Best cheap USB-C headphone dongles?

[mc.god]

Really, where BT technology is today, I would just jump to a 5K Qudelix and free the chord. No issues with USB connections. You can also wire it w/USB-B, but, why. It is good enough and actually outstanding. Use it with my Etys for cycling.

I personally don't use the dongles with my phone but as dac\amp for my pc so cables are not a concern and i don't like at all devices with a battery that soon or later will die.

 

[ZolaIII]

Really, where BT technology is today, I would just jump to a 5K Qudelix and free the chord. No issues with USB connections. You can also wire it w/USB-B, but, why. It is good enough and actually outstanding. Use it with my Etys for cycling.

Try with Hiby W3 II if 1.75 V (-1.5 dB from 2 V) is enough for you for under 50$, use it preferably with Hiby Music (10 PEQ's, MSAB and codec support). It work's and like USB DAC (up to 192 KHz) and will continue to do so even when battery dies.

 

[donjoe0]

I'd just noticed this new iteration of the Hbiy FC3, now with a nice display that shows volume level, they claim 112 mW@32 PER CHANNEL, I don't know much about the ES9281 Pro other than it's a codec so it supports mic input also and integrates usb bridge (so no dedicated driver like asio). Specs are good but the only measurements i remember about this chip are for Fiio KA1 @ l7audiolab that where good but nothing stellar. It proved not going over 60 mW @32 ohm so don't know how this dongle can achieve double

It doubles the output power when you connect a load greater than 150 ohms, as clarified in the HypeTheSonics review of the previous FC3 model. The output numbers on the new one still look like you're getting the direct output of the DAC chip with no intervening opamps, so the signal should be pretty damn clean and very close to the DAC's spec of -112 dB THD+N (closest thing to a measurement to clarify this was the spectacular result the old FC3 got in the Df-metric on soundexpert.org, which is how I decided to buy it, and have been nothing but happy with the performance, I've been using it as my best DAC, though it absolutely needs to be plugged into better amps to drive heavy loads - I've even resorted to tricking it with impedance adapters so it goes into high-gain mode when I wanted to use it with the Koss KSC75, because even at 56 ohms there's dynamic performance left on the table if pushing only 50 mW through them).

Really, where BT technology is today, I would just jump to a 5K Qudelix and free the chord.

Sure, but considering where battery technology is today (limited-lifespan, toxic and rarely recycled lithium tech), and considering the planet-hating industrial policies of designing devices so the battery isn't replaceable, so when it stops working after a few years all you can do is throw the whole device "away" (aka away from your house, aka make it someone else's toxic and fire-hazard problem), I wouldn't buy another lithium-powered device until manufacturers get their sh_t in order. At the very least I'd like to see sodium-ion become viable at these small sizes, but ideally I'd like to see replaceable batteries become the norm first, for devices of all sizes.

 

[mc.god]

It doubles the output power when you connect a load greater than 150 ohms, as clarified in the HypeTheSonics review of the previous FC3 model. The output power still looks like you're getting the direct output of the DAC chip with no intervening opamps,

In that review the original FC3 is reported to provide 100mW@32 in high gain mode (tricking the dongle with an adpter) and 50mW@32 in low gain mode (in line with fiio KA1 measurements), so it seems that manufacturer spec of 70mW@32 is an in-between value. This new FC3 with display is specced for 112mW@32 so it's to be checked if they now simply decided to advertise the power in high gain mode (that user can only achieve tricking the dongle, unless it now has a manual switch) or if it is really more powerful than original due to some added opamp or better power supply stage.

 

[donjoe0]

In that review the original FC3 is reported to provide 100mW@32 in high gain mode (tricking the dongle with an adpter) and 50mW@32 in low gain mode (in line with fiio KA1 measurements), so it seems that manufacturer spec of 70mW@32 is an in-between value. This new FC3 with display is specced for 112mW@32 so it's to be checked if they now simply decided to advertise the power in high gain mode (that user can only achieve tricking the dongle, unless it now has a manual switch) or if it is really more powerful than original due to some added opamp or better power supply stage.

I just assumed it's a pure DAC upgrade from ES9281 Pro to ES9281AC Pro, though I couldn't quickly find a datasheet for the newer one. I don't think anyone would invest in a circuit redesign involving extra opamps just to provide a mostly inaudible increase in output from 50/100 to 60/112 mW.

 

[mc.god]

I just assumed it's a pure DAC upgrade from ES9281 Pro to ES9281AC Pro, though I couldn't quickly find a datasheet for the newer one. I don't think anyone would invest in a circuit redesign involving extra opamps just to provide a mostly inaudible increase in output from 50/100 to 60/112 mW.

