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Quote:
Not to knock on WiR3D, as this chart is a good starting point, but it's also somewhat simplified. e.g. to me. There are a few points of which I may not necessarily agree with the chart (e.g. I personally wouldn't consider the iPhone's DAC to be a "good internal DAC", & in the Android world, none are official DAC/Amp supported (will see when JB 4.1 actually open to the greater public).
So far, I've not come across many USB DAC/Amp portables that I like. I personally haven't been impressed iBasso D-Zero, almost all of Fiio range (except E17, they may have something there), and even the RSA Predator (average DAC but great Amp).
IMHO, for now, the iDevice DAC/Amps have more of an edge over Android are more mature and currently the real competitors to the iDevice DAC/Amps are the DAPs (Sony NW-Z, iBasso DX100, Studio-V, etc) but most of the DAPs have UI challenges.
Once Android's JB 4.1 is in production, then I'm guessing a new range of USB DAC/Amps will appear to raise the bar to be competitive with the iDevice DAC/Amps.
P.S. note that I'm referring specifically to DAC/Amps. Amp-only would be an entirely new topic.
Good chart! But for those that don't know about it, this chart represents the portable side of things. There are sub hundred dollar devices(like i river) and a few others along the range(albeit not very known) that can and has lisencing ability to bypass the iPod or iOS devices own DAC and amp , although they are desktop use which at that point in my case..would be redundant for my use.
Not to knock on WiR3D, as this chart is a good starting point, but it's also somewhat simplified. e.g. to me. There are a few points of which I may not necessarily agree with the chart (e.g. I personally wouldn't consider the iPhone's DAC to be a "good internal DAC", & in the Android world, none are official DAC/Amp supported (will see when JB 4.1 actually open to the greater public).
So far, I've not come across many USB DAC/Amp portables that I like. I personally haven't been impressed iBasso D-Zero, almost all of Fiio range (except E17, they may have something there), and even the RSA Predator (average DAC but great Amp).
IMHO, for now, the iDevice DAC/Amps have more of an edge over Android are more mature and currently the real competitors to the iDevice DAC/Amps are the DAPs (Sony NW-Z, iBasso DX100, Studio-V, etc) but most of the DAPs have UI challenges.
Once Android's JB 4.1 is in production, then I'm guessing a new range of USB DAC/Amps will appear to raise the bar to be competitive with the iDevice DAC/Amps.
P.S. note that I'm referring specifically to DAC/Amps. Amp-only would be an entirely new topic.