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Showing 1 of 47 conversations about:
uw_g
12
Jan 25, 2020
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Didn't want to wait and purchased one from aliexpress (lightning version for an Iphone 11 pro max). It's a good dac, very small and light but with a bit more power that the apple dongle. Strengths are sound quality and output power, weak points are build quality of the cable (textile sleeve seems to disintegrate quite fast) and issues connecting with the iphone: I have to connect the in-ears to the dac first and only then the dac to the iphone, otherwise it has troubles getting in sync. Prefer it to Audioquest Dragonfly red due to its smaller form factor and the fact that it doesn't need the camera adapter. Sound quality is equivalent. It can drive all of my IEMs and sensitive full-size phones, too, but not those with higher impedance/power needs.
Victorfabius
105
Jan 25, 2020
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uw_gGreat contribution, uw_g!
I was looking at the Audirect Atom as well, but I got turned onto the Hidizs S8 (thanks, Audio Science Review) instead.
We both have similar reasons for selecting these alternatives: smaller than the Dragonfly series (Black in my case), and doesn't require a separate adapter.
One thing I note with the Hidizs S8 is that the volume control is much finer, since I can control volume via software and separately via the S8 itself. This can be challenging to find the right volume level, as one has to adjust two separate controls to get the desired loudness.
I primarily use IEMs, and with the Dragonfly, I had three volume settings: off, just too soft, or louder than I could take. With the Hidizs S8, I can add "just right". With that, I feel like the S8 gives better sound quality - it doesn't, really. It's just an effect of going from "too soft" volume levels to "just right", giving me that false impression.
So, how does the Audirect Atom handle volume through your iPhone - and are you able to easily get it to the "just right" level? Given your concerns on the cable sleeve, would you recommend the Atom? Or, what changes could hiliDAC make to improve the Atom in your opinion?
uw_g
12
Jan 27, 2020
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VictorfabiusI have an Hidizs S8 on order, too, which hasn't arrived yet. Reason for that purchase was that my E1DA 9038s while technically great is a pita to use due to not featuring hardware volume and not supporting software volume on iphones and on the newer Samsung Sxx. There's no way to use Spotify on the iphone with the 9038s. Tidal is available only by use of CapTune.
I therefore wanted a dac with hardware volume. But when I read about the Atom fully supporting the iphone I gave that a shot, too. And I really like it. Sonically it's great, choosing the right software volume on the iphone 11 pro max is no problem in any player/streaming app so far.
Regarding the questionable build quality of the cable I considered an additional sleeve but I suspected it to become too stiff.
The other great improvement for Audirect would be to make a revised Atom V2 which is just a bit less ugly ;).
(Edited)
uw_g
12
Jan 29, 2020
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pmerrittI see. But normally you wouldn't expect that it should make a difference whether a phone is plugged in or not as the crucial part is the negotiation between the dac and the digital source. At least this the way it is with my other portable dacs (Mojo, Dragonfly Red, Hidizs S8).
uw_g
12
Sep 15, 2020
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HydeWith inears the sonic difference between the two is very small. Where the S8 beats the Dragonfly red is regarding powering low impedance full size headphones. My favorite for this type of phones however is the E1DA SG3. As it supports IOS volume and has even more power this is the dongle to use for low sensitivity headphones - provided your phone/s is/are balanced. For highly sensitive inears I prefer the S8.
Hyde
1119
Sep 16, 2020
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uw_gMy current headphone is Denon D2000 which is 25 Ohm, I guess it falls under low impedance full size headphone?
Lol I guess now I'm debating to either get the S8 or use Dragonfly Red as the dac and get Atom amp or something. I think the price difference isn't too high also I'm using it at my desk
Thanks!
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