I *love* this formfactor for DACs. I have an RU7 and I really enjoy it. It's not perfect, but I will reach for it over my Hugo2 many times because it's just so simple to use, plug into phone, lie in bed, no fiddling, no multiple cables...no dealing with a keyed microUSB connector from 20 years ago.... it powers an HE1000se decently enough on balanced... Yeah it's not as good but man... don't underestimate convenience. It's also incredible for running around with IEMs. So all of these new wave of gumstick DAC/Amps are great.
I have this, the DC Elite and Mojo 2 when it comes to using music to test my devices, I put this in 3rd with the Mojo 2 and DC Elite very close, so close that even when testing the most discerning music I'll grab either the Mojo 2 or the DC Elite.
ibasso DC Elite is their flagship dongle dac and is frankly stunning. Sound quality is amazing, at least on par with my iBasso DX240 DAP. Same price as the W4 I think
@@evshrug Relatively new $449 USD iBasso flagship dongle, which it touts as a miniaturized version of its $3500 DX320Max DAP. It uses the same Rohm DAC, and much other tech, as the DX320 and multiple reviewers have found that while it can't match the performance of the DX320 (no surprise), it comes amazingly close given the huge price (and size) differential. Several reviewers have also found it equal or even superior to the Mojo 2. Admittedly, I haven't heard it yet, but am planning to pick one up next month. (Dang, this hobby is tough on those of us retired on a fixed income.)
Hi, if I may suggest try pairing W4 with Ibasso CB19 OTG. I’m not sure but I think the separate power source from the power bank is able to provide more head room & overcome the power limitation of IPhones.
Nice one. I bought this device in 2022. It works with laptops and my Galaxy tab S8. It does not work with any of my Android phones. Samsung and Sony. The sound is awesome, though . It rivals the ifI Gryphon. The ifI works with my Sony Xperia I V.
I am surprised that you think that mobile phone DACs are not the result of 40 years of research.... Actually it is probably more! Neither phone DACs nor the Chord Mojo DAC are rocket science nowadays, they are actually really fairly straight forward tech and above the cheapest of the cheap, no human ear can hear the difference between chips using the same algorithm. What really makes a difference (which is also hard to hear for most) is the quality of the circuitry and the amp (and the layout but it would have to be really poorly designed to make a significant difference).
I don't think that. Phone DACs are severely constrained in what they can do, due to power limitations. That's why you don't see high-end DACs in phones. The research into phone DACs goes towards making them smaller and more efficient, which is completely different to the aims of the design of the Mojo. The programming in that is not "fairly straight forward tech". If it were, you'd see it in everything, which you don't.
@@Currawong you don't need them in everything because they don't need to be. Fairly straight forward because they have existed for decades. I have to check but I don't think DACs are power constrained even in a phone (space maybe a little bit and I am not sure), amplification is constrained although LG did a pretty good job at giving phones a more powerful amp than today's phones.
DACs in their current format haven't existed for decades. I suggest you do more research into DACs -- even learning the basics on why there are different types, what they are used for, and what is different about them will help.
@@Currawong I don't really need to but thanks... I think I remember pretty well from my maths and physics degrees. And DACs in phones are just an evolution of DACs in other digital players such as CD players which have existed since the 80s so it isn't really new tech, just smaller, faster, better in many ways and far more energy efficient.
You might have missheard: The only way I could hear hiss from it was at max volume with extremely sensitive IEMs which won't get to anywhere near maximum volume without causing you permanent hearing loss, if not destroying the IEMs.
There is only hiss at the most extreme, unusable setting, and I was of the impression that Currawong had chosen to praise the quiet background as his first point about sound quality.
I *love* this formfactor for DACs. I have an RU7 and I really enjoy it. It's not perfect, but I will reach for it over my Hugo2 many times because it's just so simple to use, plug into phone, lie in bed, no fiddling, no multiple cables...no dealing with a keyed microUSB connector from 20 years ago.... it powers an HE1000se decently enough on balanced... Yeah it's not as good but man... don't underestimate convenience. It's also incredible for running around with IEMs. So all of these new wave of gumstick DAC/Amps are great.
I've been using it since it came out and i have no need to replace it. Try it with the Composer and you will be further impressed.
