I wonder if I should buy something like the Zerda / monolith to use with my Blon 03 IEMs + smartphone + Spotify (320), will it make noticable difference? ( I have 3.5 jack, I don't need dongle for that) I used to owen LG V20 smartphone with its DAC, it was much better sound quality expiriance, I just want the same.
I noticed that my DF Red has a bit too much sub bass for my taste (but i love the soundstage and detail of the RED) do you think the ikko zerda is a good alternative of the RED for the sub bass?
Just wanted to contribute my experience here with 2 dacs. My comparison is between the Apple USB C to 3.5mm adaptor and the IFI Hip Dac. I bought the Apple adaptor as a temporary solution to listening to music via my pixel 4 and laptop, while the Hip Dac became available in stores. Now here is the kicker, I have been try to listen to various tracks on Spotify premium, using my Blon 03 and Campfire Vegas, and i am still leaning towards the Apple adaptor for my music enjoyment as opposed to the Hip Dac. Please bear in mind, i have given the Hip Dac enough burn in time (just to be sure) and also using the software update (without the GTO filter). The Hip Dac sounds more closed in against the Apple Adaptor. The Apple Adaptor does not suffer in the details department. It drives the Blons really well, and the soundstage is more expansive and the layering of instruments in the music, was very organic. The Apple adaptor is on par with the Hip Dac in terms of vocals and mids. The only area that the Hip Dac performs better is bass. The bass reproduction on the Apple Adaptor sounds very slightly boxy, but it would be hard to notice if you had nothing to compare it against. What I am driving at is that, I am underwhelmed that the Hip Dac does not offer SGD200 more in terms of a step-up from the apple dongle, when I am using a efficient earphones like the Blons. Also working from home, while just listening to the Blon 03 and a Apple Adaptor was a enjoyable experience. Its surprising how just a SGD 45 valued combo can just bring so much musical enjoyment as opposed to say listening with my SGD 1,899 Campfire Vegas and the IFI Hip Dac. I will still keep the IFI Hip Dac to drive non-efficient IEMs/Headphones in the future though. So please give the Apple Adaptor a try with any well touted Chi Fi IEMs before wasting your hard earned monies.
I just bought a pair BLON BL-03 that are shipped. I own a Pixel 3a. Do you really recommend the Apple USB-C to 3.5mm dongle / adaptor ? Is it that much of a difference ?
I think the Red is a warmer sounding dac. Details are generally muffled (compared to a neutral dac). I think with an analytical IEM or headphone the Red works fairly well, since it will tame any harsh treble the headphones accentuate. But with warm or neutral headphones, the Red tends to provide a thick, below-average detail bass, slightly recessed mids, and a gentle treble. The Zerda is fairly close to neutral, but has a slight treble smoothness. The mids are neutral, and I think the bass is close to neutral, if just slightly rolled off in sub-bass. Price for performance, I'd pick the Zerda. The Red is a fine choice, but at $200 it has nothing whatsoever that I think justifies the 2x price increase. If you absolutely need MQA, then you still have a cheaper alternative in the Hip Dac. However, if you don't subscribe to MQA gimmickry, then the Zerda provides support for high resolution audio, and in fact much higher resolution than both the Red and Cobalt. Whether you can find 32-bit audio is another matter. I rarely use the Red. I have the Zerda either plugged into my laptop or phone.
Good luck getting someone to do a blind test. If someone paid top dollar for Chord or PS Audio products, they’re conditioned to think that money is well spent. The audiophile nonsense about expensive gear being much better is hocus pocus BS. Whether it’s headphones, IEMs, amps or dacs, price has very little to do with sound. Fanboys keep saying their favorite product has a sound signature that is absolutely unique-and the fact is whatever “uniqueness” present is likely quite nuanced. If you buy the $2500 Hugo2 and don’t hear an obvious improvement over the SMSL SU8 with your LCD-1, then you need to buy a much more expensive headphone. Ever wonder why review sites and companies pair their expensive stuff with equally expensive headphones? The upgrade chain is a great mythic excuse-especially for those preconditioned you believe money buys quality sound.
Yes of course there would be differences, but to most people the improvement does not merit the price difference. I have been in and out of this audio game. And yes I have a golden ear, I can hear sound differences between a silver and a copper cable. The price of my system is about the price of my car. And believe me, it's a never ending quest for sound perfection, which is unattainable. The price you pay for so little or even very subtle improvement is impractical. Spend your money elsewhere.
