Topping NX4 DSD DAC/Amp Discussions | Drop

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Topping NX4 DSD DAC/Amp

cagas

Mar 10, 2018

This or Fiio Q1MKii ?

Robert115

Mar 10, 2018

cagasFiio q1 mark 2 also has balanced out. So depends on what u want.

Mar 11, 2018

cagasNX4DSD offers more power into single-ended, if you need it (293mW into 32 ohms or 114mW into 300 ohms vs. FiiO's 75mW into 32 ohms and 11mW into 300 ohms). Output impedance is a little lower too. Other specs are a little better like SNR and THD.

Mar 15, 2018

stalepieI question the need for so much. The average sensitivity of IEMs is 100dB per mW. So, where is the need for 293mW power? Even HD650 needs about 3mW to reach 100dB SPL. The voice coil will literally start burning if you accidentally turn the volume to max.

Vote

Mar 15, 2018

MoesIt's really something I don't understand. But there are headphone amps which put out far more than this. 1 watt isn't uncommon with desktop amps.
The Q1 MKII puts out 220mW in Balanced output, so I was pointing out that to get comparable power you have to use the balanced connection. That seems to be a trade-off with devices that offer balanced.

Vote

Mar 15, 2018

stalepieIt is marketing people saying, "Let's advertise these devices having mega giga power into 32 ohms". What people don't understand is that THD of amplifiers is high at low and high voltage. There is a sweet range for power delivery that has the lowest distortion. So, using a too powerful amplifier is not a great idea.

Vote

May 9, 2018

MoesI am not sure if my physics is correct, I am just digging up stuff from my memory. For something like HE400i (35 ohm, 93 dB/mW) you need less than 10mW to reach 100 dB, but around 500mW to reach 120 dB. Even though most people never listen even at 100 dB, music not being a monotone, the instantaneous peaks of certain instruments might go much higher. That is why people say that even though the volume is fine, the base/treble lacks the accurate fidelity. For HD6##, 114mW might be enough, but I am not sure about it.

Vote

May 9, 2018

VBarMost music produced these days have a dynamic range of 20dB or less. If you place the quietest part of music at 80dB, the peak is only 100dB. So, the need for 120dB is very rare.

May 10, 2018

MoesTrue. But, 24 bit audio has a full dynamic range of 144 dB. Remastered audio tends to have higher dynamic range than originals. There are a lot of full dynamic audio out there and Lives tend to have much higher dynamic ranges than studio recordings. And, there are a lot of people who tend to listen to their songs loud. I have a few bass-head friends (also my family) who thinks good bass means loud bass. So...

Vote

May 10, 2018

VBarYou seem to have misunderstood the dynamic range of a digital signal and the dynamic range that can be reproduced by an amplifier. With current technology, we can reproduce only around 19 bits due to noise in electronic circuits.
Also, 110 dB is the threshold of pain and no one will be able to tolerate it for than a few seconds. It is like standing a few hundred meters from a jet engine.
I can send you the links if you are interested. You will go down the rabbit hole.

Vote

May 10, 2018

VBarLooks like my comment got deleted. Not sure how. You seem to have confused the dynamic range of a digital signal with the dynamic range that can be reproduced with an amplifier. With the current technology, 20 bits is the maximum bit depth than can be reproduced. Search for 24 bit delusion article on the net.

Vote

May 10, 2018

MoesTrue, also the reason I am looking at this device. If I needed an amp that will drive my headphones to 120 dB, I wouldn't be interested in this.

Vote

May 10, 2018

MoesUsually when an amp can more easily drive a headphone or speaker there's less distortion (though at the same time, less play on the volume knob). You don't really want to be using a headphone with a device that keeps the dial near max in order to be enjoyable because it's probably at higher levels of distortion there than it is at lower volume. Also people into this hobby are usually interested in exploring less recent pop music that has higher dynamic range or quieter recording levels.

Vote

May 11, 2018

stalepieStill, as long as you are not willing to spend $500+, this is one of the very few viable portable options for senns...

Vote

May 11, 2018

VBarI'm sure it's good, yeah. I was just talking theory..

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jaydunndiddit

3263

May 26, 2018

MoesI'd say it's more than just marketing. Most people aren't matching the impedance of their amp to their headphones. And even in this case, there is a reduction of volume. The issue is this change isn't linear. Throw in voltage and impedance swings as well as the dynamic nature of individual tracks and it makes sense why amps are "overpowered" to deal with these variations. And technically even the Senn 650s don't require a ton of power (around 200 mw I believe) but definitely require more voltage due to swings (upwards of 5v) which a lot of portable amps just don't supply. The Senn 800 is notorious because it's impedance swing can go as high as 600 ohms and it's voltage is up their as well. Hence why folks say it's so picky.
These articles talk about it more in depth: http://www.shure.com/americas/support/find-an-answer/understanding-earphone-headphone-specifications and https://benchmarkmedia.com/blogs/application_notes/14017381-headphone-impedance-and-sensitivity.
Also, for under $200, the iFi nano BL gets my vote. It powers my Senns and Focals with gusto and offers an equally remarkable experience for my IEMs that are sensitive at 9 ohms. Really a great jack of all trades.

Aries-51

May 26, 2018

jaydunndidditMy first DAC/AMP was the iFi Nano Bl. But I returned it after two weeks. The sound is good but both of the input jacks were pretty loose. My phones would get unplugged pretty easily and I could feel them getting looser everyday. I didn't really hear a snap when I would plug them into the Nano. How is yours treating you? I returned it and bought the NX4 DSD instead. I love it but I do wish it had the option to use USB power instead of always draining the battery. The NX4 packs a punch and I am happy with my purchase.

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jaydunndiddit

3263

May 27, 2018

Aries-51I don't have that problem with mine. Maybe just a bad unit? I've had mine for probably going on a year now and not an issue with it even after going back and forth between firmwares. It really is a solid piece of kit.

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Aries-51

May 27, 2018

jaydunndidditThat's good. Yeah I got a really bad unit. The USB-A connector on my blue cable was also almost coming apart from the blue endcap so that also sucked. Two loose headphone ports and falling apart cable were dealkillers for me so I'll wait for a sale because it does sound clean and tight.

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