First of all, thank you for the informative video. 2nd, we need more info on that split USB cable you showed at the end. I wasn't aware I could power the dongle from a separate source. 3rd, I've been considering the Fiio Q3 to amplify my dongles, I wonder how it compares to the NX7.
I think those are custom made cable which splits the data transfer wires and the power wires, it's a good way to maximize the dongle's potential since your usual phone has a limited power output, FiiO use the similar idea in their KA17.
I would also much appreciate learning what split USB cable that is, and any suggestion on good power for the dongle dac preferably A/C so no need to recharge and replace batteries. Speaking of which can I assume your setup of powering the dac, separately from the phone significantly reduces the phone battery drain?
@@pbtracey If you don't want to use powerbank with this type of setup, any phone charger should the trick tho I would suggest find any charger with only 5V output (preferably >1A) since we don't know how much voltage can the dongle handle unless you can find any specs related to it. And yes since you drain the power from 3rd party source, your phone battery should almost remain untouched.
Hello Akros! So we can connect any dongle to an external amplifier? I was thinking about a cable with jack to 2 rca so as to connect my m1p or Go Link to my Amplifier Heed CanAmp which has rca inputs. Is that possible? Does the theory of double amping exists? Thanks for all!
Thank you for the explanation on the setups. i agree it is very simple after you showed it. i think what makes people confused was all the cables connection (which IN/OUT). Couple of days ago, i suggested you to check out EDX Pro which recently has been changed its driver to the ones similar in EDX Lite. Just to let you know my latest shipment which i received 2 days ago with 3x EDX Pro, 2 was the new driver and 1 with the older driver, all in different color variant when purchased. Knowing the way you purchase IEMs, i probably do not have to tell you this but please buy multiple units. A unit cost me around AUD6(approx USD4) on AE before tax on "3+ items". On another note (just for info), recently KZ no longer provide Memory Foam for ZVX - has been swapped with Starline tips. The same goes with D-Fi.. no more narrow and wide boar eartips with additional Memory Foam. Both were selling at around AUD10(approx USD7) before tax on AE.
I always use low gain precisely for the reason you just mentioned. Although do be honest with high gain on the YUKI , AFUL, M15 M1P and RU7 it does seem to be a just as quiet.
Thanks for sharing bro always helpful the info is pure gold so many times i stopped the videos and try to understand your gears ...thanks again keep that great job 👍🍀👍
Just remember that you're more than likely double amping by doing this which can increase noise in the sound chain. And you're not really comparing DACs in the dongles, you're comparing the dongle's DAC + Amp which is different from feeding your final dedicated Amp with a dedicated DAC.
What you are saying is totally valid , however the NX7 is very neutral so I am capable to differentiate between the different dongles with relative ease The main reason however for doing this is: On some if not most Dongles there is an audible noise/ interference when it's running. Running it though the NX7 does away with this noise. Secondly by having significantly more power I'm able to run IEMs with what I can only describe as greater headroom...less apparent effort.
@@akros9333 I understood that from the video, Akros. I wanted to comment because you didn't mention double amping and I'm not sure if all of your viewers understand double amping since it wasn't mentioned in the video. I've also noticed radio interference with some dongles, but it was easily solved for me by using a longer OTG cable which are pretty inexpensive on Amazon.
I have a Kuang Pai Plus 4 (Cirrus 43131/43198) and I would like to explore a different dac chip / sound signature to pair with my DTE900. Which one would you recommend: Fiio KA17 (ES9069EQ), Cayin RU7 (1bit DSD DAC) or Questyle M15i (ES9281AC)? Thanks for your awesome videos :)
Best dac I ever used was the apple dongle. Never heard any noise ever and it gets loud enough with earphones. I also bought 2 chifi dongles because I switched to android and one gave me problems with noise so I threw it away.
Iems don't need more power than a 4.4 mm dongle. Tanchjim Space for example has been tested and verified distortion free up to 140mw into 32 ohm. This is far more power needed to drive any iem. That'll drive most headphones. Theres no need for headroom as the amp is distortion free, the headroom is just a placebo in this case. Amp sections also don't make noise or change the sound unless they are junk or they are dropped. It is true that not all dongles are distortion free. I can hear distortion in the Colorfly CDA-M1P for example and a lot of rf interference, not all of them are designed well.
