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

[LaughMoreDaily]

Assuming no EQ done and the rips are done correctly, perhaps the DAC/amp implementation on the Shanlings are a bit different. Some older recordings can sound overly sterile or harsh on newer sources which are more transparent?

Yeah, I'm still trying to solve the issue.

It's kind of a waste of money if an ancient audio product doesn't sound good on a newer DAP. The old CD players I bought recently are hit and miss.

I'd rather listen to older recordings with newer gear.

 

[blackwhit]

Hi all,

I was wondering if you can recommend me DAC dongle. I had Lotoo Paw s1, which was great but I decided to sell it and try something which is originaly not from China. I am based in central Europe, so my options to buy something are rather limited. The only one clear option is dragonfly, but I believe there is something with better price/specs ratio. Since I only use Tidal, I prefer DAC with MQA support. What would be your suggestions? Is there something non chinese?

thank you

 

[Hotep303]

Hi all,

I was wondering if you can recommend me DAC dongle. I had Lotoo Paw s1, which was great but I decided to sell it and try something which is originaly not from China. I am based in central Europe, so my options to buy something are rather limited. The only one clear option is dragonfly, but I believe there is something with better price/specs ratio. Since I only use Tidal, I prefer DAC with MQA support. What would be your suggestions? Is there something non chinese?

thank you

My advice is to forget the MQA and not support any businesses who use that in their DACs. I've heard CEOs of companies saying that they are including mqa functionality into their devices just because the consumers demand it. Stop demanding it, it's that simple.

 

[Barndoor]

Hi all,

I was wondering if you can recommend me DAC dongle. I had Lotoo Paw s1, which was great but I decided to sell it and try something which is originaly not from China. I am based in central Europe, so my options to buy something are rather limited. The only one clear option is dragonfly, but I believe there is something with better price/specs ratio. Since I only use Tidal, I prefer DAC with MQA support. What would be your suggestions? Is there something non chinese?

thank you

A couple of companies immediately spring to mind. CEntance (Chicago) and A&K (Seoul).

 

[treal512]

Hey, quick question- would a dongle DAC let me plug in a 3.5mm headset with microphone and allow the mic to work for phone calls?

 

[danny87]

Hey, quick question- would a dongle DAC let me plug in a 3.5mm headset with microphone and allow the mic to work for phone calls?

Some yes, some no. E.g. the apple usb dongle has this feature. Tempotec sonata hd also has it, but sonata hd pro doesnt.

 

[treal512]

Some yes, some no. E.g. the apple usb dongle has this feature. Tempotec sonata hd also has it, but sonata hd pro doesnt.

Awesome! Thank you for the quick response

 

[Ichos]

Hey, quick question- would a dongle DAC let me plug in a 3.5mm headset with microphone and allow the mic to work for phone calls?

There are a few that support microphone like the S3 PRO.

 

[treal512]

You can read it here now:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/40-...ted-and-ranked-subjective-impressions.958216/

There was a disagreement with the FB group Admin on me giving away those dongles. So I decided to withdraw from that group as I want to write things freely

Why is this post removed? Where can I find similar information on multiple DACs like this?

Edit: Nevermind, found it

 

[OspreyAndy]

Why is this post removed? Where can I find similar information on multiple DACs like this?

Edit: Nevermind, found it

https://andyaudiovault.com/donglemadness/

 

[Hyde00]

Hi all,

I was wondering if you can recommend me DAC dongle. I had Lotoo Paw s1, which was great but I decided to sell it and try something which is originaly not from China. I am based in central Europe, so my options to buy something are rather limited. The only one clear option is dragonfly, but I believe there is something with better price/specs ratio. Since I only use Tidal, I prefer DAC with MQA support. What would be your suggestions? Is there something non chinese?

thank you

I might be the only person on head-fi that likes Dragonfly Red LOL. Like I've recently bought RU6 / W2-131 / PEE51 trying to "upgrade" from Dragonfly Red and I've been testing back and forth for over a week now and I'm still splitting hair as to which I like more overall. They each have their strength / weakness and none of them is 100% better than another, even Dragonfly Red has areas where it's better than the other 3 despite being WAY OLD.

So yeah as people have said, Dragonfly Black/Red/Cobalt, Centrance DACPort HD and Astell and Kern PEE51. Though I think DACPort HD and PEE51 doesn't support MQA if I recall correctly.

You could also look at Helm Bolt, Earmen Eagle/Sparrow, THX Onyx.

Another option is Violectric Chronos but it doesn't support MQA also doesn't drive headphone well lol (my friend says it even doesn't drive his IEM well, but most people seem to love it), I'd not recommend.

Otherwise yeah dongle dac is pretty much dominated by Chinese market at the moment I think.

Hey, quick question- would a dongle DAC let me plug in a 3.5mm headset with microphone and allow the mic to work for phone calls?

Yeah some do some don't.

