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

[originalsnuffy]

iBasso just teased this on their WeChat page, seems more info will be out tomorrow:

My guess is that this will not be cheap.

 

[vajdan03]

The collection of tiny things grows, couldn't resist and got myself a ddHifi TC44Pro

How does the ddHiFi TC44Pro stack up against Tanchjim Space? I am in the market for a dongle dac and considering both the above, i prefer ddHifi because of its compactness.

appreciate it if you could provide a brief comparison between the two, i will be using it for my 64Audio U12T. I am able to hear an audible hiss on my BTR5 (2019 ver), so i'd like to hear your opinion on noise floor of ddhifi tc44pro.

 

[ApaucalyptiK]

How does the ddHiFi TC44Pro stack up against Tanchjim Space? I am in the market for a dongle dac and considering both the above, i prefer ddHifi because of its compactness.

appreciate it if you could provide a brief comparison between the two, i will be using it for my 64Audio U12T. I am able to hear an audible hiss on my BTR5 (2019 ver), so i'd like to hear your opinion on noise floor of ddhifi tc44pro.

I'm not the best person to answer this question.
I'm not much of a critical audiophile and i don't do extensive comparisons to point out tiny differences... i just listen to music.
(this might be strange coming from someone who owns several sources)

I did a bit more back and forth A/B analytical listening before writing this post... and they sound virtually identical to my ears with my IE800s.
No hiss or noise with either one of them.

 

[jasonb]

I'm not the best person to answer this question.
I'm not much of a critical audiophile and i don't do extensive comparisons to point out tiny differences... i just listen to music.
(this might be strange coming from someone who owns several sources)

I did a bit more back and forth A/B analytical listening before writing this post... and they sound virtually identical to my ears with my IE800s.
No hiss or noise with either one of them.

As we all should be....

I've simplified my listening lately to just whatever headphone/IEM plugged right into my M1 MacBook Air headphone jack, or an apple dongle with my iPhone. Somehow I think my M1 Air headphone jack is the best sounding source/DAC/amp (or whatever you want to call it) that I've ever experienced. I don't know what it is about it, but I don't have hard to drive stuff and don't listen all that loudly and it just sounds clear and dynamic and punchy and all that good stuff.

I've used a lot of stuff with ESS DAC's and maybe I just don't like them anymore. I know that I really don't like my Qudelix 5K anymore as I've come to realize that it sounds a bit thin and clinical and seems to lack punch. I have a couple USB-C dongles from back in my Android days, and I'll have to see how they work out with the new iPhones with the USB-C ports.

 

[originalsnuffy]

I've used a lot of stuff with ESS DAC's and maybe I just don't like them anymore.

I have decided to abstain from any more purchases with equipment featuring ESS. I agree that it just all seems too clinical with that architecture.

Now that AKM is back in the game, CS is doing fine, Rohm is out there, and R2R is a dongle reality, there are other choices.

By the way, my Zorloo Ztella is on eBay right now if anybody is interested. For cheap.

 

[jasonb]

I have decided to abstain from any more purchases with equipment featuring ESS. I agree that it just all seems too clinical with that architecture.

Now that AKM is back in the game, CS is doing fine, Rohm is out there, and R2R is a dongle reality, there are other choices.

By the way, my Zorloo Ztella is on eBay right now if anybody is interested. For cheap.

I have 2 Cirrus Logic dongles from back in the day. One of them being the Meizu HiFi Pro with the CS43131 which I enjoyed a lot back in my Android days. I'm curious how well it'll work with the iPhone 15 with the USBC port.

It seems that most of todays dongles are the "usb stick" style and size instead of the Apple dongle and Meizu HiFI style. None of the stuff I have is even remotely hard to drive so I don't need such size and power, or 4.4mm jacks. Right now I'm listening to my Aful Performer 8's straight out of my M1 MacBook Air at 8% volume so I don't need power...

 

[marekm]

Funny, how we need to explain / validate our actions / decisions on a public forum. Just in case, most likely to reassure ourselves

Speaking of ESS, it is all in the implementation. iFi Go Link uses ESS chipset. Nothing thin or clinical there. Just pure musical joy. Form factor is also very pleasant

 

[Matias]

For low power and sensitive IEMs the most important spec it very low noise floor, SNR and DR. But even with lots of unnecessary power, 4.4 mm balanced outputs usually have lower crosstalk too so that is a bonus.

 

[Tamizhan]

BTR15. Around 300mw this time, up from 240mw, but with 4.4 and 3.5mm outputs

 

[XTF1]

(New?) Rose Tecnics RZ-500. Another ES9038Q2M-based dongle.
$50 on sale in AE: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256....0.0.5d7f38dayvvCZo&mp=1&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa

• 3.5 + 4.4mm output
• Savitech SA9137L USB bridge
• ES9038Q2M DAC (single)
• ES9603Q amp (must be dual for bal. output)

 

[WoodyLuvr]

 

[marekm]

A day without a new dongle announcement is a wasted day

Soon we will need to seek medical help, to get ourselves out of this dongle madness

 

[marmagas]

I need some help here please
Until now I hear music/games with my pc connecting to my Yamaha avr via spdif.
My wharfedale speakers and sub play nice and when I want to use my earbuds or headphones I use the front phones jack in my Yamaha avr
Now I got a new motherboard which has usb-c and also got a VE Megatron DAC.
How can I connect all these in order to have better sound than before?
I attach all connections.
Thanks in advance.

 

[artpiggo]

I need some help here please
Until now I hear music/games with my pc connecting to my Yamaha avr via spdif.
My wharfedale speakers and sub play nice and when I want to use my earbuds or headphones I use the front phones jack in my Yamaha avr
Now I got a new motherboard which has usb-c and also got a VE Megatron DAC.
How can I connect all these in order to have better sound than before?
I attach all connections.
Thanks in advance.

usb c from board to ve megatron and 3.5 mm to speaker?

 

[marmagas]

VE clan@facebook advised me "PC to Megatron using USB cable, then Megatron lineout (near the switch on the picture you sent) to AV input of amp using a 3.5mm to RCA stereo cable."
i think thats the way.