USB-C to 3.5mm adapters (DAC) - Let's find the best

[r31ya]

I have both. E44 is the better device IMO. Battery drain is very noticeable with KA3.

I think the power output may have something to do with it,
E44 : 175 mW/32ohm
KA3 : 240mW/32ohm (Bal)

That being said, without internal battery KA3 output is a bit overkill considering it actually hit the LightingPort power out limitation.

 

[PhonoPhi]

If all you are after is clean sound, the Hidizs S3 Pro is a valid choice, but I would like Hidizs to solve some of their basic issues with USB functionality before I recommend any of their products again.
My full review is up on my blog: https://bedrockreviews.medium.com/590f6b410f86

It would be very interesting and instructive to see the comparison with the Apple dongle; after my limited experience with USB DACs, that what I would personally look for in any USB DAC review.

 

[Sandbox2]

I don't like the fact that the E44 has no disconnectable cable. Cable could be ruined and the whole unit would have to be replaced.

What about the Hidizs S9 pro vs Fiio KA3?

 

[chechu21]

Any cheap actual options about 20-30 $? Many thanks

 

[PhonoPhi]

Any cheap actual options about 20-30 $? Many thanks

The Apple dongle. If you must spend $20-30 - then 2-3 Apple dongles and a coffee

That what I learned hard way - it is the worst that you can hook into as a consumer- the notion of the "price range" above the required functions. So instead of $2-$5 cables that perfectly do the job, many go for $100-$1,000+ cables that will be more than happily sold to them, and there will be always "unbiased reviews" and other related promoters to support such highly profitable business.

 

[dgjl]

Any cheap actual options about 20-30 $? Many thanks

Depends on what you are listening to (Spotify? Tidal?) and what earphones you have. The DAC is part of a chain and each chain is different.

 

[unifutomaki]

Just some musings on the “Apple dongle is all you need” axiom:

I largely agree. I’m not ashamed to admit that when I bought the Earmen Eagle and threw my best IEMs (the A4000) at it, I was honestly hard pressed to identify any substantial differences between the Apple dongle and the Eagle listening to 16/44.1 ALACs on my iPhone. Switched back and forth a few times, still not confident that I would be able to tell them apart blindfolded. Wasted money.

But if the dongle does something different with the amplification section, it may be worth considering over the Apple dongle. The Questyle M12 to my ears actually does sound different from the Apple dongle when driving the same transducers - it has a brighter, sharper, more dynamic tonality. Sure, I’m willing to accept that I may be fooling myself, and I will emphasise that the differences are still subtle, but I’m of the view that amps can sound different even if DACs - as long as they meet a certain minimum spec - don’t.

 

[someyoungguy]

Just some musings on the “Apple dongle is all you need” axiom:

I largely agree. I’m not ashamed to admit that when I bought the Earmen Eagle and threw my best IEMs (the A4000) at it, I was honestly hard pressed to identify any substantial differences between the Apple dongle and the Eagle listening to 16/44.1 ALACs on my iPhone. Switched back and forth a few times, still not confident that I would be able to tell them apart blindfolded. Wasted money.

But if the dongle does something different with the amplification section, it may be worth considering over the Apple dongle. The Questyle M12 to my ears actually does sound different from the Apple dongle when driving the same transducers - it has a brighter, sharper, more dynamic tonality. Sure, I’m willing to accept that I may be fooling myself, and I will emphasise that the differences are still subtle, but I’m of the view that amps can sound different even if DACs - as long as they meet a certain minimum spec - don’t.

I've never actually heard the Apple dongle, but now I'm getting curious

I agree about the Questyle M12. I recently had the Chronos, M12 and A&K PEE51. All great, and ended up keeping the Chronos due to it's natural tonality, clarity and low power draw (lower than the M12 with my phone). But the M12 was an interesting beast. While trialing different tracks and seeing what it could do I ended up playing the most recent album by Chaostar (a side project of Septicflesh's Christos Antoniou). It's a fairly minimalist neoclassical/opera album with some electronic flourishes, and the sparse approach to the songwriting comes across a bit 'meh' on much of my gear. With the M12, it felt like a whole new album. I've never heard it so dynamic and engaging.

The M12 is actually the first piece of equipment I've heard using current rather than voltage amplification, and obviously it would be wrong to make wide assumptions based on just this one dongle, but the sound really got me interested in trying out some other gear using current amplification . It really did seem like the different technology inside wasn't just marketing but converted to a different feel to the music; not just that it seemed more dynamic, but the peaks of dynamics felt more effortless and uncompressed than in many higher-priced DAPs I've owned using voltage amplification, almost like the gradation in dynamics was more accurate, so that rather than hitting a ceiling and not extending further beyond, it could ramp up more evenly to a better peak, if that makes sense.

 

[G33dubz]

So I got the Geekria DAC in today. Def not the best, a lil on the warm side and the build quality is sub-par but all in all I am pretty satisfied. It has a full metal casing and comes with 3 cables(usb c/ lightning/usb a -> usb c). For just over 40 bucks, I'm not complaining. Geekria needs to go ahead and transition from headphone accessories to audio components. Cuz lets be real, their pads are garbage lol.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08V1HY228?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

 

[PhonoPhi]

Just some thoughts on the “Apple dongle is all you need” axiom:

I largely agree. I’m not ashamed to admit that when I bought the Earmen Eagle and threw my best IEMs (the A4000) at it, I was honestly hard pressed to identify any substantial differences between the Apple dongle and the Eagle listening to 16/44.1 ALACs on my iPhone. Switched back and forth a few times, still not confident that I would be able to tell them apart blindfolded. Wasted money.

