Can anyone recommend a mobile Bluetooth DAC whose headphone jack doesn't break?

[Mzy12]

Hello!

I have had my Qudelix 5k for just under a year now and have enjoyed the sound quality and impressive noise measurements (thanks to this forum for numbers and recommendations). At least I had, until the 3.5mm headphone jack stopped working. Same symptoms as pretty much any mobile device on which I've used a headphone jack: The left/right channel starts to go, then the other soon follows. Part of it is indeed, "user error," if you will. I have had the moderate misfortune of being born with a couple disabilities that significantly affect my fine and gross motor functions and my coordination in general. This has lead to the aforementioned problem of me chewing through headphone jacks.

Does anyone know of any good quality (i.e. around Qudelix, particularly where noise and high sensitivity IEMs are concerned) portable DAC & Amp solutions for a phone that have a more robust headphone jack implementation? Bluetooth is preferable, but I would take USB-C as well. I know, "more robust," is probably not that measurable and I imagine most products use similar SMD parts with minimal additional mounting to relieve stress and tension.

Thanks in advance for any help

 

[WOLFAGRAM]

Hello my friend.

Have you considered using 6.35mm jack instead of 3.5mm? They should be more durable (at least on average) and they could open possibility for you to buy a semi-professional BT DAC from one of the pro music shops. Depending on where you live, perhaps you could find something on https://www.sweetwater.com (for north America) or on https://www.thomann.de/at/index.html (for Europe).

I hope you are going to find what you are looking for.
Cheers

 

[Mzy12]

Have you considered using 6.35mm jack instead of 3.5mm?

That would be ideal! However, I haven't found one in a similar enough format to the Qudelix 5k and other, "ultra-portable," options. I cannot justify lugging around something like the ifi Diablo!

 

[WOLFAGRAM]

That would be ideal! However, I haven't found one in a similar enough format to the Qudelix 5k and other, "ultra-portable," options. I cannot justify lugging around something like the ifi Diablo!

Hello my friend.

This is smaller than iFi Diablo and at least has 4.4mm Jack with BT: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/GOblu--ifi-go-blu-portable-bluetooth-dac-headphone-amp

This is even smaller, it even has 6.35mm Jack, but USB-C (you have said you would take it also): https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/GOblu--ifi-go-blu-portable-bluetooth-dac-headphone-amp

Relatively small, made in Germany with 6.35mm Jack and USB-C: https://www.amazon.com/Violectric-Chronos-mobiler-DAC-Kopfhörerverstärker/dp/B09LMTG5L1
Cheers.

 

[LTig]

That would be ideal! However, I haven't found one in a similar enough format to the Qudelix 5k and other, "ultra-portable," options. I cannot justify lugging around something like the ifi Diablo!

Just use a very short adapter cable 3.5 to 6.35, and leave it connected to the DAC forever. In case the 6.35 fails replace the adapter cable.

In fact you can do the same with a short extender cable 3.5 to 3.5.

 

[abm0]

I've had the FiiO BTR3 since... its year of release or thereabouts, and I've had no problems with the 3.5mm jack.

 

[Madlop26]

any chances trying to mitigate the stress in the headphone jack? like a 90 degree adapter and securing the cord with a rubber around the body of the device?

 

[Mzy12]

Just use a very short adapter cable 3.5 to 6.35, and leave it connected to the DAC forever. In case the 6.35 fails replace the adapter cable.

This is very smart

like a 90 degree adapter and securing the cord with a rubber around the body of the device?

As is this hahah. Not bad ideas at all. I'll see if I can break into my Qudelix 5k and replace the 3.5mm jack. The clip has also gone on it, but there's nothing to do about that.

Hello my friend.

This is smaller than iFi Diablo and at least has 4.4mm Jack with BT: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/GOblu--ifi-go-blu-portable-bluetooth-dac-headphone-amp

This is even smaller, it even has 6.35mm Jack, but USB-C (you have said you would take it also): https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/GOblu--ifi-go-blu-portable-bluetooth-dac-headphone-amp

Relatively small, made in Germany with 6.35mm Jack and USB-C: https://www.amazon.com/Violectric-Chronos-mobiler-DAC-Kopfhörerverstärker/dp/B09LMTG5L1
Cheers.

4.4mm might also make sense with a right angle adapter. Not sure if those exist. I have no problem making my own cables (done so before).

I've had the FiiO BTR3 since... its year of release or thereabouts, and I've had no problems with the 3.5mm jack.

I don't doubt it. However, these products are never made with the right amount of relief and mounting hardware in mind. The philosophy is, "Most people won't break it, enough will break it to leave a small handful of negative reviews and forum comments, but they'll have to come back and buy our product again anyways, so we don't care." I realise that I test the boundaries of the 'just good enough' semi-disposable tech products that we've come accustomed to

 

[extrasuper]

I have a fiio BTR5 and the 3.5mm out seems fine to me, though of course I do not have any motor skills handicap so I would expect your mileage may vary.

If you have headphones with a detachable cable, the new BTR13 has a balanced 4.4mm output, this may prove a touch less fiddly and hopefully a bit more robust if you can use a balanced 4.4mm cable? Also has PEQ built in and uses a couple of the well loved CS14131 DAC chip, so hopefully should be technically decent too - I'm thinking about replacing my BTR5 with it if only for the extra robustness of the 4.4mm balanced connection over the 2.5mm on the BTR5.

Also good bang for buck @~£70.