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Dayne
0
Jun 20, 2019
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Really considering buying these, I travel for work and I can't bring my audio setup with me. I know that these are better with an amp, my question is which portable dac/amp would be better? I know that the question is subjective but trying to get some ideas. My phone doesn't have a headphone jack so it would need to be plugged in via USB C. Preferably less than $150. Thanks
Jun 20, 2019
rayliam80
24
Jun 20, 2019
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DaynePlenty of USB dongle dacs for less than $150. Audioquest Dragonfly Black, various ones from SMSL and Sabaj that can found on Amazon. Something with a bit more power would be the iFi Nano BL (which I own) but that puts you in the $200 range. Topping NX4 is around $160-ish on Amazon as well.
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Jun 20, 2019
Benkochoco
Jun 20, 2019
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rayliam80Never recommend audioquest. Their products solved the issue of terrible audio some years ago but the world has changed while their products didn't. Nowadays you could buy a 10 $ apple dongle that will wipe the floor with audioquest. I would either buy these or one of musiland dongles.
Jun 20, 2019
rayliam80
24
Jun 20, 2019
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BenkochocoI just threw it out there as an option since it qualifies for OP's request. Of course, I'd research all the above mentions before purchasing any of them.
Jun 20, 2019
SpaceWizardNinja
17
Jun 20, 2019
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DayneI have been using the ear studio es100 for a while now. They have a balanced output, amazing software, and output more than any phone I have used. From looking at the specs, I think running these in balanced on the es100 will be a win.
Jun 20, 2019
Rick_T
45
Jun 20, 2019
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DayneThere’a this new dongle dac called Nextdrive Spectra and Spectra X.. It might just be what you seek with your budget. It uses an ESS Sabre dac but feedback on it says it’s not as etched sounding like most ESS Sabre dacs.
Jun 20, 2019
OrcaBrigade
118
Jun 20, 2019
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SpaceWizardNinjaI love the ES100 so fucking much! If you don't have an LG cell, the ES100 bt damp turns any bt sending device with LDAC with radsone's app support into a badass fresh outta hell and ready to make your ears bleed happy.
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Jun 20, 2019
LuckyLuke575
561
Jun 20, 2019
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DayneThe Apple dongle has better sound quality than some desktop DACs, inlcuding most of the Schiit models (see below, crazy but true). Have a look at this analysis on Audio Science Review: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/review-apple-vs-google-usb-c-headphone-adapters.5541/ Given the low impedance of these IEM's an amp isn't a must.
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Jun 20, 2019
rosso
84
Jun 20, 2019
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OrcaBrigadeOkay today I got the ES100 and I’ve got the LG V20. I’m sorry but the quad dac trounces the ES100. I bought my LGV20 2 years ago. It’s like $100 now on eBay today.
Jun 20, 2019
OrcaBrigade
118
Jun 20, 2019
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rossoI didn't know that. Although that is another device to carry around. You can just use what ever cell you want with the es100. That is what it is made for, it was perfect with my note8 as that thing has bullshit for headphone output. Also, lg doesn't have a balanced option for those more power hungry devices. So each device really has their short comings to be honest. I have an lg v50 and the only true down side to the lg quad dac, is to get it into any other gain mode than auto detect. You have to trick it with like extensions cables or what have you. Otherwise I love the way the v50 sounds. And of those Korean asshats that let the godly Meridian tune their stuff... why not let the end user that actually knows what the hell they are doing with their devices and audio toys decide on the gain?! The t50rp mk3 is being held back by the auto detect feature of the otherwise fucking phenomenal quad dac and amp built into that thing.
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Jun 20, 2019
OrcaBrigade
118
Jun 20, 2019
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LuckyLuke575You are only looking at the impedance though, have you seen the sensitivity? These things aren't super efficient. Which seems to be a trope of smaller planar drivers. Or how powerful of a magnet array they stuff into the driver. These will most certainly need a decent, at least, amp to give them the power they deserve. As for the apple dongle being better than schiit, they build things on a hella budget... or so they say. I honestly don't have too much in the way of respect for them. I respect them for what they are and what they make, although for the price they are asking... well there are a lot, a LOT better options out there. Period.
Jun 20, 2019
Stonecarver
18
Jun 20, 2019
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DayneLook at the Ear Studio ES100, $99. Amazon & $80. When available on Drop. A wee little unit that has balanced double DAC architecture, works with Bluetooth and USB, and can power just about anything short of a t50rp MkIII-/:-)
Jun 20, 2019
holsen
203
Jun 21, 2019
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DayneGet the Radstone ES100 or the Fiio BTR3, it will give you an amp and a BT solution off your phone. The operate AptX HD and LDAC and sound blissful with out a cable from your phone.
