[IanT1977]

Morning,

So as the title says, I'm looking for a usb c dongle that can compete with my LG G8x quad dac - reason being I'm looking to go back to a Note 9 (mainly as I use my phone for work when I'm away, Dex is REALLY useful and I love the note phones generally) but will only do so if I can get a similar level of audio quality via a USB c dac dongle.

I mainly use a set of Sony Mdr xb950 headphones - not the most amazing set in the world but I like the sound they produce now they've bedded in a bit, plus I've dialed down the bass slightly and find them more than adequate. I'm also looking at getting a pair of Beredynamic dt770 (250 ohm) when funds allow so need something that could drive them sufficiently.

Any suggestions?

Thanks, Ian

 

[bland125]

Hey there, my personnal favorite is the Lotoo Paw S1 (new version, the S2, was just announced). I tried a bunch of cheap dongles as well as Audioquest Red and Cobalt and the Lotoo comes ahead by a large margin. I’m using the 4.4mm output but it has a 3.5mm as well. For the DT770 at 250 ohms, that will be challenging for any dongle to drive properly. The E1DA 9038s is one of the most powerful I am aware of but never listened to it. It is well regarded though and rivals some DAP in power. Maybe at the expense of your phone’s battery though.

 

[IanT1977]

Hey there, my personnal favorite is the Lotoo Paw S1 (new version, the S2, was just announced). I tried a bunch of cheap dongles as well as Audioquest Red and Cobalt and the Lotoo comes ahead by a large margin. I’m using the 4.4mm output but it has a 3.5mm as well. For the DT770 at 250 ohms, that will be challenging for any dongle to drive properly. The E1DA 9038s is one of the most powerful I am aware of but never listened to it. It is well regarded though and rivals some DAP in power. Maybe at the expense of your phone’s battery though.

Ah yes I had looked at the E1da 9038s, has had some pretty good reviews on here so far. That was one of my favored options along with the iBasso Dc02. Battery use isn't a massive problem for me as I tend to be sat down listening rather than walking/jogging/gym etc, so would generally be within reach of a plug socket. The dt770's whilst I am looking at the 250 ohms, I was also considering the 80 ohms version as more of a compromise between my phone and my home set up? Again, based on what I have read about them they are capable of being driven by the LG quad dac quite well even at 250?

 

[bland125]

They are decently efficient at 96db/1mw so that even the AQ dongles might be able to power them I don't recommend them though as they are just way overpriced for what they are. The LG quad dac phones seem to have an high impedance mode. Not sure if this is just a gain setting or something else but dongles don't often have that. Most well reviewed dongles should do the trick.

If it's for home listening, why not get a more versatile device instead? Like a Xduoo XD-05 type of device? Just a suggestion.

 

[Narayan23]

Hidizs S9 Pro, good specs and doesn´t break the bank:

https://www.hidizs.net/products/hid...B-LJ-2021-8-5=14163158850&utm_content=content

Some extra reading: https://hifigo.com/blogs/review/usb-dac-amp-dongles-reviewed-and-rated

 

[m-i-c-k-e-y]

Am searching too.. And the Hidizs S9 Pro ticked most of my boxes.

 

[nuwanv]

Just got my Hidizs S9 Pro delivered today. Pairs wonderfully well with Sennheiser IE 900. For best results have to use the balance output. There is a significant improvement in sound quality when using the 2.5 mm balance cable. For some reference, even compared to Chord Mojo, hides performs much better for balance output. This is a significant upgrade in SQ when compared to DACs like chord mojo and LG V50.

 

[silent-circuit]

I've been very happy with the Hidizs DH80S so far. Plenty of power, even for somewhat harder to drive stuff like the Audio Technica ATH-R70X.

 

[jmwant]

Shanling UA2, HiDizs S9 Pro, Lotoo Paw S1- all of these sounds at least equal or better.

 

[IanT1977]

So an update to this should anyone else be flowing with a similar issue, I've gone from having a Sony Nw A45, which I found to be decent but didn't really wow me as I'd hoped it may, to receiving an ibasso dc5 yesterday - first impressions are quite good! I've gone from having my volume level at over 3/4 during normal listening to between 1/4 to 1/2, anything more is too loud for me. Seems VERY powerful compared to anything else I've tried.

In terms of sound, I mostly listen to music off my SD card. I'm working through my collection upgrading to Flac files as needed, and for me at least it seems as though the music has much better separation? Ie, if I concentrate on listening to one instrument I can hear it as clearly as you would the vocals, and can do that to each and every aspect of the song in question. Possibly due to the Flac recordings, possibly due to the dongle dac. Certainly much better than any of the cheap dongle I've also tried if only for the power of this thing.