What do you think about the Aeon 2 closed headphones just hearing the reviews? Would you be interested to review them If someone would ever send them to you? As for now, what's your impression?
I’d be happy to review them if someone sent them. But I am not a fan of the Aeon. I had the original for a few months and hated the sound and narrow soundstage. I’ve read user reviews about the Aeon 2, and some people are complaining that Dan Clark didn’t change anything. I haven’t heard the Aeon 2 and can’t comment how it sounds.
@@NoThemeReviews I wish you to review both Focal elegia and aeon 2 at the same time, to compare them, I'm really curious about this comparison especially by you!
No, I stopped watching his reviews a while ago. I almost purchased the Pro 4s a few months ago to compare to the LCD-1 and Ollo. But after reading user reviews, it was evident the headphones are not particularly good at reference or professional use. There are some build and comfort problems, apparently. So...I won't be reviewing these. As for Zeos--there's nothing he won't hype, and you should take what he says with a tub of salt.
@@califmike2003 Salt away. If you think my reviews are as biased as Zeos, John Darko, and the other big channels who have clearly identifiable relationships with manufacturers, then you have paid no attention to my content. I very rarely get items from companies, and when I do I say so clearly; I spend my own money on 99% of the gear I review; I don't do one-hit reviews like Zeos and many others; I actually do comparisons between products; I recommend more affordable products on a regular basis; I don't hype; and I continually point out the negatives of both a product and its manufacturer. Yeah, go ahead and use whatever amount of salt you want. But don't pretend I have the same bias as Zeos, or that other reviewers actually put in the effort I do. You don't like what you hear from me--I've noticed that in your other comments. That's your problem, not mine. If you're the type that just wants your world-view and expectations reinforced, you really must go to a different channel.
How were you able to get your computer to recognize the nx4 dsd using a micro-to-typeA usb? I downloaded the driver for Windows 10 on Topping's website but it only recognizes the dac/amp when I use the microUSB-to-typeC cable. I also have a lenovo and the charging port for the lenovo uses a type c so I cant charge my laptop and listen to music at the same time :/
@@NoThemeReviews interesting. Mine has noticeable imbalance below 11o clock. Also the usb port started getting problematic after 3-4 months of use. It randomly disconnects and topping refused to honor any warranty on that. Now I've moved to other units and rarely use the topping.
I'm not a fan of Creative. Their stuff has a history of poor build and scratchy sound quality. From what I can tell, the SXFI's only real claim to fame is their DSP, which is nothing special of itself. Creative's products are severely overpriced for what they provide. You're better off with either the Zerda or Monolith USB Dac, both of which are cheaper by $50.
Guys and Girls I am in the hunt for a new DAC. I currently own a Dragonfly Black 1.5 that has served me phenomenal. But I think is time to get something better. I need the DAC for the following things I use it with 1) Spotify Premium via iOS 2) FLAC files via ONKO player iOS 3) to use on my iPad Pro 2018 4) TH-cam Music! Via iOS 5)maybe one day TIDAL but atm too expensive for me To power 1) Fiio H5s 2) Sony MDR-1000X 3) Bose Revolve mini 4) two old boss SoundDocks powered by a AUX splitter which I use for my Pool parties (therefore I need a powerfulish DAC) Candidates: 1) Dragonfly Cobalt USED for €200 2) Zerda for iPhone 3)Monolith USB dac 4) BTR5 from Fiio 5) Hip Dac 6)NX4
I posted your question in the community tap on my channel. Go there later today for some input from others. It's unlikely anyone will see your question in the comment section of a video.
Great review, thank you!
May I suggest another...my fav? Earmen Audio Sparrow - $199. Supports MQA too.
I wonder if I should buy something like the Zerda / monolith to use with my Blon 03 IEMs + smartphone + Spotify (320), will it make noticable difference? ( I have 3.5 jack, I don't need dongle for that)
I used to owen LG V20 smartphone with its DAC, it was much better sound quality expiriance, I just want the same.
Were you able to use DSD files on NX4?
I noticed that my DF Red has a bit too much sub bass for my taste (but i love the soundstage and detail of the RED) do you think the ikko zerda is a good alternative of the RED for the sub bass?