But if the dongle does something different with the amplification section, it may be worth considering over the Apple dongle. The Questyle M12 to my ears actually does sound different from the Apple dongle when driving the same transducers - it has a brighter, sharper, more dynamic tonality. Sure, I’m willing to accept that I may be fooling myself, and I will emphasise that the differences are still subtle, but I’m of the view that amps can sound different even if DACs - as long as they meet a certain minimum spec - don’t.

Absolutely, amplification is rather harder to make "perfect" vs. coloured
Coloured is an entire spectrum, while non-coloured/white is just a point or a narrow band.

DAC purists in the "science forum" here state that all DACs should sound the same, but if we look at all the different filter options engineered in the top end AK and ESS DAC chips - some of these options do sound audibly different, and my pragmatic thinking would be that "being the same" does not bring the sales to those companies...

What those "purists" are quite right about, in my opinion, is that it is the best to colour your chain close to the end, rather than at the DAC.

For the subjective choices - whatever "colouring" works for your personal preferences - that should be the "best".

Then from my "learn hard" experience - knowing about your colouring really helps.
My first DAP, Pioneer XDP-30, was ESS-based, so I thought about it as "analytical". However, it happened to be quite soft/warm, so my IEM quest really tried to heavily compensate it, e.g. with all bright all-BAs, further enhanced by my listening preferences (most of the classical recordings are very gentle in treble).

From this experience and pre-conditioning, Sonata HD pro first came as so "analytical", then I slowly came back "to senses".
My last "shocker," was the difference in sound of the different software, e.g. Hiby (especially), Shanling and Fiio that felt more prominent than the difference between the E1DA and the Apple Dongle.

So I just plugged my 1More Triple (one of my favourite IEMs, really nice soft tuning, whichever other's opinions are...) into the Apple dongle to enjoy my music

 

[dgjl]

Anyone got any views of what the best low power/high(ish) end 3.5 USB DAC is? My personal favourite DAC is the A&K PEE51, but it takes about 12% per hour out of my phone, so it's a killer. I've tried the W2, which I liked (about 10% - similar to the DFC), and the S2 and the Chronos, which I didn't like (about 8%). Are there any other good battery life options at the higher quality end (that don't have interference...) that I should check out? Thanks.

Just to say, I'm using Qobuz through UAPP on a Samsung S20, to drive Westone W80s - so super light IEMS (I don't need power, just class)

 

[r31ya]

Anyone got any views of what the best low power/high(ish) end 3.5 USB DAC is? My personal favourite DAC is the A&K PEE51, but it takes about 12% per hour out of my phone, so it's a killer. I've tried the W2, which I liked (about 10% - similar to the DFC), and the S2 and the Chronos, which I didn't like (about 8%). Are there any other good battery life options at the higher quality end (that don't have interference...) that I should check out? Thanks.

Just to say, I'm using Qobuz through UAPP on a Samsung S20, to drive Westone W80s - so super light IEMS (I don't need power, just class)

if battery is your concern, get BTR5 (or its peers) run it through cable and turn off the charging option.
You'll have at least 4 hour on high gain bal out from BTR5 internal battery without depleting your phone battery.

 

[PhonoPhi]

Anyone got any views of what the best low power/high(ish) end 3.5 USB DAC is? My personal favourite DAC is the A&K PEE51, but it takes about 12% per hour out of my phone, so it's a killer. I've tried the W2, which I liked (about 10% - similar to the DFC), and the S2 and the Chronos, which I didn't like (about 8%). Are there any other good battery life options at the higher quality end (that don't have interference...) that I should check out? Thanks.

Just to say, I'm using Qobuz through UAPP on a Samsung S20, to drive Westone W80s - so super light IEMS (I don't need power, just class)

One can use different splitters to power USB DACs.

(Note that the splitter with the double high-res sticker is the most "euphonic")

Or, believe it or not, the Apple dongle does the great job in sound and consumes less power than the Samsung S10 internal DAC

If it helps aidiophilically, the Apple dongle can be bought for $200 with the proceeds going to your saving account or less fortunate.

 

[dgjl]

Thanks PhonoPhi. Splitters are an effective work around, but if I'm going to carry all that, I may as well get a DAP, I suppose. The Apple USB-C dongle is what it is, just as any car will get you to your destination - I've tried a whole bunch of $10 DACs, very much in parallel with Andy Osprey's Donglemadness research. It's only confirmed, for me at least, that you get what you pay for. There's no supercheap, supergreat dongle, unfortunately (some are surprisingly good for the very low investment, but that's it).

 

[Dobrescu George]

I know you missed me for the past few days, as I've been on a short vacation, but don't worry, I'm back and ready to help you get more from your music! Today's review will focus around an entry-level baguette, but one that can make sonic pleasures.

I'm talking about the A30 DAC/AMP Dongle made by SoundMAGIC, great for portability, can decode DSD, and has a nice sound too~

More info in the full written review, for your reading pleasure

https://www.audiophile-heaven.com/2021/12/soundmagic-a30-dac-amp-baguette-of-sonics.html