[Stevko]

What ipad sounds best? (Minijack)

 

[bigshot]

All of my Apple gear sounds the same- perfect.

 

[Sterling2]

All of my Apple gear sounds the same- perfect.

Yep, all of my Apple Music devices sound great but the best is from iMac M1 outputting to my Parasound P6 2.1 Preamplifier/DAC, very lifelike at any volume.

 

[mikeyhd]

have a buch of apple device and can't hear any difference as long as same output is used

 

[Stevko]

So an apple dongle will sound same as an ipad?

 

[bigshot]

Yes, the apple dongle is as good sounding as it gets.

 

[bigshot]

Yep, all of my Apple Music devices sound great but the best is from iMac M1 outputting to my Parasound P6 2.1 Preamplifier/DAC, very lifelike at any volume.

That's likely because of the preamp rather than the DAC. Your headphones may just require amping to sound their best.

 

[Stevko]

Yes, the apple dongle is as good sounding as it gets.

Gonna sell my tr-amp.
My wifes ipad sounds better with my T1.
So considering an ipad. But if the apple dongle sounds as good as an ipad…

 

[bigshot]

I don't know anything about the equipment you own, but an amp is separate from the DAC. The dongle doesn't include an amp. If it sounds better through a DAC/amp, it is probably because of the amp, not the DAC. If properly designed and manufactured, all DACs should be audibly transparent.

 

[Stevko]

The ipad sounds more right for me. The tr-amp lift the bass and highes too much

 

[bigshot]

That sounds like you haven't matched your levels before comparing.

 

[Stevko]

That sounds like you haven't matched your levels before comparing.

Levels? Too much volume?

 

[bigshot]

If one sample is a teeny bit louder than the other, it will sound like the bass and treble is louder. Human hearing isn't the same at all volumes. The quieter something is, the more the midrange is pronounced, and the louder it gets, the more midrange is suppressed compared to the lows and highs, even if the equalization is identical. You need to precisely match the volumes between the two things you're comparing or you'll end up being fooled by the way your ears hear.

Unless one of your DACs is defective, the frequency response should be identical.

 

[Stevko]

If one sample is a teeny bit louder than the other, it will sound like the bass and treble is louder. Human hearing isn't the same at all volumes. The quieter something is, the more the midrange is pronounced, and the louder it gets, the more midrange is suppressed compared to the lows and highs, even if the equalization is identical. You need to precisely match the volumes between the two things you're comparing or you'll end up being fooled by the way your ears hear.

Unless one of your DACs is defective, the frequency response should be identical.

Not sure what it is. But in this case, the apple dongle sounds better than my TR-amp.(with T1)
With my Grados, the tr-amp is great.
Can it be something like that the amp output too much current/voltage? Too sensitive HP`s, and no gain adjustment knob?

 

[bigshot]

Yes, it could be an impedance issue. Especially if one sounds good with one set of cans and the other sounds good with a different set of cans.