If the Red is too bassy for you, then the Zerda might suit you more. The Zerda's bass is more neutral and a bit clearer as well.
what about nx4 vs fiio q3 vs xduoo xd05/plus?
Can't wait for your next interview.
Just wanted to contribute my experience here with 2 dacs. My comparison is between the Apple USB C to 3.5mm adaptor and the IFI Hip Dac. I bought the Apple adaptor as a temporary solution to listening to music via my pixel 4 and laptop, while the Hip Dac became available in stores. Now here is the kicker, I have been try to listen to various tracks on Spotify premium, using my Blon 03 and Campfire Vegas, and i am still leaning towards the Apple adaptor for my music enjoyment as opposed to the Hip Dac.
Please bear in mind, i have given the Hip Dac enough burn in time (just to be sure) and also using the software update (without the GTO filter). The Hip Dac sounds more closed in against the Apple Adaptor. The Apple Adaptor does not suffer in the details department. It drives the Blons really well, and the soundstage is more expansive and the layering of instruments in the music, was very organic. The Apple adaptor is on par with the Hip Dac in terms of vocals and mids. The only area that the Hip Dac performs better is bass. The bass reproduction on the Apple Adaptor sounds very slightly boxy, but it would be hard to notice if you had nothing to compare it against.
What I am driving at is that, I am underwhelmed that the Hip Dac does not offer SGD200 more in terms of a step-up from the apple dongle, when I am using a efficient earphones like the Blons. Also working from home, while just listening to the Blon 03 and a Apple Adaptor was a enjoyable experience. Its surprising how just a SGD 45 valued combo can just bring so much musical enjoyment as opposed to say listening with my SGD 1,899 Campfire Vegas and the IFI Hip Dac. I will still keep the IFI Hip Dac to drive non-efficient IEMs/Headphones in the future though. So please give the Apple Adaptor a try with any well touted Chi Fi IEMs before wasting your hard earned monies.
I just bought a pair BLON BL-03 that are shipped. I own a Pixel 3a. Do you really recommend the Apple USB-C to 3.5mm dongle / adaptor ? Is it that much of a difference ?
What's the the differences between Dragonfly Red and Ikko Zerda in terms of sound, and which one do you prefer?
I think the Red is a warmer sounding dac. Details are generally muffled (compared to a neutral dac). I think with an analytical IEM or headphone the Red works fairly well, since it will tame any harsh treble the headphones accentuate. But with warm or neutral headphones, the Red tends to provide a thick, below-average detail bass, slightly recessed mids, and a gentle treble. The Zerda is fairly close to neutral, but has a slight treble smoothness. The mids are neutral, and I think the bass is close to neutral, if just slightly rolled off in sub-bass.
Price for performance, I'd pick the Zerda. The Red is a fine choice, but at $200 it has nothing whatsoever that I think justifies the 2x price increase. If you absolutely need MQA, then you still have a cheaper alternative in the Hip Dac. However, if you don't subscribe to MQA gimmickry, then the Zerda provides support for high resolution audio, and in fact much higher resolution than both the Red and Cobalt. Whether you can find 32-bit audio is another matter.
I rarely use the Red. I have the Zerda either plugged into my laptop or phone.
I wonder if you can hear any substantial difference between these dacs and the thousand dollar dacs from companies like chord and ps audio.
Good luck getting someone to do a blind test. If someone paid top dollar for Chord or PS Audio products, they’re conditioned to think that money is well spent. The audiophile nonsense about expensive gear being much better is hocus pocus BS. Whether it’s headphones, IEMs, amps or dacs, price has very little to do with sound. Fanboys keep saying their favorite product has a sound signature that is absolutely unique-and the fact is whatever “uniqueness” present is likely quite nuanced. If you buy the $2500 Hugo2 and don’t hear an obvious improvement over the SMSL SU8 with your LCD-1, then you need to buy a much more expensive headphone. Ever wonder why review sites and companies pair their expensive stuff with equally expensive headphones? The upgrade chain is a great mythic excuse-especially for those preconditioned you believe money buys quality sound.
Yes of course there would be differences, but to most people the improvement does not merit the price difference. I have been in and out of this audio game. And yes I have a golden ear, I can hear sound differences between a silver and a copper cable. The price of my system is about the price of my car. And believe me, it's a never ending quest for sound perfection, which is unattainable. The price you pay for so little or even very subtle improvement is impractical. Spend your money elsewhere.