Yes Jason you are correct most Dongles in their balanced outputs will power IEM....most of them adequately. This set up I use of NX7 with different dongles is a way I have found to firstly circumvent the issue of noise I mentioned , and also , placebo effect or not , is a cheap way of effortlessly powering my gear. I can give you the following example the lower impedance IEM I own or the planars sound noticeably better when I have NX7 plus dongle than with the majority of the dongles alone. I understand what you are saying and agree to it for the most part. Also I believe and have even tested my theory that this combo I use which can be had relatively cheap is a very easy way to obtain performance that is comparable and even exceeds some very expensive portable DAP, that many of us cannot afford.
@akros9333 I respect your opinion but still disagree. But that's ok. I do agree 100% about those 43198 dacs. I just adore them. Very addictive and refined up top. They kind of have this elegant and smooth roll off especially in the treble
@jasongibson3574 Hello! I was thinking of buying the Colorfly CDA-M1P as it looks really promising for its price. Do you have it? Do you have rf interference issues? And issues connecting it to an external amplifier? Thanks for all
First of all, thank you for the informative video. 2nd, we need more info on that split USB cable you showed at the end. I wasn't aware I could power the dongle from a separate source. 3rd, I've been considering the Fiio Q3 to amplify my dongles, I wonder how it compares to the NX7.
I think those are custom made cable which splits the data transfer wires and the power wires, it's a good way to maximize the dongle's potential since your usual phone has a limited power output, FiiO use the similar idea in their KA17.
I would also much appreciate learning what split USB cable that is, and any suggestion on good power for the dongle dac preferably A/C so no need to recharge and replace batteries. Speaking of which can I assume your setup of powering the dac, separately from the phone significantly reduces the phone battery drain?
@@pbtracey If you don't want to use powerbank with this type of setup, any phone charger should the trick tho I would suggest find any charger with only 5V output (preferably >1A) since we don't know how much voltage can the dongle handle unless you can find any specs related to it. And yes since you drain the power from 3rd party source, your phone battery should almost remain untouched.
please provide more information on the usb split cable. where can be found?
what type c to c cable do you use?
yes! i want to buy that cable mr akros, nice video
Hello Akros!
So we can connect any dongle to an external amplifier?
I was thinking about a cable with jack to 2 rca so as to connect my m1p or Go Link to my Amplifier Heed CanAmp which has rca inputs.
Is that possible? Does the theory of double amping exists?
Thanks for all!
Thank for the video Akros. Now I am tempted to buy the NX7 and connect it to my dongles
Thanks for the video I always wonder how it was done and you delivered sir 👍
Wow, after my comment on the last video you produce this formidable explanation and tutorial. Thanks a lot!
Fantastic video Tony so well explained very many thanks for your expert explanation.
Scottnad (Frank)
1:27 i thought 4.4 meant balanced output 🤔 what would happen if you put 4.4 balanced cables into the 4.4?
Thank you for the explanation on the setups.
i agree it is very simple after you showed it.
i think what makes people confused was all the cables connection (which IN/OUT).
Couple of days ago, i suggested you to check out EDX Pro which recently has been changed its driver to the ones similar in EDX Lite.
Just to let you know my latest shipment which i received 2 days ago with 3x EDX Pro,
2 was the new driver and 1 with the older driver, all in different color variant when purchased.
Knowing the way you purchase IEMs, i probably do not have to tell you this but please buy multiple units.
A unit cost me around AUD6(approx USD4) on AE before tax on "3+ items".
On another note (just for info),
recently KZ no longer provide Memory Foam for ZVX - has been swapped with Starline tips.
The same goes with D-Fi.. no more narrow and wide boar eartips with additional Memory Foam.
Both were selling at around AUD10(approx USD7) before tax on AE.
Is it better to use High Gain Or Low Gain on the Dac if it has it? Low gain should have lower noise floor then High, so would low be better?
I always use low gain precisely for the reason you just mentioned.
Although do be honest with high gain on the YUKI , AFUL, M15 M1P and RU7 it does seem to be a just as quiet.
@@akros9333 thanks. I just picked up the Yuki and I’m loving it. It’s nice to have options of finding different synergy. Also fun!
