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Deleted member 31750
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nice one, thanks
I'm quite sure the distortion characteristics of this dongle is intended. They seem to follow the same erroneous path like PS Audio.
Hi, I have tried several dongle dacs (Dragonfly Red and Cobalt, Tempotec Sonata HD Pro, Meizu Hifi Pro, Zorloo Ztella, Lotoo PAW S1, E1DA 9038S G3, and I found the Lotoo PAW S1 and the G3 to be the most musical between them.
I suggest you to try the E1DA 9038S G3. I think it is the most mature 9038Q2M implementation by far. With their Tweak9038 app you can change the filters, control 2nd and 3rd harmonic distorsion (built in features of the chip),etc... so you can tailor the sound signiture to your needs or even to the music you listen to, on the fly. I have seen this feature until now only on desktop ESS devices like SU-9. There are some firmwares with unique setting, that you can use as presets. The linear phase slow roll-off_SE firmware is quasi 'tube emulation'. I use the dac with this firmware, and it is very musical with totally black background. If I wish i have the opportunity to change for a more technical sound. The G3 combines great measurements/professional engineering with musical sound and perfect usability. The achilles heels are: higher power consumption, sensitivity to RF noise and only 2,5 balanced out. The sensitivity can be reduced mostly with the usage of DDHifi TC05L USB-C cable, and since there is the E1DA 9038D with the 3,5mm output available. In summary the G3 is a very innovative product for 100USD. From the listed dacs, I kept the G3 and the Meizu Hifi Pro (Lotoo I just sold because I started to build a desktop rig . I think, Audioquest should have come out with a product like this based on the 9038Q2M.
I have absolutely no explanation why
I do… A hypothesis rather, but anyway...
In many systems involving sensors there is a known ‘wobbling effect‘ that is used to focus, get on target quicker, get the signal from under the noise, etc… By the same token, presence of certain-spectrum distortions, coloration can be (is?) perceived positively by our brain. Just like the infamous ‘tube‘ sound. And putting aside purists‘ ‘transparent reproduction‘ and its pros, the known (eg measured) coloration of Cobalt is acknowledged by many as [subjectively] very positive… When I had a Cobalt I rather enjoyed its sound too, but sold it anyway mainly due to the price/competition.
If you want a brand name, get the THX Onyx which washes the floor with it.
The guys at What Hifi have an opposite opinion on that:
https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/thx-onyx
I quote: "The five-star Audioquest DragonFly Red (£169, $200, AU$280) – the class-leading portable DAC at this price – provides a much wider window into a song, bringing musical details and instrumental textures to the surface that the THX overlooks."
And the Cobalt is supposed to be much better than the Red: https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/audioquest-dragonfly-cobalt
Many reviewers seem to be capable of hearing distortion and interpret it as detail, like with the PS Audio DACs. The often use the word "richness". Well, if I understand it correctly, there are indeed some exaggerated artifacts there as distortion gets higher, so in that sense it is "richer", as there is "more".
Nope that richness doesn‘t have anything to do with harmonic distortion. DFR has a pretty good THD of around 0.003%. That is not audible by no means. The threshold for audible distortion, for a single sine tone, is around 0.2%. For music, it‘s above 1%. So, THD of 0.01% is already absolutely beyond audible threshold. 0.003% of DFR even further. That would never add any “richness“.
What hifi is an advertising masquerading as reviews. If you believe them over proper objective analysis and formal listening tests I do here, then there is no hope for you. I suggest forgetting stuff like that. There is no there.The guys at What Hifi have an opposite opinion on that:
This is all incorrect. Have these people show just one of these factors to be true when they don't know what is playing and I will buy you one of these dongles! For your own sake, forget all of that. We are here to show you conclusions that are strongly supported by evidence. Don't listen to nonsense over that.Many reviewers seem to be capable of hearing distortion and interpret it as detail, like with the PS Audio DACs. The often use the word "richness". Well, if I understand it correctly, there are indeed some exaggerated artifacts there as distortion gets higher, so in that sense it is "richer", as there is "more".
What hifi is an advertising masquerading as reviews. If you believe them over proper objective analysis and formal listening tests I do here, then there is no hope for you. I suggest forgetting stuff like that. There is no there.
What hifi is an advertising masquerading as reviews
If you believe them over proper objective analysis and formal listening tests I do here,
Apple dongle, which measures perfectly fine, same level as DFR or even better in THD than DFC, sounds not that good to me
Most probably, still due to its very low output power that is not sufficient for your headphones. Are all your IEMs sound equally 'not that good'?
It's also the perfect excuse to sell quickly made, cut corners, shit measuring gear. "But it's like art!"But perhaps there’s factors that are just not measurable, or change person-to-person or moment-to-moment. Maybe sound is more like art, where precision doesn’t always produce the most enjoyment.