Short answer, "No." Long answer, "Yes."
I have this, the DC Elite and Mojo 2 when it comes to using music to test my devices, I put this in 3rd with the Mojo 2 and DC Elite very close, so close that even when testing the most discerning music I'll grab either the Mojo 2 or the DC Elite.
What is the DC Elite?
@@evshrug The IBasso DC Elite it’s a dongle DAC with a ROHM DAC chip and a miniature stepped attenuator.
It's a dongle from ibasso @@evshrug
ibasso DC Elite is their flagship dongle dac and is frankly stunning. Sound quality is amazing, at least on par with my iBasso DX240 DAP. Same price as the W4 I think
@@evshrug Relatively new $449 USD iBasso flagship dongle, which it touts as a miniaturized version of its $3500 DX320Max DAP. It uses the same Rohm DAC, and much other tech, as the DX320 and multiple reviewers have found that while it can't match the performance of the DX320 (no surprise), it comes amazingly close given the huge price (and size) differential. Several reviewers have also found it equal or even superior to the Mojo 2. Admittedly, I haven't heard it yet, but am planning to pick one up next month. (Dang, this hobby is tough on those of us retired on a fixed income.)
Hi, if I may suggest try pairing W4 with Ibasso CB19 OTG. I’m not sure but I think the separate power source from the power bank is able to provide more head room & overcome the power limitation of IPhones.
Nice one. I bought this device in 2022. It works with laptops and my Galaxy tab S8. It does not work with any of my Android phones. Samsung and Sony. The sound is awesome, though . It rivals the ifI Gryphon. The ifI works with my Sony Xperia I V.
For that price, no unfortunately. The Mojo 2 while being bulkier is much more robust and sonically capable device than this and is even cheaper.
Your friend, Mr. Fenner, seems to think the DITA Navigator is top of the heap, according to his recent review of the dongle.
Hi, thank you for review. What is the brand of tube mini ?
Woo Audio.
I love to know if these things can boost soundstage in any or all directions too.thankd
Nope.
Any link to the people who opened their W4?
Can't find the link now, but the discussion on L7 Audio Lab is still there (in Chinese).
please, please provide the chart with numbers. many will want the numbers, not the impressions.
I am surprised that you think that mobile phone DACs are not the result of 40 years of research.... Actually it is probably more! Neither phone DACs nor the Chord Mojo DAC are rocket science nowadays, they are actually really fairly straight forward tech and above the cheapest of the cheap, no human ear can hear the difference between chips using the same algorithm. What really makes a difference (which is also hard to hear for most) is the quality of the circuitry and the amp (and the layout but it would have to be really poorly designed to make a significant difference).
I don't think that. Phone DACs are severely constrained in what they can do, due to power limitations. That's why you don't see high-end DACs in phones. The research into phone DACs goes towards making them smaller and more efficient, which is completely different to the aims of the design of the Mojo. The programming in that is not "fairly straight forward tech". If it were, you'd see it in everything, which you don't.
@@Currawong you don't need them in everything because they don't need to be. Fairly straight forward because they have existed for decades. I have to check but I don't think DACs are power constrained even in a phone (space maybe a little bit and I am not sure), amplification is constrained although LG did a pretty good job at giving phones a more powerful amp than today's phones.
DACs in their current format haven't existed for decades. I suggest you do more research into DACs -- even learning the basics on why there are different types, what they are used for, and what is different about them will help.
@@Currawong I don't really need to but thanks... I think I remember pretty well from my maths and physics degrees. And DACs in phones are just an evolution of DACs in other digital players such as CD players which have existed since the 80s so it isn't really new tech, just smaller, faster, better in many ways and far more energy efficient.
👍
Wow quad DAC of their own?..wow that's..Hiss on max..wtf bra..naaa I'll skips..Peace!
You might have missheard: The only way I could hear hiss from it was at max volume with extremely sensitive IEMs which won't get to anywhere near maximum volume without causing you permanent hearing loss, if not destroying the IEMs.
@@Currawong, did you actually understand Azlan's comment?
There is only hiss at the most extreme, unusable setting, and I was of the impression that Currawong had chosen to praise the quiet background as his first point about sound quality.