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Best cheap USB-C headphone dongles?
- Thread starter starfly
- Start date
No PEQ?
i own this one and it is too sensitive to phone EMI, so i do not use it with IEMs. Ended up using it as a permanent attachment to my HD800s. It has a very powerful amp stage, so it is perfect for large headphones.
BTW there is zero point in catching up those "BEST SINAD" numbers , you wont hear any difference anyway. Usability, features and battery life are what really important.
musichunter1x
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Someone has experience with these cheap dongles, but connected to active speakers?
I bought this apple dongle, but it has to be an imitation, coz it sound like a broken, distorted stuff with more bass. Tested in different setups and seems to sometimes change its sound from bassy to thin, but still with some sort of distortions in a dynamic music
My Tempotec HD Pro sometimes is used for this usecase, but it "disconnects" when there is no signal, probably due to its sleep mode or something, which make noises on this old speakers with MFB.
I do not need a better audio quality, it can be even worse, but without this problem, which was solved even by this "fake" or broken apple dongle.
I bought this apple dongle, but it has to be an imitation, coz it sound like a broken, distorted stuff with more bass. Tested in different setups and seems to sometimes change its sound from bassy to thin, but still with some sort of distortions in a dynamic music
My Tempotec HD Pro sometimes is used for this usecase, but it "disconnects" when there is no signal, probably due to its sleep mode or something, which make noises on this old speakers with MFB.
I do not need a better audio quality, it can be even worse, but without this problem, which was solved even by this "fake" or broken apple dongle.
HissingFree
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ALC5686 hasn't been properly tested I feel, same with CS46L41.
I think I saw some measurements showing worse performance of ALC5686, but don't remember where they were, so perhaps they weren't "proper".
If Moondrop Click is on ALC5686 then it is on L7AudioLab, SiNAD seems very ok, but then linearity...
https://www.l7audiolab.com/f/moondrop-click/
One more thing we also know is from @staticV3 current draw measurement, Moondrop Click draws 25.3mA vs 11mA of CX31993 dongles. While not necessarily bad, it about matches 26.5mA of "lifeme Hifi Audio Pro" which I think is the CX31993 + Max97220 variant?
In my case I have Avani on ALC5686 and I've always picked CX-Pro CX31993 when comparing. For my ears Avani sounds soapy/poorly defined at times, and actually a bit shouty? Generally seemed very much like my ALC897 onboard (75dB SiNAD at 0.92Vrms, 3.2mW at 32Ohm, 2.7mW at 300Ohm) just with a more power on tap. And I was very hyped for Avani, as I specifically picked it after reading Andy/donglemadness... (ye I should knew better...).
If Moondrop Click is on ALC5686 then it is on L7AudioLab, SiNAD seems very ok, but then linearity...
https://www.l7audiolab.com/f/moondrop-click/
One more thing we also know is from @staticV3 current draw measurement, Moondrop Click draws 25.3mA vs 11mA of CX31993 dongles. While not necessarily bad, it about matches 26.5mA of "lifeme Hifi Audio Pro" which I think is the CX31993 + Max97220 variant?
In my case I have Avani on ALC5686 and I've always picked CX-Pro CX31993 when comparing. For my ears Avani sounds soapy/poorly defined at times, and actually a bit shouty? Generally seemed very much like my ALC897 onboard (75dB SiNAD at 0.92Vrms, 3.2mW at 32Ohm, 2.7mW at 300Ohm) just with a more power on tap. And I was very hyped for Avani, as I specifically picked it after reading Andy/donglemadness... (ye I should knew better...).
HissingFree
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musichunter1x
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If someone want to distinguish a fake apple dongle and real one... The oryginal has more rigid cardboard "handles" for it inside, which stops you from removing it, without bending stuff. Also the real one has paper / cardbaord seal and a fake one has plastic.
I returned fakes and the real one sounds good and there has no distortions or problems when there is no signal.
It is hard to imagine for me, how something can be noticeable better, beside power and functionality. Probably I am going to do a on/off switch for USB power from connection and split to 2 outputs, but no need for it now.
