Thanks for the review. Thanks to your channel, I have been remaining clean of audiophile BS since almost a year. Last audio equipment which I bought was Cayin HA-1A MK2, based on your recommendation. I have learnt to enjoy only my music and don’t think about the equipment because I have more than enough. Thank you @No Theme Reviews
Thank you for review. Good looking device. Probably looking smth even cheaper for starting laptop setup. Right now using usb dac with iPhone/iPad and HD800 and Hi-x55
Finally a good, fact-based review about this topic. The bigger channels not mentioning volume matching and mumbling about subjective differences between solid state amps (with iems that's the funniest part) are so tiring to listen to, you almost feel like the whole hobby wants to fool you.
Can you show us your test bench? On another note I wish there was a DAC/amp with 2 of each termination (3.5,4.4 etc) so that you can A/B test IEMs and headphones better. I own the Zen Dac and Can stack, a VE Megatron and a FiiO K7. There's no difference between the 50 dollar Megatron and the K7. Heck I'm hard pressed to find differences between my Zen Air Dac + Zen Air Can vs FiiO K7 and that's just an LDAC Bluetooth setup!
I made a video about creating a test bench using the gear I have. There are a few amps with dual outputs, but the real limiting factor is independent amplification for each headphone out. The newest $2k RME does it. I think the people at RME have lost their minds charging that much money.
How does this stack up against a Modi 3/Asgard 3 stack? I love my current stack but struggle with desk space so it's pushing towards maybe getting a dac/amp combo
Great content (as per usual). Feels like a while since you have reviewed a portable DAP... Any chance that (in the meantime, before any future DAP which you may/may not review in the future), you would may consider recommending me a few of neutral ones, as I am in the market for purchase? Thanks in advance for any guidance.
@@NoThemeReviews @NoThemeReviews Thanks, Brother! Below $800 (if possible, unless something brings extraordinary impact in clarity or detail... and then I'd likely adjust for a special product). Pocket size (Gym/hiking) Access to as many lossless formats up to 768 possible. Currently watching reviews on hiby R6 gen 3. But I don't know if the sound us colored, transparent, anything. ...If I had the resources, I'd hire you to help me create & commission an audio review standard as resolute as ISO9000 (respectively).
@@sekritskworl-sekrit_studios Hiby DAPs are okay, but like most around are pretty clunky in use. They are not optimized for smooth OS. But, I think their R5 is a decent option. I don't think the R5mk2 is an improvement, but might be easier to find now. If you're not particular about power output, then the Sony NW-A105 is a good option. They're compact, can drive up to 300 ohm headphones, and have sufficient Android functionality for audiophiles. If you don't need Android, then the A55 is a better option between the two as you'll get a more streamlined, less intrusive player. Regardless, both will have Sony's proprietary sound tuning capability. Alternatively, you could get the newest Sony NW-A306, which is just about $350. The Fiio M15 is a decent option, and frankly I wouldn't pay for anything more expensive from Fiio. It is quite a big player, but does have plenty of power, good build and battery. If you want an AK option, then I'd steer you to the SR15. There's no material difference between the SR15/25/35. AK doesn't make any real changes from year to year, so there's no point wasting money on their more recent stuff.
@@NoThemeReviews so , If I do proper A/B volume matched test , They will automatically sound the same, Even though I've been listening to all of them and always find that they don't sound the same?
@@NoThemeReviews But within the scope of your video , thanks btw, I'm pretty sure they would sound the same as they use OPA1612 op amps, I have preamp with interchangeable opamps and I've been rolling the opamps , I have the opa1612 , they sound clean buy I find the muse02 opamps more musical and more transparent in the highs , deeper soundstage and so on . The dongle dacs that I use are from different maker and different price range.
Your perception of dacs sounding different is not valid at all if you don’t do proper A/B tests. Just because you think you hear differences doesn’t mean anything except that you believe that to be true. This is not a new issue. It has been covered over and over again for many decades. This is why I repeatedly tell people to create their own test bench, have a video explaining how to do that, and use the same methods every time myself. Do a proper test.
@@NoThemeReviews No , my dongle dacs don't sound the same , I've been listening to them for a long time , Even changing opamps on my preamp , some opamps are airy some are dull sounding . There are minute differences especially in transparency and soundstage, But anyway , I'd like to respectfully agree to disagree with you and thanks for replying . I'm just saying maybe not all people hear the differences .
I stop buying dacs altogether. They all do the same shit. I got an Jds element 3 and called it a day. Why people continue to waste money to chase a level of satisfaction they'll never achive is beyond me. Especially in this current economy.
So clearly you didn’t watch or listen to the video, where I clearly explained I used PCs and Macs, and listened to lossless music. You should actually pay attention, which shouldn’t be such a difficult issue given your amazing ears. And…I don’t know how to break this to you, but you do realize that the source is irrelevant when you’re sending DIGITAL SIGNAL to an external Dac, right? Food for thought.
Very professional and straight to the point. I appreciate the no audiophile BS shilling. Thanks for the video : )
Thanks for the review. Thanks to your channel, I have been remaining clean of audiophile BS since almost a year. Last audio equipment which I bought was Cayin HA-1A MK2, based on your recommendation. I have learnt to enjoy only my music and don’t think about the equipment because I have more than enough. Thank you @No Theme Reviews
Great review 👍
Thank you for review. Good looking device. Probably looking smth even cheaper for starting laptop setup. Right now using usb dac with iPhone/iPad and HD800 and Hi-x55
Finally a good, fact-based review about this topic. The bigger channels not mentioning volume matching and mumbling about subjective differences between solid state amps (with iems that's the funniest part) are so tiring to listen to, you almost feel like the whole hobby wants to fool you.
