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RayF
22219
Jul 10, 2021
Can't say the DX7 Pro is going to have me packing up my Jotunheim and sending it off to the aluminum recycler just yet. True I have, from time to time, wondered what I might be missing by not having a Bluetooth DAC/Amp (or what I would be doing with it, if the Jotunheim had Bluetooth). Sticking to that feature (or lack there of) for just a moment, it seems to me that since I'd likely have DX7 Pro sitting on my desk and hooked to my iMac (as the Jotunheim is now via USB) and that all of the streaming apps I have on any of my devices, I also have on my Mac (along with my actual digital files), what use would I make of the the Bluetooth? In other words, whatever I might stream from a device to the Topping, I can already send to my Jotunheim via direct connection, from my Mac. I guess the confusion for me has always been: does a DAC/Amp with Bluetooth send or receive that signal? I could think of several uses for one that did both (this ain't that one) but when the DAC/Amp is only receiving a signal (as I'm pretty sure this one is) that feature seems less...useful. Of course if one didn't have a computer but only had a phone or tablet, a DAC that receives Bluetooth might be handy. But seriously--who's that guy? I could find a use for a DAC/Amp with both send and receive Bluetooth capabilities. I do have Bluetooth speakers, and I suppose a DAC that sent a nice clean 5.0 Bluetooth signal to them would be cool, but my (powered) speakers already have their own internal DACs and Amps (which I already paid for), so not seeing that as a big plus even if I found a send and receive combo unit. Besides, I can already send music to those Bluetooth speakers from my iMac (granted only in 4.0, not 5.0) but that's been fine so far. I can and do connect to them from my iPhone and iPad too--and that's handy, but Bluetooth is just one of the sources those speakers accept. Even the blurb I found on the Apos site didn't clear up my Bluetooth confusion. They said:
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As for the bit about Bluetooth headphones, I don't get it--generally those are not your best cans and by now you've already figured out how to power yours with a portable system for those occasions when you need to get out and about. Portability is not what you'd buy the DX7 Pro for. Okay, back to the Jotunheim vs DX7 Pro thing--what I use mine for at least half the time is powering a set of JBL Monitors (two, not one) on my desk. And while Zeos did seem to be pleased with the headphone options and power on the DX7 Pro, he didn't go into great detail (if at all) discussing the amps ability to power a set of speakers. I'm sure the DX7 Pro is up to the task, but I'm pretty happy with the Jotunheim/JBL combination--and so far I'm not hearing/seeing a reason to change what I've already got cooking. Now as Zeos did point out, the DX7 Pro does do A LOT of tricks (it is one versatile unit) but frankly, unless you're the guy who's really going to make use of all those things, I don't find them all that compelling. I'm not going to connect a sub, I'm not going to connect my television, and you know damn well I don't have a playstation! Conversely, the Jotunheim really only does two things (decodes a digital signal and power your headphones and/or speakers). It doesn't have a screen or display to tell you what it's doing and it doesn't come with a remote to allow you to tell it what to do. I'm okay with that--my system and I are both sitting on or near the same desk. But--let's suppose you think the DX7 Pro just might be the DAC/Amp of your dreams. How the hell are you going to make an informed purchase decision based on the scanty bit of info your "audiophile" palls at Drop have provided you? Hell, they didn't even show you a picture of the Pros back end! Well I can help you on both fronts. First here's a shot of it's rear:
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And here's a link to a TON of additional information about the unit; same site Zeos referenced in his review: https://apos.audio/products/topping-dx7-pro-dac-amp?_pos=1&_sid=546a96eed&_ss=r And if you figured out what I'm missing or confused about regarding that Bluetooth feature, do set me straight in your comments. Also curious to know how many folks, given the choice between the Jotunheim and the DX7 Pro would chose one over the other. Pretty sure MD would like to know too ;- ) Good luck!
(Edited)
Braylan_Black
7
Dec 8, 2021
RayFBluetooth is nice for those of us without a headphone jack on our phones and store our music on them. It's niche but it's what I do and having Bluetooth is needed for me
RayF
22219
Dec 8, 2021
Braylan_Black Well, it’s not optimal, but it’s not against the law either ;- )
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