to indicate that there is some sort of issue, since it came out within a day of people getting their units. I'm sorry if it offends, but I want to plug it in and use it, not take multiple steps to ensure it won't crap out on me. The Cozoy Astrapi has no such issues, so perhaps my expectations were too high. Maybe I also got the wrong idea about how this site works. I thought we were supposed to discuss
our experience with these devices, not just posting glowing reviews. I would think that the fact that I kept it relatively calm, and just inquired if any other iPhone users were experiencing issues would be appreciated, since I could have just written my own very negative review, with a really pissy headline that would pop up in Google search results. There are people who live for posting wildly negative reviews and would have vented their frustration as loudly as possible. I did not feel like that was necessary at all, and was relatively low key about it.
I will request a new unit, because I would love to have one that works and will be glad to post if it functions at all, and if it functions really well, I will love to say so. After all, I did support the campaign, and I was as low maintenance as a supporter can get, since I did not clog up the forum with stupid questions or groaning about a lack of updates, or delivery dates, etc. I just put my money in, and read the email updates.
Finally, the first headphones I tried it with were the Rockmaster OE's that were sold along with these devices. Now they worked well on all of my other gear, and sound amazingly good for their price range. But they had the same issue with the mDSD. I am not an idiot, and don't expect this rather small output amp to support Sennheiser HD800's (although the specs claim 30-300ohm). But expecting anything above a whisper would be a bit much for 300ohm headphones with 40mw pushing them. I stuck to 32ohm headphones, which I felt was a reasonable expectation. In fact, suggesting I try IEM's was a bit strange given the claims made, and was completely irrelevant, since I bought it to use with headphones, and the posted information gave every indication that I would be able to do so. Your own campaign page states
"It can drive many headphones with ease including some top audiophile brands. Of course our own ENCORE RockMaster on-ear and in-ear headphones are an excellent match for a killer combo that won't cost a fortune!".