I have the nx 7 verry good one i use also with different dacs
Hi Akros. Did you find anything as good as Butastur for comparable price?
Thanks for sharing bro always helpful the info is pure gold so many times i stopped the videos and try to understand your gears ...thanks again keep that great job 👍🍀👍
Just remember that you're more than likely double amping by doing this which can increase noise in the sound chain. And you're not really comparing DACs in the dongles, you're comparing the dongle's DAC + Amp which is different from feeding your final dedicated Amp with a dedicated DAC.
What you are saying is totally valid , however the NX7 is very neutral so I am capable to differentiate between the different dongles with relative ease
The main reason however for doing this is:
On some if not most Dongles there is an audible noise/ interference when it's running.
Running it though the NX7 does away with this noise.
Secondly by having significantly more power I'm able to run IEMs with what I can only describe as greater headroom...less apparent effort.
@@akros9333 I understood that from the video, Akros. I wanted to comment because you didn't mention double amping and I'm not sure if all of your viewers understand double amping since it wasn't mentioned in the video. I've also noticed radio interference with some dongles, but it was easily solved for me by using a longer OTG cable which are pretty inexpensive on Amazon.
@@nmatheis thank you for the suggestion of the OTG cable.
Any suggestions on perhaps ones you have used and are decent? Thank you
@@akros9333 I misremembered. The longer OTG cables I purchased were micro USB to USB C.
@@nmatheis ohhh ok ok
I have a Kuang Pai Plus 4 (Cirrus 43131/43198) and I would like to explore a different dac chip / sound signature to pair with my DTE900. Which one would you recommend: Fiio KA17 (ES9069EQ), Cayin RU7 (1bit DSD DAC) or Questyle M15i (ES9281AC)?
Thanks for your awesome videos :)
I would recommend Questyle M15 and also Colorfly M1P
Thank you for your support
Thank you for the video. I aliways wondered about youe different set ups.
2:25 why don't you also max out the volume on the dongle?
Best dac I ever used was the apple dongle. Never heard any noise ever and it gets loud enough with earphones. I also bought 2 chifi dongles because I switched to android and one gave me problems with noise so I threw it away.
The Apple Dongle you used is USB Type-C variant or Lightning...?
@@faisalfirdausiinn4708 lightning
3:19 what if your dongle only has a 3.5?
Iems don't need more power than a 4.4 mm dongle. Tanchjim Space for example has been tested and verified distortion free up to 140mw into 32 ohm. This is far more power needed to drive any iem. That'll drive most headphones. Theres no need for headroom as the amp is distortion free, the headroom is just a placebo in this case. Amp sections also don't make noise or change the sound unless they are junk or they are dropped. It is true that not all dongles are distortion free. I can hear distortion in the Colorfly CDA-M1P for example and a lot of rf interference, not all of them are designed well.
Yes Jason you are correct most Dongles in their balanced outputs will power IEM....most of them adequately.
This set up I use of NX7 with different dongles is a way I have found to firstly circumvent the issue of noise I mentioned , and also , placebo effect or not , is a cheap way of effortlessly powering my gear.
I can give you the following example the lower impedance IEM I own or the planars sound noticeably better when I have NX7 plus dongle than with the majority of the dongles alone.
I understand what you are saying and agree to it for the most part.
Also I believe and have even tested my theory that this combo I use which can be had relatively cheap is a very easy way to obtain performance that is comparable and even exceeds some very expensive portable DAP, that many of us cannot afford.
@akros9333 I respect your opinion but still disagree. But that's ok. I do agree 100% about those 43198 dacs. I just adore them. Very addictive and refined up top. They kind of have this elegant and smooth roll off especially in the treble
@jasongibson3574 Hello!
I was thinking of buying the Colorfly CDA-M1P as it looks really promising for its price.
Do you have it? Do you have rf interference issues? And issues connecting it to an external amplifier?
Thanks for all
@@Nordi1_0745 I sent it back per rf interference issues.
@@Nordi1_0745 the M1P is amazing. Works very well in this set-up!
You should try Class A Amps instead of Class D. You can try the HUM MA-1S or HUM MA-1B for portable battery powered Class A amp.
please review tahcjim origin
Coming this weekend 😉
Please we want that review sir
Why not just use the NX7 by itself?
Thanks for this