We can't infer much more, I don't even know if 9281 Pro and 9281AC Pro are really two different chips since the only info available refer to an "in between" 9281A Pro
https://www.esstech.com/products-overview/codecs/
and output power is not specified anyway.
Maybe Hiby just played a bit with the info to give the impression of some improvement on tech side other than the display, again, we can't know.

 

[HissingFree]

EPZ TP20 claims 2 Vrms @32 ohms

https://es.aliexpress.com/item/1005005310727211.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.1.4718qPY3qPY32Y&algo_pvid=ab3b799b-9cc6-4ce3-92bc-717a2db762f2&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A

But it looks like fake since it is just dual CS43131 it seems, the TP30 has additional opamp RTL 6863

 

[mc.god]

EPZ TP20 claims 2 Vrms @32 ohms

https://es.aliexpress.com/item/1005005310727211.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.1.4718qPY3qPY32Y&algo_pvid=ab3b799b-9cc6-4ce3-92bc-717a2db762f2&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A

But it looks like fake since it is just dual CS43131 it seems, the TP30 has additional opamp RTL 6863

Again, don't trust too much that advertised specs since often they are so badly translated that you end up with an headache trying to sort them out.
I can't give it for sure but I don't trust at all that 2V@32ohm, i bet they intend 2V at line level as always, and 125mW are more likely combined also in this case.
As for the TP30, it mounts the ES9038Q2M DAC that doesn't have an integrated amp like the CS43131 and ES9281, so the entire amp stage has to be done via external opamps (something like the FAudio you asked me earlier).

 

[ZolaIII]

EPZ TP20 claims 2 Vrms @32 ohms

https://es.aliexpress.com/item/1005005310727211.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.1.4718qPY3qPY32Y&algo_pvid=ab3b799b-9cc6-4ce3-92bc-717a2db762f2&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A

But it looks like fake since it is just dual CS43131 it seems, the TP30 has additional opamp RTL 6863

You need to get the difference of V and mW per given impedance. TP 20 is 2x CS43131 so it's 2/4 V unbalanced/balanced. TP 30 is ESS +2x RT6863D which is same power and worse performance then one's embedded in CS43131 not to mention it sucks much more power.

New face in op amp industry

I was investigating Khadas tone board and I found out that they used RT6862D and RT6863D at amplifying stage. There is nothing about those chips on internet and even the distributers like Mouser and Digichip have no information about them. Since those chips show superb performance as shown on...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[HissingFree]

You need to get the difference of V and mW per given impedance. TP 20 is 2x CS43131 so it's 2/4 V unbalanced/balanced. TP 30 is ESS +2x RT6863D which is same power and worse performance then one's embedded in CS43131 not to mention it sucks much more power.

New face in op amp industry

I was investigating Khadas tone board and I found out that they used RT6862D and RT6863D at amplifying stage. There is nothing about those chips on internet and even the distributers like Mouser and Digichip have no information about them. Since those chips show superb performance as shown on...

www.audiosciencereview.com

CS43131 gets 2V at line level and at very high ohms, not at 32 ohms though, which is the main point.

 

[HissingFree]

Yet to see a sub 40$ portable dac with more than like 80mw of power per channel into 32 ohms unbalanced, other than the FiiO KA11 that is plagued by numerous bugs and issues and overheats a lot.

 

[ZolaIII]

Yet to see a sub 40$ portable dac with more than like 80mw of power per channel into 32 ohms unbalanced, other than the FiiO KA11 that is plagued by numerous bugs and issues and overheats a lot.

How so? It will give about 65 mW @ 32 Ohms unbalanced and twice as much balanced as any other one based on same integrated OPAMP's.

 

[mc.god]

You need to get the difference of V and mW per given impedance. TP 20 is 2x CS43131 so it's 2/4 V unbalanced/balanced. TP 30 is ESS +2x RT6863D which is same power and worse performance then one's embedded in CS43131 not to mention it sucks much more power.

New face in op amp industry

I was investigating Khadas tone board and I found out that they used RT6862D and RT6863D at amplifying stage. There is nothing about those chips on internet and even the distributers like Mouser and Digichip have no information about them. Since those chips show superb performance as shown on...

www.audiosciencereview.com

If i remember well RT6863 is also used in Topping DX1, so if well implemented it can perform quite good.

 

[ZolaIII]

If i remember well RT6863 are also used in Topping DX1, so if well implemented they can performs quite good.

You have specs sheat there and one's in CS43131 are specified - 140 dB but it doesn't get there (without voltage pump in H class) and it's up to date most power effects one. Real advantage of CS43131 is it's class leading EMI rejection rate and main reason there are no really bad designs based on it. Ivan is a wizard regarding ESS integration in it's E1DA lines and only he knows how much headaches that bringed him.