An easy way to identify is (not always, but most of the time) the "wire looking" type usually has mic input. For example Zorloo Ztella.
https://www.zorloo.com/ztella

And "USB Thumb Drive" looking type generally doesn't come with mic. For example Dragonfly Black/Red/Cobalt.

Of course this is not always true so double check the spec before purchase.

TRS = 3.5 mm (no mic)
TRRS = 3.5 mm (with mic)

 

[rayliam80]

Hi all,

I was wondering if you can recommend me DAC dongle. I had Lotoo Paw s1, which was great but I decided to sell it and try something which is originaly not from China. I am based in central Europe, so my options to buy something are rather limited. The only one clear option is dragonfly, but I believe there is something with better price/specs ratio. Since I only use Tidal, I prefer DAC with MQA support. What would be your suggestions? Is there something non chinese?

thank you

Vioelectric Chronos DAC - German Based

Apogee Groove - California Based

Astell & Kern PEE51 - Korea Based - I personally own this dongle.

CEntrance DACport HD - Chicago Based

EarMen Sparrow - Chicago Based, Made in Europe

My bad. I don't think any of these support MQA.

Edit 2: Earmen Sparrow does.

 

[r31ya]

I might be the only person on head-fi that likes Dragonfly Red LOL. Like I've recently bought RU6 / W2-131 / PEE51 trying to "upgrade" from Dragonfly Red and I've been testing back and forth for over a week now and I'm still splitting hair as to which I like more overall. They each have their strength / weakness and none of them is 100% better than another, even Dragonfly Red has areas where it's better than the other 3 despite being WAY OLD.

So yeah as people have said, Dragonfly Black/Red/Cobalt, Centrance DACPort HD and Astell and Kern PEE51. Though I think DACPort HD and PEE51 doesn't support MQA if I recall correctly.

You could also look at Helm Bolt, Earmen Eagle/Sparrow, THX Onyx.

Another option is Violectric Chronos but it doesn't support MQA also doesn't drive headphone well lol (my friend says it even doesn't drive his IEM well, but most people seem to love it), I'd not recommend.

Otherwise yeah dongle dac is pretty much dominated by Chinese market at the moment I think.

Yeah some do some don't.

An easy way to identify is (not always, but most of the time) the "wire looking" type usually has mic input. For example Zorloo Ztella.
https://www.zorloo.com/ztella

And "USB Thumb Drive" looking type generally doesn't come with mic. For example Dragonfly Black/Red/Cobalt.

Of course this is not always true so double check the spec before purchase.

TRS = 3.5 mm (no mic)
TRRS = 3.5 mm (with mic)

I'm using my Dragonfly Red right now with HE-400i (2020) (fer f*ck sake, get simpler name)
What disappoint me is Red is no direct upgrade from Black. It got different direction.
All i want is black with slightly better clarity and 3d soundstage instead of its left-right soundstage.

But yeah, Red is its own thing.
I'm still using it for my pc for its plug and play convenience. personally i like my BTR5 more than this, the clarity and the feels of colored/muffled than DFR is there.
But now it found its second life with my HE-400i as it apparently tames its treble a bit.
still, i'm currently still planning to trade it with either Fiio KA3 or Xduoo Link 2 Bal or Ifi Zen if i have the space.

still not sure whether its better than Dragonfly Red since thanks to covid, store audition is not a thing anymore.

 

[Hyde00]

I'm using my Dragonfly Red right now with HE-400i (2020) (fer f*ck sake, get simpler name)
What disappoint me is Red is no direct upgrade from Black. It got different direction.
All i want is black with slightly better clarity and 3d soundstage instead of its left-right soundstage.

But yeah, Red is its own thing.
I'm still using it for my pc for its plug and play convenience. personally i like my BTR5 more than this, the clarity and the feels of colored/muffled than DFR is there.
But now it found its second life with my HE-400i as it apparently tames its treble a bit.
still, i'm currently still planning to trade it with either Fiio KA3 or Xduoo Link 2 Bal or Ifi Zen if i have the space.

still not sure whether its better than Dragonfly Red since thanks to covid, store audition is not a thing anymore.

LOL yeah I think between Black/Red/Cobalt they all have their own signature. I tried to upgrade to Cobalt and went back to Red. Same problem as you said it changed signature. Though your comment intrigued me, should I try Black again just for the heck of it? I've only demoed it for 5 min at the store so my memory might not be correct. And I've read some people might even like the Black 1.2 better (current gen is 1.5) which makes it extra confusing.

I also use it on my PC for convenience too (yay, high five), so I probably won't need BTR5. But definitely let me know if you ever get to try KA3 or Xduoo Link2 Bal, was thinking about those 2 also.

Thanks!

 

[ExTubeGamer]

The iBasso DC05 really brings the 7Hz Timeless to shine. Just about perfect and not too bright sounding. Detailed and just a little bit warm.