Jun 21, 2019
OrcaBrigade
118
Jun 21, 2019
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Stonecarverif you add about 6db gain you can get the t50's kinda loud on SE power alone. no balanced mod yet so dunno about balanced output.
Jun 21, 2019
Stonecarver
18
Jun 21, 2019
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OrcaBrigadeYep, tried that using balanced (T60RP actually) works, but lacks “headroom” for dynamic range.... the er100 can be used in conjunction with a portable amp with a line-in, such as the Fiio Kilimanjaro. That works perfectly with the t50 clan-/:-)
Jun 21, 2019
OrcaBrigade
118
Jun 21, 2019
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StonecarverWhat a brilliant idea!! I completely derped and forgot you could just use the output of the es100 on a more powerful hard line only portable amp!!! You brilliant bastard, you! Speaking of brilliant.... I have the LG V50 cell, and I can get the t50 to a good volume... but is there an amp I can pair with it via BT-LDAC, or using the es100 to feed them enough power to get loud enough to drown out my cares about potential hearing loss? Or do you know of a way to get into the hidden settings and manually control the gain on the v50 or what have you?
Jun 21, 2019
scottlu
346
Jun 21, 2019
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LuckyLuke575what is : Apple dongle? thanks.
Jun 21, 2019
scottlu
346
Jun 21, 2019
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LuckyLuke575click the link won't goto right site. copy and paste will.
Jun 21, 2019
Stonecarver
18
Jun 23, 2019
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OrcaBrigadeGlad you like the idea. Meanwhile, about the V50, I don't have one so I really can't say. However, tweaking settings like that doesn't give more actual power, it just makes lower input volumes play louder at the output stage, the catch is: that results in less headroom for peek transient response during passages that are louder in the source signal.... Always the trade-offs-/:-)
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Jun 23, 2019
Stonecarver
18
Jun 23, 2019
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LuckyLuke575Audio Science Review is a useful resource, with limitations: He (ASR’s editor and tester) is only concerned with certain measurable differences between units, often fractional percentages of THD that are so far below the audible range that they are of mostly academic interest. This is worthwhile so far as it goes. However, his ranking of DACs is based on these distortion measurements, and does not represent other often much more audible differences between them (such as output impedance) that have a huge impact on how well a given unit will fit with your other gear....
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Jun 23, 2019
OrcaBrigade
118
Jun 26, 2019
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StonecarverTrue, and fair enough in that regard. When I say power I am generally leaning towards more overall volume. As when I am on the go or at work, I am not intensively listening... but rather just listening in general. So less headroom doesn't bother me too much. But as far as the settings go on the V50, I can tell you...well to the best of my knowledge, I can tell you that it sort of auto detects the resistance of the headphone and applies a gain adjustment to it in accordance with that. That or I am thinking of older V series of cells and you simply turn the quad dac on and you get the high gain, etc, etc... from the moment it's on.
Jun 26, 2019
LuckyLuke575
561
Jun 26, 2019
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StonecarverHe actually tests a host of different things about the amps, including output impedance. And no, the THD and noise tests aren't just "academic" because there's a clear indication about what is in the audible range or not. More importantly, the tests let you know what you're buying for the money, and how well the equipment performs overall. I recommend you spend more time on the Audio Science Review site to see what its about (I just pasted the marquee measurement, but there are many more to see).
Jun 26, 2019
Stonecarver
18
Jun 26, 2019
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OrcaBrigadeYou know far more about the v50 than I do! Meanwhile, the main reason to care about "headroom" is bass response and during fluctuations in volume level: No reserve power = flabby, flat, flaccid bass, that "meh" sound! I listen mostly at very moderate volume levels, but the importance of headroom for dynamic response becomes even greater at the sound pressure increases, which stands to reason. Just factors to consider when driving a current-hungry set-o-cans-/:-)
Jun 26, 2019
Stonecarver
18
Jun 26, 2019
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LuckyLuke575
Thanks for the encouragement to brows: it is a very interesting site. My comment about THD testing was primarily in relation the ranked charts that amirm compiles based on his measurements. They are very useful (and they are one of the sources I reference, especially for DACs) but they are not an absolute index to across-the-board quality within the context of any given system, i.e. the Apple Dongle would probably not be as good a choice for running a full-scale component stereo system as a DAC with .02 worse measured distortion but full line-level voltage.
