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USB-C to 3.5mm adapters (DAC) - Let's find the best
Jun 7, 2021 at 12:22 AM Post #2,506 of 6,468
Jun 7, 2021 at 6:43 AM Post #2,507 of 6,468
Jun 8, 2021 at 8:10 AM Post #2,510 of 6,468
Jun 8, 2021 at 10:29 AM Post #2,512 of 6,468
OspreyAndy said:
Depends on if I have any bandwidth left. At the current rate I am likely to go up to 40 dongles and that's very taxing on my funds
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Truly, I don't disagree.
 
Jun 11, 2021 at 1:50 AM Post #2,513 of 6,468
OK so which DAC is the best? The obvious question...
 
Jun 11, 2021 at 2:13 AM Post #2,515 of 6,468
OspreyAndy said:
Ovidius B1
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You know that answer surprises me.

Specs indicate it's on par with VAIO's Sigmatel/IDT CXD9872 (24/192 and DSD64 only - but my favourite chip and the reason I love dongles now) which was circa 2005-7. Similar kind of SNR (who knows what measure exactly) of up to 107.

Unfortunately in this age I expect 32/384 and DSD128 at least. Furthermore, if Ovidius B1 can record in DSD64 like CXD9872 did, then I would be happy.

Power consumption isn't a major factor for most people's phones possibly?
 
Jun 11, 2021 at 9:51 AM Post #2,516 of 6,468
Star Mastering said:
You know that answer surprises me.

Specs indicate it's on par with VAIO's Sigmatel/IDT CXD9872 (24/192 and DSD64 only - but my favourite chip and the reason I love dongles now) which was circa 2005-7. Similar kind of SNR (who knows what measure exactly) of up to 107.

Unfortunately in this age I expect 32/384 and DSD128 at least. Furthermore, if Ovidius B1 can record in DSD64 like CXD9872 did, then I would be happy.

Power consumption isn't a major factor for most people's phones possibly?
Click to expand...

What I have learned through this journey of extensively testing over 20 dongles (and would probably end up over 40), the DAC chip used does not necessarily mean they will all sound the same. For example the Shanling UA2 which runs ES9038Q2M, this is the warmest sounding ESS I have listened to so far. In fact if I don't know the spec sheets I would have guessed it is an AKM. Same for JCally JM04Pro and JA04, which literally uses the very same DAC chip which is the Realtek ALC5686 and yet the two of them may as well from a different planet altogether. So the conclusion is, tuning and implementation play huge role. Lotoo PAW S1 is another great example, it uses the old AK4377 yet it does not sound outdated or anything like that. Lotoo is a very respectable and experienced tuner and they have managed to squeeze in a stellar package that oozes with quality

Some dongles, draw power more than the other. My own situation I rarely pay much attention to the power drain unless of course it is glaringly obvious. So far I would say the one that draw the most power is the A&K PEE51 being a dual Cirrus Logic flagship DAC, some price to pay for TOTL performance
 
Jun 11, 2021 at 5:54 PM Post #2,517 of 6,468
OspreyAndy said:
What I have learned through this journey of extensively testing over 20 dongles (and would probably end up over 40), the DAC chip used does not necessarily mean they will all sound the same. For example the Shanling UA2 which runs ES9038Q2M, this is the warmest sounding ESS I have listened to so far. In fact if I don't know the spec sheets I would have guessed it is an AKM. Same for JCally JM04Pro and JA04, which literally uses the very same DAC chip which is the Realtek ALC5686 and yet the two of them may as well from a different planet altogether. So the conclusion is, tuning and implementation play huge role. Lotoo PAW S1 is another great example, it uses the old AK4377 yet it does not sound outdated or anything like that. Lotoo is a very respectable and experienced tuner and they have managed to squeeze in a stellar package that oozes with quality

Some dongles, draw power more than the other. My own situation I rarely pay much attention to the power drain unless of course it is glaringly obvious. So far I would say the one that draw the most power is the A&K PEE51 being a dual Cirrus Logic flagship DAC, some price to pay for TOTL performance
Click to expand...
is not because of the shanling tuning on UA2.. it coz of ES9038Q2M doesn't have integrated amp so they need amplification stage > dual Ricore RT6863 to achieve SE and balanced output, this type is also applied to A&K PEE51 and also Lotoo Paw S1 for this type amplification stage has more bigger impact rather than the DAC itself.

Opposite to something like iBasso DC04, ddhifi tc44b with DUAL Cirrus Logic CS43131 they have integrated head amp on the dac chip itself to achieve BAL so doesn't need extra amplification and soundwise its nearly identical since there's no more amplification stage.
 
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Jun 12, 2021 at 3:41 PM Post #2,519 of 6,468
Jun 12, 2021 at 3:59 PM Post #2,520 of 6,468
Swy05 said:
Did that facebook group get deleted? =(

Was a member and I tried going to the link today and it's showing that the content isn't available.

Really appreciate the reviews and time/money you spent reviewing all of those dongles.
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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
 
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