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Showing 1 of 28 conversations about:
Jkross22
67
Aug 12, 2019
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Are DAP's worth this much anymore? Is this worth significantly more than either an LG cell phone or a non-audio focused phone with an AQ Dragonfly?
BenTeo
43
Aug 12, 2019
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Jkross22I have a LG V30 and this DAP, my main Iems are the noble k10s, noble luxe and kz zs10, to me the difference is night and day.
I also have the dragonfly red. Even had to buy the usb audio player pro android app cause it was the only app that allows the audio to bypass the internal DAC, according to forums but this issue was back in 2017, can't say for sure it's fixed.
OveralI, I prefer the x7 2 sound, it's warmer, cleaner, faster, clearer and more exciting to my ears. However, due to convenience and Spotify issues, I was using the v30 for for quite sometime, only occasionally switching to the X7 2 for local music and the difference in sound was always welcoming to me. I never regret getting this dap in terms of sound quality.
I also would recommend my friends who would ask whether a dap is better than their phones. I asked to try for themselves cause sound is so subjective. They ended getting the Fiio X1 2 dap, which sounded better than his lg G6 which has a great DAC too.
So at the end of the day, if you can. Try to to audition the dap and do a subjective comparison. Is this dap worth X amount of dollars and is it worth paying for the sound difference, if any. Fiio is a good example of a audio brand that caters to a broad range of budgets.
Hope this helps guys. Sorry for long post.
(Edited)
Evshrug
3772
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Aug 12, 2019
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Jkross22LG makes a great product, but they’re far and away the best sounding smartphone... a DAP lets me use the smartphone of my choice, without taking up storage or battery life for music listening. I also pair my DAP with my car Bluetooth instead of my phone... the ceiling mics SUCK for phone calls and my radio taking over for my phone (and all voice assistant commands and voice-to-text) is always a delayed, sucky experience.
It helps that the mark I FiiO X7 that I have sounds amazing. I thought the line-Out was on par with my Chord Mojo, though slightly warmer. A sidegrade in sound quality from that well-respected DAC, but due to all its other features and stand-alone capabilities, I just didn’t use the Mojo much after the honeymoon phase. I haven’t owned an LG phone myself, I read good things, but the DAC chip in my X7 is better, and this Mark II version is even better, and no LG has as powerful an amp as what is in these FiiO flagships (I use my HD 650 with the FiiO more than any other headphone, because I happen to find the combo beguiling and addictive, and the system is a convenient all-in-one).
ElectronicVices
2937
Aug 12, 2019
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EvshrugLG V series does surprisingly well with the HD650 putting out 2Vrms and exceeding 110db. Granted I own a KANN Cube so I'm not exactly in the "DAPs aren't worth it camp". I'm also an Android Auto guy (usb connect) which sounds better than anything connected via bluetooth to my car. Haven't tried the Cube LO into the aux in as of yet which may beat the V20 via USB.
Evshrug
3772
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Aug 12, 2019
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ElectronicVicesI’m sure the DAC in the KANN, X7, and V20 would all beat the DAC in my car, but my analog “aux-in” is bizarre and will switch channel imbalance BADLY between left and right while driving. Only radio, CD, and Bluetooth avoid that problem.
ElectronicVices
2937
Aug 12, 2019
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EvshrugUSB connection uses my car's DAC/DSP but passes standard system clock rates for Android via usb. So basically redbook assuming the source file is that or higher. Some AA use BT for all audio, some take audio from the usb connection but still rely on bluetooth for phone calls and google assistant.
Evshrug
3772
Community
Aug 13, 2019
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ElectronicVicesYeah, USB has the same problem in my car. I think it’s a loose wire from the factory between the armrest and the radio “head” unit, been there since I got it but they weaseled out of warranting it. Might be a simple fix... but I have so many things going on, so I just use it as a car charger XD
Oh, and I forgot to say earlier... I’ve had a lot of experience with headphones being amped loud enough, but still not amped well. Sometimes it’s that it’s loud enough for my listening volume (which is well below 90 dB, though I can’t say if it’s close to 70 dB or something) but there’s not enough headroom (I think the potential for 110 dB is PLENTY of headroom) so loud sounds end up sounding compressed and just sound the same loudness. Other times, it’s loud enough, but the soundstage is flat with only one shallow amount of distance, or everything just sounds hard and harsh (especially treble), or that the headphone seems to be struggling to create a note (this is like the compression or soundstage, though more like the bass is weak).
I’m not saying the LG V-series and G-Series sound bad, I haven’t heard them, it’s just... it’s a phone, I can’t tell if they have quality film resistors, and I know it can’t have large capacitors.
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ElectronicVices
2937
Aug 13, 2019
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EvshrugTerrible with high current demand phones (planars) but I genuinely prefer the V20 with HD650 over the Objective2 + Dragonfly. I do believe they have changed their stance but for at least the first couple of generations the only G series that received the ESS Quad DAC's were in markets that didn't get a V series. It's what prompted me to stop carrying a DAP + Amp stack on the road. Now I haul that KANN Cube everywhere and have zero regrets. If only it had LDAC it would be without flaw for my uses and supposedly that is on the table in a FW update.
Evshrug
3772
Community
Aug 13, 2019
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ElectronicVicesI heard a rumor that Savitech might make an app to add LHDC to phones. Probably just android, but it would be amazing if it came to iOS! Right now, LHDC is exclusive to Huawei smartphones, a couple FiiO products, and a smattering of other. But yeah, democratize high-quality Bluetooth codecs!!
(AAC from my iPhone to my Sony ZX300 sounds good, but Airplay over WiFi to my FiiO X7 sounds better)
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