Can you show us your test bench?
On another note I wish there was a DAC/amp with 2 of each termination (3.5,4.4 etc) so that you can A/B test IEMs and headphones better.
I own the Zen Dac and Can stack, a VE Megatron and a FiiO K7. There's no difference between the 50 dollar Megatron and the K7.
Heck I'm hard pressed to find differences between my Zen Air Dac + Zen Air Can vs FiiO K7 and that's just an LDAC Bluetooth setup!
I made a video about creating a test bench using the gear I have. There are a few amps with dual outputs, but the real limiting factor is independent amplification for each headphone out. The newest $2k RME does it. I think the people at RME have lost their minds charging that much money.
@@NoThemeReviews one month's rent? No thank you 😂 will look up your old vid
Great review. Can you suggest a dac/amp that does have a colored sound that you have been able to hear during your tests?
Border Patrol Dac, Jolida FX Glass, Woo WA7.
THis is great info@@NoThemeReviews
How does this stack up against a Modi 3/Asgard 3 stack?
I love my current stack but struggle with desk space so it's pushing towards maybe getting a dac/amp combo
Great content (as per usual). Feels like a while since you have reviewed a portable DAP... Any chance that (in the meantime, before any future DAP which you may/may not review in the future), you would may consider recommending me a few of neutral ones, as I am in the market for purchase?
Thanks in advance for any guidance.
Sure. What’s your budget, features, and size requirements?
@@NoThemeReviews @NoThemeReviews Thanks, Brother! Below $800 (if possible, unless something brings extraordinary impact in clarity or detail... and then I'd likely adjust for a special product).
Pocket size (Gym/hiking)
Access to as many lossless formats up to 768 possible.
Currently watching reviews on hiby R6 gen 3. But I don't know if the sound us colored, transparent, anything.
...If I had the resources, I'd hire you to help me create & commission an audio review standard as resolute as ISO9000 (respectively).
@@sekritskworl-sekrit_studios Hiby DAPs are okay, but like most around are pretty clunky in use. They are not optimized for smooth OS. But, I think their R5 is a decent option. I don't think the R5mk2 is an improvement, but might be easier to find now.
If you're not particular about power output, then the Sony NW-A105 is a good option. They're compact, can drive up to 300 ohm headphones, and have sufficient Android functionality for audiophiles. If you don't need Android, then the A55 is a better option between the two as you'll get a more streamlined, less intrusive player. Regardless, both will have Sony's proprietary sound tuning capability. Alternatively, you could get the newest Sony NW-A306, which is just about $350.
The Fiio M15 is a decent option, and frankly I wouldn't pay for anything more expensive from Fiio. It is quite a big player, but does have plenty of power, good build and battery.
If you want an AK option, then I'd steer you to the SR15. There's no material difference between the SR15/25/35. AK doesn't make any real changes from year to year, so there's no point wasting money on their more recent stuff.
@@NoThemeReviews Thank you SO very much, Brother. I truly appreciate you.
Keep saving society... one super-hero level review at a time, hermano!
I have 8 dongle dacs for my phone and iems , And they all don't sound the same.
Do a proper volume matched A/B test. Until you do that you can’t reach any rational conclusion.
@@NoThemeReviews so , If I do proper A/B volume matched test , They will automatically sound the same, Even though I've been listening to all of them and always find that they don't sound the same?
@@NoThemeReviews But within the scope of your video , thanks btw, I'm pretty sure they would sound the same as they use OPA1612 op amps, I have preamp with interchangeable opamps and I've been rolling the opamps , I have the opa1612 , they sound clean buy I find the muse02 opamps more musical and more transparent in the highs , deeper soundstage and so on . The dongle dacs that I use are from different maker and different price range.
Your perception of dacs sounding different is not valid at all if you don’t do proper A/B tests. Just because you think you hear differences doesn’t mean anything except that you believe that to be true. This is not a new issue. It has been covered over and over again for many decades. This is why I repeatedly tell people to create their own test bench, have a video explaining how to do that, and use the same methods every time myself. Do a proper test.
@@NoThemeReviews No , my dongle dacs don't sound the same , I've been listening to them for a long time , Even changing opamps on my preamp , some opamps are airy some are dull sounding . There are minute differences especially in transparency and soundstage, But anyway , I'd like to respectfully agree to disagree with you and thanks for replying . I'm just saying maybe not all people hear the differences .
I stop buying dacs altogether. They all do the same shit. I got an Jds element 3 and called it a day. Why people continue to waste money to chase a level of satisfaction they'll never achive is beyond me. Especially in this current economy.
Yup, it should be more about finding a dac/amp that has the features you want [bluetooth, balanced, inputs, outputs, etc]
So you say basically all DACs sound the same... using PHONE as a source :) Well, get a proper streamer or change ears.
So clearly you didn’t watch or listen to the video, where I clearly explained I used PCs and Macs, and listened to lossless music. You should actually pay attention, which shouldn’t be such a difficult issue given your amazing ears. And…I don’t know how to break this to you, but you do realize that the source is irrelevant when you’re sending DIGITAL SIGNAL to an external Dac, right? Food for thought.