[staticV3]

1. The 9038S is ridiculously powerful, so you'll have to reduce volume on your phone to near zero which seriously reduces dynamic range.
2. It needs a lot more power than the Meizu Dac which is not ideal for mobile use
3. Because Ivan, the one making the 9038S, decided to filter only two of the four outputs of the 9038S for the sake of lower output impedance, you will hear EMI noise when using cellular. The Meizu Dac doesn't have this problem.
4. The USB jack on the 9038S has the tendency to become loose which results in a loud noise. Once again, the Meizu doesn't have this issue.

 

[realkepp]

Thank you, you convenienced me.
I'll choose Meizu Pro, because almost all music is in 44.1kHz in my phone

 

[snip3r77]

The 9038S/D is king when it comes to SQ. However, they are really not made for portable IEM usage so there are a bunch of problems if you want to use it like this. That's why I'll continue to recommend the meizu over the 9038 for on the go.

A lot of ppl are looking at e1da with Lower voltage

 

[jasonb]

So how do the e1da amps do with Windows in terms of volume? I have a Hidizs Sonata HDII and on Windows the volume steps are huge. How does the volume control work with the e1da amps on Windows? It would be used with an HD650, Q701, and an M50x.

 

[staticV3]

So how do the e1da amps do with Windows in terms of volume? I have a Hidizs Sonata HDII and on Windows the volume steps are huge. How does the volume control work with the e1da amps on Windows? It would be used with an HD650, Q701, and an M50x.

The reason why the volume steps are so huge is because Windows recognizes that the Sonata has USB accessible HW volume control and the volume bar in Windows automatically switches from controlling 100 levels of software volume to controlling the probably 25 to 50 steps of HW volume on the Sonata.

The PDv2 has internal HW volume controlled via a Bluetooth app. There you have very fine control (0.1dB steps, 810 steps in total). The volume bar in Windows functions as normal with 100 steps of SW volume.

The 9038S G1 and G2 have no HW volume so the volume bar in Windows functions as normal with 100 steps.

The 9038D and 9038S G3 have HW volume but it cannot be controlled over USB so Windows is as normal. Instead you control the 250 steps, each +0.5dB by tapping the device:

If HW volume is available, then SW should ideally be disabled or set to 100%.

 

[alex5908]

my phone battery drains fast when using the DC01

Fast like what? How many hours?

 

[jasonb]

The reason why the volume steps are so huge is because Windows recognizes that the Sonata has USB accessible HW volume control and the volume bar in Windows automatically switches from controlling 100 levels of software volume to controlling the probably 25 to 50 steps of HW volume on the Sonata.

The PDv2 has internal HW volume controlled via a Bluetooth app. There you have very fine control (0.1dB steps, 810 steps in total). The volume bar in Windows functions as normal with 100 steps of SW volume.

The 9038S G1 and G2 have no HW volume so the volume bar in Windows functions as normal with 100 steps.

The 9038D and 9038S G3 have HW volume but it cannot be controlled over USB so Windows is as normal. Instead you control the 250 steps, each +0.5dB by tapping the device:

If HW volume is available, then SW should ideally be disabled or set to 100%.

I'm not sure exactly because with the Sonata and the M50x I couldn't get the windows volume past like 20 out of 100. But my best guess is that the Sonata with Windows has like 12 steps. Each step is very large and only about 1/4 of the steps in windows actually changes the volume.

 

[alex5908]

The upcoming 9038D however will use roughly twice as much power as the S so there's that.

Is it confirmed by Ivan? If so then only S version is for me.

 

[staticV3]

I'm not sure exactly because with the Sonata and the M50x I couldn't get the windows volume past like 20 out of 100. But my best guess is that the Sonata with Windows has like 12 steps. Each step is very large and only about 1/4 of the steps in windows actually changes the volume.

Well you won't have that problem with either of the E1DA DACs.
But 12 steps is a seriously bad design.

 

[staticV3]

Is it confirmed by Ivan? If so then only S version is for me.

Ivan measured the 9038D at 170mA (90mA for the S) and that won't change for the official version or even for future revisions probably since the D is at it's core a Dual Rail design and will naturally need roughly twice as much power as the 9038S's Single Rail design.

 

[alex5908]

Dual Rail design and will naturally need roughly twice as much power as the 9038S's Single Rail design.

Sounds not very encouraging. I was hoping to get something better from D but with such a bad battery drain... I think I'll get S for $86 on Black Friday at ali.

 

[alex5908]

both the Meizu Pro and non Pro have been measured by a private individual and they perform really admirably, way better than both the ibassos and the Ztella.

I'll get both hopefully quite soon and then I will compare the three of them. It'll be very frustrating if they both (DC01 and Ztella) sound worse compared with Meizu DAC. I've read some reviews reading the other way about, though.

 

[staticV3]

Sounds not very encouraging. I was hoping to get something better from D but with such a bad battery drain... I think I'll get S for $86 on Black Friday at ali.

If you want an mmcx cable then I suggest you get the 9038S bundle with the C to C cable for $78 ($72 on black Friday) and this cable: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33041122912.html

 

[staticV3]

I'll get both hopefully quite soon and then I will compare the three of them. It'll be very frustrating if they both (DC01 and Ztella) sound worse compared with Meizu DAC. I've read some reviews reading the other way about, though.

I'm very curious to hear your impressions!

 

[alex5908]

I'm very curious to hear your impressions!

Well, actually I don't believe that Meizu DAC is better (especially "way better") than Ztella and DC01. Time will tell.