Dap or phone with Mojo 2

[Hixy]

I mainly listen to music with headphones whilst travelling to and from work .Would I get better sound quality using a dap £500 vs my note 9 and buying a Mojo 2 ? If I was going to buy a dap it probably would be a Astell&kern Norma ,as I haven't heard other brands.I love details in the music over everything else .

Thanks in advanced .

Hixy

 

[Ste_S]

I wouldn’t bother with anything other than Bluetooth headphones/ earbuds with my phone when commuting now. The noise cancelling and convenience far out
way any potential drop in sound quality.

 

[IAtaman]

Hello and welcome!

DAP or not is a personal preference and use case question. Sound quality wise it will not bring anything on the table. Is there a reason why you might want to carry an additional device with you for only music consumption if the sound quality was the same?

I do agree with Ste_S in that when commuting, the convenience of no wires is hard to beat and noise isolation might be as important to enjoyment as much as sound quality. If you would prefer wired headphones, may I ask what are the headphones you are using? IF they are not hard to drive kind, I'd strongly recommend Qudelix 5K as a brilliant DAC/DSP/AMP combo.

 

[Tell]

Noise cancelling actually increases the sound quality since it lowers the noise floor hence increasing the dynamic range of your music, and that's despite it "only" works with bluetooth.

 

[Hixy]

I did buy the Qudelix-5K and sent it back because I didn't feel it was any better than my btr5 .I listening mainly with planer Iem's .IE 7hz timeless an Letshuoer s12 .I have a feeling maybe what I own is good enough. I'm currently using a q11 and my old s9 phone .I just assumed more money on a dap or dac would be a night and day difference in sq .

Hixy

 

[IAtaman]

I did buy the Qudelix-5K and sent it back because I didn't feel it was any better than my btr5 .I listening mainly with planer Iem's .IE 7hz timeless an Letshuoer s12 .I have a feeling maybe what I own is good enough. I'm currently using a q11 and my old s9 phone .I just assumed more money on a dap or dac would be a night and day difference in sq .

Hixy

I think you are right, what you have might be already good enough.

Indeed, If you do not need the DSP functionality of Q5K, BTR5 is more than good enough with the IEMs you have. a DAP or a DAC will not make any real SQ improvement that you will notice over what you already have. The only way maybe you can adjust / improve things would be via EQ, hence the Q5K suggestion. If you are not going to EQ, don't get the Qudelix, or anything else, and enjoy what you got

 

[Hixy]

Thank you, you have saved me some money .

 

[williamr]

Alternatively an IEM with a good ear canal seal and an inexpensive USB dongle can sound very good (and accurate).