 

[mc.god]

You have specs sheat there and one's in CS43131 are specified - 140 dB but it doesn't get there (without voltage pump in H class) and it's up to date most power effects one. Real advantage of CS43131 is it's class leading EMI rejection rate and main reason there are no really bad designs based on it. Ivan is a wizard regarding ESS integration in it's E1DA lines and only he knows how much headaches that bringed him.

I more than like and praise the CS43131, just saying that a well implemented RT6863 addition wouldn't worse much the measurements if more power is needed, just like it was for the meizu pro with opa1622.
If it can be well implemented in such small space like the fioo KA11 is another thing, and from what i read it wasn't the case.

 

[ZolaIII]

I more than like and praise the CS43131, just saying that a well implemented RT6863 addition wouldn't worse much the measurements if more power is needed, just like it was for the meizu pro with opa1622.
If it can be well implemented in such small space like the fioo KA11 is another thing, and from what i read it wasn't the case.

Let me quote Ivan.

New face in op amp industry

I was investigating Khadas tone board and I found out that they used RT6862D and RT6863D at amplifying stage. There is nothing about those chips on internet and even the distributers like Mouser and Digichip have no information about them. Since those chips show superb performance as shown on...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[mc.god]

Let me quote Ivan.

New face in op amp industry

I was investigating Khadas tone board and I found out that they used RT6862D and RT6863D at amplifying stage. There is nothing about those chips on internet and even the distributers like Mouser and Digichip have no information about them. Since those chips show superb performance as shown on...

www.audiosciencereview.com

I remember well those posts of him and given his big knowledge not going to doubt it, my point is that those opamp are used in some cheap device without destroying their measured performance (some performing very well indeed like mentioned DX1), so i see them as a viable way to produce cheap dongles with a bit more power for ones needing it. Everything comes at a cost, so if one wants more power for cheap he can get it loosing a bit of something else, more choices are better than few from my point of view.
On the other hand it's possible to screw up even a simple CS43131 design with no opamps, as we see in Sonata E35 and E44 load measurements by l7audiolab

 

[HissingFree]

Fiio KA11 has such small enclosure though, many portable dac/amp have quite a bigger enclosure, it doesn't need to be a small dongle. So a bigger enclosure than KA11 and not quite the 200mW at 32 ohm, like 120-140mW in a bigger enclosure I don't see how it's not manageable.

 

[ZolaIII]

Fiio KA11 has such small enclosure though, many portable dac/amp have quite a bigger enclosure, it doesn't need to be a small dongle. So a bigger enclosure than KA11 and not quite the 200mW at 32 ohm, like 120-140mW in a bigger enclosure I don't see how it's not manageable.

I told you once and I am telling you again learn the difference between V and mW @ given resistance. When you do you will learn how they are related and how insane lies in manufacturers so called declarations have no sense whatsoever. K11 is rather bad design with 2V 65 mW unbalanced out and 104.5 dB SINAD and 4V balanced out with SINAD of 97 dB. Good ones go 114/117 dB SINAD and same power which is as I started before.
It's been discussed hire on ASR before with a conclusion how phone USB out limited to 500 mV simply isn't enough to power more powerful ones (which simply work on higher V same OPAMP's). There are more powerful mobile DAC's but are either self battery powerd (flask alike one's) or use PC USB power delivery (won't work with mobile) and still limited to 5V to my better knowledge in both cases. Examples Tooping G5, Creative G6.

 

[mc.god]

I told you once and I am telling you again learn the difference between V and mW @ given resistance. When you do you will learn how they are related and how insane lies in manufacturers so called declarations have no sense whatsoever. K11 is rather bad design with 2V 65 mW unbalanced out and 104.5 dB SINAD and 4V balanced out with SINAD of 97 dB. Good ones go 114/117 dB SINAD and same power which is as I started before.
It's been discussed hire on ASR before with a conclusion how phone USB out limited to 500 mV simply isn't enough to power more powerful ones (which simply work on higher V same OPAMP's). There are more powerful mobile DAC's but are either self battery powerd (flask alike one's) or use PC USB power delivery (won't work with mobile) and still limited to 5V to my better knowledge in both cases. Examples Tooping G5, Creative G6.

Sorry but I can't get which device you are talking about, K11 is a desktop DC powered unit with much more power and SE+Balanced ouyput, here we are referring to KA11 that is a cheap dongle with only SE ouput combining a CS43131 with a SGM8262 and advertised for 2x200mW @32 and sinad 104 db @32 (108 db @300).