Jun 26, 2019
LuckyLuke575
561
Jun 26, 2019
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DayneIf you really need a portable DAC/AMP then the ifi xCAN is one of the best options because of the Bluethooth connectivity and balanced output option. I have a FiiO Q1 Mk II and that also works great.
Jun 26, 2019
OrcaBrigade
118
Jul 1, 2019
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LuckyLuke575The es100 from Radsone does the same, but I don't know about the price comparison and batt. life comparisons. But I can say if it's anything like the es100 then the xcan should be totally worth it.
Jul 1, 2019
OrcaBrigade
118
Jul 1, 2019
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StonecarverYou sir are a badass, that and my buddy that linked me this short read about Acoustic Reflex. https://www.innerfidelity.com/content/loud-music-sucks After giving it a read I now listen to a much, much, MUUUUUCH more modest volume than before. Suddenly everything is coming alive! I mean it sucks that I spent three weeks tuning my t50rp mk3 to my personal perfection. But hey even at high volumes it's perfect now too. So at these lower volumes I just get that much more enjoyment out of these and all other devices I use to listen with. It's stupefying how much one can get used to the lower volumes to the point where even encroaching upon the levels you would normally listen to just seems to hurt! Mmwwell... for me personally any how.
Jul 1, 2019
MyTechTrip
38
Jul 2, 2019
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LuckyLuke575
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The headphone community acts like impedance is the end all be all of headphones being hard to drive. This just shows a complete lack of understanding in the general community. This is the same as looking at only the horsepower of the car. Without taking into account the sensitivity of the iem(and other metrics), this is utterly useless info. An iem with low impedance and high sensitivity (most iems) is much different than when we start talking about low efficiency products like we have here. This is the same ignorance I experienced in the home theater forums, where people would make comparisons of 100w vs 110w speakers and think it actually made a difference. Then you speak with actual speaker designers in the diy section and realize just how little knowledge people actually have, but pretend to have. No offense to you, but if a person only mentions impedance when talking about whether a headphone is hard/easy to drive, I immediately know that their level of understanding of audio is very very low (in comparison to speaker designers who educated me away from comments of "speed of the subwoofer!" etc.). There are very few reputable places where you can be sure those conversing have audio knowledge. The rest regurgitate the same things they heard others say, with little to no understanding of what they're saying. Also isn't impedance a graph and not a single number like the one I've posted as an example? My knowledge on this matter is minimal (I know enough to know its not as simple as people pretend it is) so while a certain part of the frequency range may be easier to drive, other parts can be harder. Correct me if I'm wrong on this as we're getting into the weeds of something I have the smallest grasp on, but I do know the audiophile community's thoughts on this are primitive at best.
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Jul 2, 2019
LuckyLuke575
561
Jul 2, 2019
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MyTechTripI'm afraid to say that your reply is a long useless shitpost. You've taken 5 paragraphs to repeat the same statement "impedance isn't everything, audiophiles don't know what they're talking about". How about providing some useful information that you feel people are missing? In any case I have different amps, IEMs and headphones of different impedance, and I can tell you from direct personal experience without having to refer to any phantom "experts" or "designers" that the impedance output rating of an amp, and the impedance of headphones affects the sound, and volume level across the board. If other measures also matter like sensitivity etc then I'm open to learning about them, but just ranting like you've done above doesn't add any value to the discussion.
Jul 2, 2019
MyTechTrip
38
Jul 2, 2019
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LuckyLuke575How about providing some useful information that you feel people are missing? I already did, go learn more about impedance curves, sensitivity, etc. You're clearly too lazy and stuck in your "impedance is everything!" mindset of an audiophile. I'm fine with that. It doesn't help me at all to spend time to personally educate you. You're not that personally important to me to explain thoroughly. Do your own research now that you're aware if you want. If 5 paragraphs was too much for you, you probably won't be able to take the time to read a thorough explanation. If you want to stick your head in the sand be my guest. If you can't take the time to even learn about the sensitivity of a speaker and think referencing "experts" or "designers" (so basically shunning science) then so be it. Lots of people shun science today so you're welcome to join that group as you'll have more company than those who use logic.
Jul 2, 2019
MyTechTrip
38
Jul 2, 2019
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LuckyLuke575This iem has an impedance of ~20 but it's hard to drive by every review out there.... That alone should be enough to make you wonder if impedance is the only metric to consider... But you don't and instead get upset when someone tells you it's not.... Just your own common sense should make you realize something is wrong with that thought....
Jul 2, 2019
LuckyLuke575
561
Jul 2, 2019
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MyTechTripFortunately your heehawing is an exception in this community lol Ok then, keep your special secrets to yourself
Jul 2, 2019
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