I did also consider the S9 Pro but as I only have 3.5mm headphones I figured I'd try this first. Will probably treat myself after a couple of paydays to some more expensive iem's also and see how that goes. Should also point out that my phones battery does go down a little more quickly, probably thanks to the extra oomph this thing brings. Not an issue for me as I can sit it on a wireless charge pad most of the time if needed

 

[jmwant]

So an update to this should anyone else be flowing with a similar issue, I've gone from having a Sony Nw A45, which I found to be decent but didn't really wow me as I'd hoped it may, to receiving an ibasso dc5 yesterday - first impressions are quite good! I've gone from having my volume level at over 3/4 during normal listening to between 1/4 to 1/2, anything more is too loud for me. Seems VERY powerful compared to anything else I've tried.

In terms of sound, I mostly listen to music off my SD card. I'm working through my collection upgrading to Flac files as needed, and for me at least it seems as though the music has much better separation? Ie, if I concentrate on listening to one instrument I can hear it as clearly as you would the vocals, and can do that to each and every aspect of the song in question. Possibly due to the Flac recordings, possibly due to the dongle dac. Certainly much better than any of the cheap dongle I've also tried if only for the power of this thing.

I did also consider the S9 Pro but as I only have 3.5mm headphones I figured I'd try this first. Will probably treat myself after a couple of paydays to some more expensive iem's also and see how that goes. Should also point out that my phones battery does go down a little more quickly, probably thanks to the extra oomph this thing brings. Not an issue for me as I can sit it on a wireless charge pad most of the time if needed

ibasso DC05 is quite powerful and very good for the price. Yiu made a nice choice.

 

[IanT1977]

Further update for anyone still intetested:

Whilst I enjoyed the sound from the dc05, I wasn't best pleased with the temperature the dongle liked to get up to over the space of an hours listening. Basically got REALLY warm, to the point it was quite hot to touch. Also had a significant effect on battery life of my phone.

Anyway, have recently "upgraded" to a Fiio BTR5, I am equally pleased with the sound and have also found myself using the Bluetooth feature almost exclusively with wired headphones (fiio fd3's and my trusty Sony mdr xb950's) which I didn't think I'd use much. Setting the code to Ldac and the highest quality setting in developer options and frankly sounds great when on the move (my music stored on my phone is flac's, also using YouTube music for streaming).

Only paid £78 off of eBay for a new unused one, plus it's the newer version that supports mqa which I doubt I'll ever use

 

[Pablito65]

Hey there, my personnal favorite is the Lotoo Paw S1 (new version, the S2, was just announced). I tried a bunch of cheap dongles as well as Audioquest Red and Cobalt and the Lotoo comes ahead by a large margin. I’m using the 4.4mm output but it has a 3.5mm as well. For the DT770 at 250 ohms, that will be challenging for any dongle to drive properly. The E1DA 9038s is one of the most powerful I am aware of but never listened to it. It is well regarded though and rivals some DAP in power. Maybe at the expense of your phone’s battery though.

 

[Pablito65]

Hi...listen i have the Btr5 2021 the E1DA 9038S and Hiby Fd3 which i am selling. In my experience the E1DA 9038S is a monster of quality and raw power (hip hop just BANG just with Moondrop Aria or Tin Hifi P1 plus which require POWER or better the Letshuore s12 or Tin Hifi T3 ). The Fiio on LDAC for the road is either great at unbeatable price. THEN if I were you j would consider the Earmen Sparrow (that eat the dragonfly....made in Europe ,very nice Dac but i had to return as it was only working on 3.5 which has powerful but not enough for the Tin P1 planar iem ).If you want save money and don't mind the questionable MQA ,get the E1DA 9038S and you will enjoy it! I have attached on the back of S10 5G with double side 3M tape and made a bumper to protect it made of elastic rubber .
If you want BT go for Fiio Btr7 also with TXT amps ...You have PLENTY choices. Instead want to buy a LG V40 Thinq....but not certain undecided. Happy buy

 

[samuelawachie]

Does the LG V40 sound exactly the same as a Fiio BTR5, seeing as they have a similar technology?
I have an LG V10 that bootlooped, so can’t be used. I do love how that phone sounded though.
I’ve been contemplating either getting an LG V40 or a BTR5. Do they sound the same? Should I take the plunge and attempt to repair the V10 with the risk of another bootloop?
I’m unsure as to how to proceed.