[Brain Damage]

Hello everyone,
Im looking for a low powered dac dongle for my beloved earbud (Shozy BK 16 ohm) could you guys recommend me one.
Im looking for a neutral sounding dac because i listen to a lot of jazz, i like a sparky treble, airy high, forward mid for females vocals.
For technicality side eg. soundstage and details i just want it to be competent because this earbud already have a great detail and soundstage.


I have apple dongle and very impressed with it, it sound so clean and have a great synergy with the Shozy, however the build quality leave much to be desired.
I have Fiio KA3 which is very neutral and much more analytical but it pulled out so much power that I actually used that with my 6xx instead, not a great pair with low sensitive earbud.
I have V.E odyssey and not impressed, too warm for my taste.

So for now I’m looking for a dongle dac which performs like apple dongle but with a great build quality, what do you guys have in mind?
( I will use it with my IPad air so apple compatibility would be great in addition)

Check Andy's website, this should help you narrow it down:

https://andyaudiovault.com/donglemadness/

 

[WilliamCruz]

Check Andy's website, this should help you narrow it down:

https://andyaudiovault.com/donglemadness/

wow this guy is incredibly passionate and helpful, thanks for sharing

 

[ahloiazrul]

just curious which earbud did you pair with? I was thinking to pair with an IEM that has low sens

I pair it with Shozy BK (16 ohm)

 

[ahloiazrul]

I'd cover my apple dongle with heat shrink tubing top to botton if I where you. Cheap and effective.

I was thinking to do that but im such a poor handyman, i think i could destroyed the dongle in the process..

 

[ahloiazrul]

Check Andy's website, this should help you narrow it down:

https://andyaudiovault.com/donglemadness/

Thank you very much! This is so helpful.

 

[WilliamCruz]

Thinking of getting the Creative SXFI, it's pretty affordable and from andy's review, it sounds great and a better buy than DC05? Does anyone have it?

Can't find its output impedance though..

 

[Brain Damage]

Thank you very much! This is so helpful.

No probs

 

[andjayik]

HIDIZS S3 PRO or​

iBasso DC05 ? Just returned the Ka3 as my​

CX31993 sounded pretty much the same and the extra $100 was not worth it.​

 

[lushmelody]

HIDIZS S3 PRO or​

iBasso DC05 ? Just returned the Ka3 as my​

CX31993 sounded pretty much the same and the extra $100 was not worth it.​

That is good to know. My plan is CX31993 for a beater external DAC (while saving for a DAP with balanced output)

 

[andjayik]

Ya $17 dac was just as good as the Ka3 in terms of sound

 

[G33dubz]

To anyone interested in a dongle for music AND for game consoles, check out the xduoo link 2 bal. Has a UAC switch so you can use both. 2 cs43131 chips as well as 4.4 and 3.5 outputs. Pretty dang good for a buck fifty!

 

[Hyde00]

To anyone interested in a dongle for music AND for game consoles, check out the xduoo link 2 bal. Has a UAC switch so you can use both. 2 cs43131 chips as well as 4.4 and 3.5 outputs. Pretty dang good for a buck fifty!

Yeah the price really surprised me, I was planning to buy W2-131. But xDuoo Link2 Bal at half price but almost same spec got me thinking if I should've gone with this instead....... hmmmmmm choices.........

 

[HealPerson]

Del

 

[G33dubz]

Yeah the price really surprised me, I was planning to buy W2-131. But xDuoo Link2 Bal at half price but almost same spec got me thinking if I should've gone with this instead....... hmmmmmm choices.........

I think its the best dongle I've tried. Only conplaint is the cheap cable it comes with

 

[TooPoorForHiFi]

Shameless Plug, Selling the Sonata E44.

Reason : I've come to not like the separate Volume control for my use case. I would like my Volume control Link with the source. Otherwise, they sound GRRRRREAT.