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Wick
24
Sep 2, 2017
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Can someone tell me what would be a typical balanced input device to provide source material, other than a computer? I have several DAPs, including Pono and Fiio X5 III. Would either of these connect in a way that would give me the advantages of a balanced system end to end?
Wick
24
Sep 2, 2017
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demizeThanks for your quick reply. The balanced out on the Pono is analog, I think. I have used it with my Sennheiser 600 and a cable I bought from the U.K. I am hoping to find a player of some kind that would bypass its own DAC and allow me to use one of the digital inputs of a DAC/amp like this one.
nizwiz
34
Sep 2, 2017
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Wick This device doesn't have balanced inputs (in fact, it has no analog inputs at all). So you can't use balanced input devices, just digital inputs. As to whether your DAPs can connect to this depends on the digital output capabilities of your DAPs, really. The Pono doesn't have that AFAIk. As for the the FiioX5 III, I'm not sure. I think they planned to include USB output in a future firmware version. Don't know what's become of that. At any rate, the digital output of your DAPs won't be better than the digital output of your computer, so if you have the same songs stored on your computer as well (which I would assume), just go with your computer.
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rpm604
172
Sep 2, 2017
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WickHonestly, I'd say use your phone.
I currently use my phone, with a JDS Labs USBC->MiniUSB cable, to a Fulla, as a portable setup for my Monks.
You can (PROBABLY) just get a proper OTG usb cable that terminates in usb-b for this DAC and you're set. Something like this https://www.startech.com/m/Cables/usb-c/usb-c-usb-b-cable-3m~USB2CB3M
This might be a little less popular with a balanced DAC, but you can also get a Google chrome music, and use the optical out. It's a pretty simple out, but only sends 192, so you'd be losing som detail, if you believe you can hear the difference.
I currently use my phone, with a JDS Labs USBC->MiniUSB cable, to a Fulla, as a portable setup for my Monks.
You can (PROBABLY) just get a proper OTG usb cable that terminates in usb-b for this DAC and you're set. Something like this https://www.startech.com/m/Cables/usb-c/usb-c-usb-b-cable-3m~USB2CB3M
This might be a little less popular with a balanced DAC, but you can also get a Google chrome music, and use the optical out. It's a pretty simple out, but only sends 192, so you'd be losing som detail, if you believe you can hear the difference.
Wick
24
Sep 2, 2017
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rpm604Thanks for your reply. I'd like a little more info or a link to the units you mention. I could use my phone and a player like the onkyo that would play higher def files. The only problem there would be storage capacity. There's a lot of stuff on it already. A good DAP with a USB or other digital output would fit the bill.
Stevangelist
54
Sep 3, 2017
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WickAs long as your source is digital (and music was recorded in stereo, for clarity), and you use an appropriate balanced dac and amp, you are good to go and should see nice results. I apologize I don't have links to show you on products, I'm generally not too focused on balanced products at this point. I'll wait to get that raise I've worked so hard for haha
Wick
24
Sep 4, 2017
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StevangelistThanks again for your post. I can see that if I want to go balanced I will need to find a player with digital out, whether USB or optical or whatever. I don't believe the players I have allow for that. Maybe an Android phone without phone capability would do the job.
Stevangelist
54
Sep 4, 2017
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WickI've heard it's easier on Android, as opposed to a Mac OS phone, to output a digital signal properly via usb. I have not tested that myself though, but Google that shit! Being a digital signal, the only important thing really for the phone is the audio bit rate. I wouldn't be surprised if most of them will push 32bit with decent sensitivity.
Android Foobar might do it? Worth a try... I'm currently DACless so I can't help ya there.
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