I returned fakes and the real one sounds good and there has no distortions or problems when there is no signal.
It is hard to imagine for me, how something can be noticeable better, beside power and functionality. Probably I am going to do a on/off switch for USB power from connection and split to 2 outputs, but no need for it now.
it can't, i abx'd apple dongle with all dacs i have (including desktop dacs) and there is no difference after careful volume matching.
CasualV-shape
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I would like to add the Sonata BHD (non-Pro). They can be available for as low as 16USD on both Lazada and AliExpress, rendering it the cheapest dual output DAC available. It also features near zero DRE distortion like JM20 Max on the list, very low noise and have adjustable gainSo, as of now, what are the best cheap USB headphone dongles that have output > 1 Vrms?
Since we're talking about the best "cheap" dongles, even a few dollars should matter.And onboard PEQ is not a must-have feature. DRE artifacts or any other performance issue should not be present.
Looking at the very current market offerings, these come into sight:
In particular, the Hiby FC3 is priced very nicely for now. If it measures same as the FC3 w/ display, it will make a very nice, no-frills USB dongle.
- TRN Black Pearl (with new firmware): $33.29 at AliExpress (BrightAudio)
- FiiO Melody (with new firmware): $39.99 at Amazon.com
- JCally JM20 Max (not completely free of DRE distortion, though): $21.15 at AliExpress (CKLewis Audio)
- JCally JM20 (not completely free of DRE distortion): $18.97 at AliExpress (CKLewis Audio)
- Hidizs SD2: $31.99 (w/ coupon) at Amazon.com
- Hiby FC3 (no display): $23.02 at AliExpress (Hiby Official Store)
EDIT. The FC3 can be one of a kind with respect to
Any other dongles that I've missed?
- Price < $25
- No DRE-induced distortion
- Low noise for a dongle with a unity gain buffer (only behind the state-of-the-art, top-of-the-line DACs with over 120 dB SINAD)
- Relatively low power consumption and low heat thanks to integrated chip design (e.g., lower than op-amp design like the JM20 Max)
SlowLife
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JCALLY X Crinacle AP6
Pros:
+ 4.4Bal Powerful: Vol16/100 for ATH-R70x, Moondrop Para
+ 3.5mm inline microphone support
+ Detachable USB Type-C
+ Solid build
+ Plug and play
Cons:
- Fade-in when changing songs in exclusive mode
- Does not support 88.2kHz, 176.4kHz, and 352.8kHz
- No volume button
- No gain switch
- No PEQ
- No DAC filter options
- No RGB LED
Pros:
+ 4.4Bal Powerful: Vol16/100 for ATH-R70x, Moondrop Para
+ 3.5mm inline microphone support
+ Detachable USB Type-C
+ Solid build
+ Plug and play
Cons:
- Fade-in when changing songs in exclusive mode
- Does not support 88.2kHz, 176.4kHz, and 352.8kHz
- No volume button
- No gain switch
- No PEQ
- No DAC filter options
- No RGB LED
It should use a CX31993 chipset + SGM8262 op amps
The supported formats seem odd since CX31993 fully supports up to 32bit 384 KHz
Oh ok, I was misleaded by your first screenshot, didn't notice it was about ADC.
I can confirm that CX31993 doesn't support native playback of 88,176 and 352 sample rates.
SGM8262 is a monster current driver in a small package. But that very fact (so much current through a small footprint) is its Achilles' heel. It may show high output power on a test bench briefly. But unless its generated heat is controlled in a proper design, its actual low-impedance drive capability will be limited. I doubt these recently released SGM8262-based portable devices employed a PCB with a lot of copper for maximum power dissipation. I would not choose these to actually drive low-sensitivity, low-impedance planar magnetic headphones.
Do you know what bridge chip is used? The missing 88.2, 176.4, 352.8 kHz may indicate an SPVxxx, which would include an ADC (and DSP, even if it’s not used).
SlowLife
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I have searched but can't find any information about the bridge chip used by the AP6.
I completely missed the CX31993 DAC. If I’m not mistaken, it has its own USB interface (no need for a separate USB bridge), and also has an ADC for mic. input.
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