Double-amping talk is a myth used to create fear that a dongle will somehow be inferior to some standalone DAC box which doesn't necessarily perform any better.
All of Amir's tests are typically at maximum output. So what you see in his tests is how the dongle should perform when you use it as...
Hifiman has it open box for $229. Not sure what they had been previously listing it as.
But several years ago, the V3 were commonly available for a lot less than that retail price.
I can confirm that it also sounds great with a lot of bass boost for anyone that wants to turn it into a "fun" headphone sound. Very clean due to how inaudible the bass distortion was that Amir measured. Just needs a good amp for the bass boost given its low sensitivity.
As far as that retail...
The Topping E30 measure so accurate that it is easily arguable to be noise and distortion-free within the range of human hearing. In other words, it exceeds the highest fidelity sound reproduction your ears can perceive.
The Modi should be similar in accuracy. But unless you can upgrade your...
I don't have a MacBook to try it with.
But people do sometimes mention that they have a new MacBook Pro over at r/headphoneadvice. So would be nice to tell them what ways there are to bypass the low gain mode when trying to help them with headphones.
Anybody find a setting in their MacBook Pro to disengage the low impedance gain mode?
Thinking of how some low impedance, low sensitivity headphones would benefit from more output.
I think this is actually better than the original (I do like the original). And it's a great video to watch all of these people from all over the world performing the song.
Some not unexpected results, with high output impedance for all three motherboards, and weak headphone power output for two of them
Skip forward to 6:15 to see the results table.
Yep. I have the Tempotec Sonata HD Pro hooked up to my THX 789 amp. But no one wants to believe that a dongle DAC is just as good as the desktop DACs that cost more money. I love it because it doesn't take up any space. Just hangs out back with the cables. lol