[ClieOS]

Damn, thanks for that super-detailed breakdown.

I was (naively) hoping that using an MFi Lightning-to-Type-C cable would solve the problem, but I guess the BTR3 itself needs to be MFi certified. Do you know of any Lightning-to-Type-C cables with hacked chips that might make things work similarly to the CCK?

Actually the easiest possible solution I can think of might be to take an official CCK and mod it with a Type-C connector. There are 'naked' PCB only Lightning connector on Taobao that claims to have the official MFi chip inside though I am not sure how real that is. Those can be turned into a Lightning-to-Type-C cable fairly easily.

There are a few seller on Taobao that sold the latter, so it probably will work. Not really sure Aliexpress has those one or not.

 

[amgupt01]

Actually the easiest possible solution I can think of might be to take an official CCK and mod it with a Type-C connector. There are 'naked' PCB only Lightning connector on Taobao that claims to have the official MFi chip inside though I am not sure how real that is. Those can be turned into a Lightning-to-Type-C cable fairly easily.

There are a few seller on Taobao that sold the latter, so it probably will work. Not really sure Aliexpress has those one or not.

Iiiiiinteresting. Any tips on what to search up to find one of those chips and how to go about doing it?

 

[ClieOS]

Iiiiiinteresting. Any tips on what to search up to find one of those chips and how to go about doing it?

Don't know about Aliexpress, but they pop up everywhere if you search 'lightning mfi 插头' on Taobao。

You can also try to find one that is made by Zephone. It is a fairly well recognized cable brand in China.

 

[Lohb]

Any ES9038Q2M based units out there ?
For the coming balanced Fiio unit, spec-wise is the older Sabre chip 'better' ?

 

[ClieOS]

Any ES9038Q2M based units out there ?
For the coming balanced Fiio unit, spec-wise is the older Sabre chip 'better' ?

ES9038Q2M is a DAC only chip. You will need to add a headphone driving chip after it and that makes it much less ideal to use in a battery powered very small devices such as BT adapter when compared to, said ES9218P that has the DAC and amp all built into one chip. I'll say implementation is far more important than a simple comparison over spec.

 

[Lohb]

Managed to cancel UP2 after luckily finding this thread yesterday.
Will hold off for BTR5, don't think even on balanced it will bring out potential of Sony XBA-N3s (think they need about 250-300mWatts per channel headroom to shine..though raw power only 1 part of the equation) but the Fiio FH5 might be an easier to drive hybrid pairing looking at its Ohm/sensitivity rating vs N3.

Wish the new unit designers could bring a meatier balanced output again (300mWatts headroom per channel) by upping the batteries capacity...simple replaceable batteries like hearing aids have would be good - as these portables will be getting charged daily for commuters etc...and then its battery life is nuked to 50% or lower after what, 1.5 years ?

 

[Lohb]

BTR5 short impressions...
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/canjam-london-2019-impressions-thread.911785/page-3#post-15086882

 

[dfung]

Anybody have any ideas on how the BTR5 compares to the M5? Are they similar in specs?

 

[tiamor988]

Anybody have any ideas on how the BTR5 compares to the M5? Are they similar in specs?

 

[vnmslsrbms]

Wow looking forward to the BTR5. Should be exactly what I'm looking for!

 

[Lohb]

BTR5 should be showing up on aliX soon...

 

[tiamor988]

BTR5 should be showing up on aliX soon...

Isn't it delay until end of sept?

 

[Lohb]

Isn't it delay until end of sept?

UGH, really....more finger-drumming till then.

 

[Hal Rockwell]

My review of Artextreme R3. In short - DON'T BUY IT!!!

 

[Ynot1]

ES9038Q2M is a DAC only chip. You will need to add a headphone driving chip after it and that makes it much less ideal to use in a battery powered very small devices such as BT adapter when compared to, said ES9218P that has the DAC and amp all built into one chip. I'll say implementation is far more important than a simple comparison over spec.

E1DA

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/e1da-9038s-usb-dac.913625/