What do you think about the Aeon 2 closed headphones just hearing the reviews? Would you be interested to review them If someone would ever send them to you? As for now, what's your impression?
I’d be happy to review them if someone sent them. But I am not a fan of the Aeon. I had the original for a few months and hated the sound and narrow soundstage. I’ve read user reviews about the Aeon 2, and some people are complaining that Dan Clark didn’t change anything. I haven’t heard the Aeon 2 and can’t comment how it sounds.
@@NoThemeReviews I wish you to review both Focal elegia and aeon 2 at the same time, to compare them, I'm really curious about this comparison especially by you!
@@NoThemeReviews I just made a request for this to happen If ever possible...
Did you see the Koss pro4s Z review? What do you think? Are they that flat sounding as he says or probably he exaggerates as always?
No, I stopped watching his reviews a while ago. I almost purchased the Pro 4s a few months ago to compare to the LCD-1 and Ollo. But after reading user reviews, it was evident the headphones are not particularly good at reference or professional use. There are some build and comfort problems, apparently. So...I won't be reviewing these. As for Zeos--there's nothing he won't hype, and you should take what he says with a tub of salt.
@@NoThemeReviews Exactly right! What is gonna be your next video and when you will upload It?
@@califmike2003 Salt away. If you think my reviews are as biased as Zeos, John Darko, and the other big channels who have clearly identifiable relationships with manufacturers, then you have paid no attention to my content. I very rarely get items from companies, and when I do I say so clearly; I spend my own money on 99% of the gear I review; I don't do one-hit reviews like Zeos and many others; I actually do comparisons between products; I recommend more affordable products on a regular basis; I don't hype; and I continually point out the negatives of both a product and its manufacturer. Yeah, go ahead and use whatever amount of salt you want. But don't pretend I have the same bias as Zeos, or that other reviewers actually put in the effort I do. You don't like what you hear from me--I've noticed that in your other comments. That's your problem, not mine. If you're the type that just wants your world-view and expectations reinforced, you really must go to a different channel.
Are dac/amps like these significantly better than onboard using efficient headphones?
Yes. Noticeably better.
@@NoThemeReviews Thanks. You don't find too many reviewers being honest about expensive vs cheap audio gear.
How were you able to get your computer to recognize the nx4 dsd using a micro-to-typeA usb? I downloaded the driver for Windows 10 on Topping's website but it only recognizes the dac/amp when I use the microUSB-to-typeC cable. I also have a lenovo and the charging port for the lenovo uses a type c so I cant charge my laptop and listen to music at the same time :/
Did you use an OTG cable?
@@NoThemeReviews I used the micro-to-typeA cable that came with the nx4 dsd. What's an otg cable? Where did you get yours?
Didn't you notice channel imbalance in nx4 at low volumes?
No, not on my unit.
@@NoThemeReviews interesting. Mine has noticeable imbalance below 11o clock. Also the usb port started getting problematic after 3-4 months of use. It randomly disconnects and topping refused to honor any warranty on that. Now I've moved to other units and rarely use the topping.
How about the Creative SXFI Amp?
I'm not a fan of Creative. Their stuff has a history of poor build and scratchy sound quality. From what I can tell, the SXFI's only real claim to fame is their DSP, which is nothing special of itself. Creative's products are severely overpriced for what they provide. You're better off with either the Zerda or Monolith USB Dac, both of which are cheaper by $50.
Guys and Girls I am in the hunt for a new DAC.
I currently own a Dragonfly Black 1.5 that has served me phenomenal. But I think is time to get something better. I need the DAC for the following things
I use it with
1) Spotify Premium via iOS
2) FLAC files via ONKO player iOS
3) to use on my iPad Pro 2018
4) TH-cam Music! Via iOS
5)maybe one day TIDAL but atm too expensive for me
To power
1) Fiio H5s
2) Sony MDR-1000X
3) Bose Revolve mini
4) two old boss SoundDocks powered by a AUX splitter which I use for my Pool parties (therefore I need a powerfulish DAC)
Candidates:
1) Dragonfly Cobalt USED for €200
2) Zerda for iPhone
3)Monolith USB dac
4) BTR5 from Fiio
5) Hip Dac
6)NX4
I posted your question in the community tap on my channel. Go there later today for some input from others. It's unlikely anyone will see your question in the comment section of a video.