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E1DA 9038D Review (portable DAC & Amp)

sunnyboy

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Hardware volume inside the 9038SG3 is done digitally. After all, there's just no way to accommodate multiple gain stages inside the tiny enclosure and switches or pots aren't quite IVX's style afaik.
When you plug any DAC with UAC2-controlled hardware volume into an Android device, then the OS will reset its hardware volume to 100%, however, you can configure that 100% using the Tweak9038 App's maximum volume limiter.
Beyond that one action, Android has no control over a UAC2-enabled DAC's hardware volume.
If you want to control it from your phone, then you need to use USB Audio Player Pro, Hiby Music Player, or Tweak9038. All of which will bypass the Android Audio environment completely and will control the DAC directly.
Can I install tweak9038app for iPhone IOS? Does e1da9038d support iPhone?
 

Atanasi

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Can I install tweak9038app for iPhone IOS? Does e1da9038d support iPhone?
I suppose iOS doesn't support apps accessing USB devices if those devices are not certified by Apple. Only class-compliant features work.
 

staticV3

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Can I install tweak9038app for iPhone IOS? Does e1da9038d support iPhone?
You can use the 9038D on iOS, as long as you have a compatible USB cable.
Unfortunately we cannot bring Tweak9038 to iOS, because Apple doesn't allow it.
 

TunaBug

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You can use the 9038D on iOS, as long as you have a compatible USB cable.
Unfortunately we cannot bring Tweak9038 to iOS, because Apple doesn't allow it.

I don't know specifically what Tweak9038 needs to do with the device, nor what the Qudelix app needs to do with the 5K, but I find myself using the Qudelix more with my iPhone simply because of their app. I would love to play with Tweak9038, but not so much that I'd switch phone ecosystems for it.
 

sunnyboy

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I don't know specifically what Tweak9038 needs to do with the device, nor what the Qudelix app needs to do with the 5K, but I find myself using the Qudelix more with my iPhone simply because of their app. I would love to play with Tweak9038, but not so much that I'd switch phone ecosystems for it.
It's a pity that the device application can't support IOS
 

staticV3

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It's a pity that the device application can't support IOS
The only way to make Tweak9038 work in iOS would be to put an Apple chip inside each and every 9038D and to continuously pay Apple licensing fees.
Ivan doesn't want Apple's chips inside his design and neither does he want to keep giving them money.
But who knows, maybe Apple will reconsider their anti-competitive practices in the future.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
 

TunaBug

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The only way to make Tweak9038 work in iOS would be to put an Apple chip inside each and every 9038D and to continuously pay Apple licensing fees.
Ivan doesn't want Apple's chips inside his design and neither does he want to keep giving them money.
But who knows, maybe Apple will reconsider their anti-competitive practices in the future.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I'll understand if you can't say, but I'm curious to know what Tweak9038 needs to do that requires an Apple chip?
 

staticV3

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I'll understand if you can't say, but I'm curious to know what Tweak9038 needs to do that requires an Apple chip?
Tweak9038 reads and writes DAC registers stored on a flash chip inside the 9038D.
From what I know, Apple allows their Lightning port to be used for normal things like USB data transfer and audio output without extra costs.
More complex things like what Tweak9038 is doing or those thermal cameras for example require paying Apple for ID chips so that the iPhone can make sure the hardware is safe to interact with.
 
D

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@staticV3 Hello. Thinking of buying one of these, can you confirm a few things for me?

1. Samsung S21 Ultra. Can I use a wireless charger too charge the phone whilst listening to the dongle? No affect on SQ?

2. Sennheiser HD69. 23 ohm, I think. Will it power them (for'now, planning to replace them next spring)

3. Is there an easy way to charge the phone via the usbc whilst using the dongle? Or is 1. my only option?

4. Will West Ham win the Premier League this season?

Thanks

EDIT: An afterthought. Could I run Moode on a Pi4 into this dongle and stream (Bubble UPNP) straight to my headphones? Would solve all battery drain issues.
 
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Rottmannash

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@staticV3 Hello. Thinking of buying one of these, can you confirm a few things for me?

1. Samsung S21 Ultra. Can I use a wireless charger too charge the phone whilst listening to the dongle? No affect on SQ?

2. Sennheiser HD69. 23 ohm, I think. Will it power them (for'now, planning to replace them next spring)

3. Is there an easy way to charge the phone via the usbc whilst using the dongle? Or is 1. my only option?

4. Will West Ham win the Premier League this season?

Thanks
1. Yes-I do it all the time in the car. works great. Not sure on your other questions.
 

staticV3

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@staticV3 Hello. Thinking of buying one of these, can you confirm a few things for me?

1. Samsung S21 Ultra. Can I use a wireless charger too charge the phone whilst listening to the dongle? No affect on SQ?

2. Sennheiser HD69. 23 ohm, I think. Will it power them (for'now, planning to replace them next spring)

3. Is there an easy way to charge the phone via the usbc whilst using the dongle? Or is 1. my only option?

4. Will West Ham win the Premier League this season?

Thanks

EDIT: An afterthought. Could I run Moode on a Pi4 into this dongle and stream (Bubble UPNP) straight to my headphones? Would solve all battery drain issues.
1. Refer to Rottmannash's answer above.
2. Sennheiser HD569 I'm assuming? That'll do 120dB SPL according to Sennheiser's specs. 126dB SPL according to ReferenceAudioAnalyzer's measurements and 123dB SPL according to Innerfidelity. More than loud enough in any case.
3. You can charge your phone via USB while using the 9038D with a USB Type-C hub with power delivery pass-through. Something like this. A phone with support for PD charging and a PD charger will be required.
4. With the profound knowledge I gained from skimming West Ham's Wikipedia entry for a few minutes, I'd say not this time, no.
 

chi2

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3. You can charge your phone via USB while using the 9038D with a USB Type-C hub with power delivery pass-through. Something like this. A phone with support for PD charging and a PD charger will be required.

Sounds like a great solution but ugreen states for the "2-in-1 USB C Headphone & Charge Adapter" as well as the "4-in-1 USB C to USB C Earphone Adapter" (https://de.aliexpress.com/item/4000120501764.html) that data transfer is not supported and that it only works with "USB C earphones" in connection with the following limited number of portable devices:
Huawei Mate 10 Pro/ Mate 20 Pro/ Mate 30 Pro (Android 10.0) / Porsche /P20 /P20 Pro /P30 Pro;
IPad Pro 2018;
Mi 8/ Mi 6/ MIX 2S;
Google Pixel 2XL;
Smartisan Mutter R1.
 

staticV3

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Sounds like a great solution but ugreen states for the "2-in-1 USB C Headphone & Charge Adapter" as well as the "4-in-1 USB C to USB C Earphone Adapter" (https://de.aliexpress.com/item/4000120501764.html) that data transfer is not supported and that it only works with "USB C earphones" in connection with the following limited number of portable devices:
Huawei Mate 10 Pro/ Mate 20 Pro/ Mate 30 Pro (Android 10.0) / Porsche /P20 /P20 Pro /P30 Pro;
IPad Pro 2018;
Mi 8/ Mi 6/ MIX 2S;
Google Pixel 2XL;
Smartisan Mutter R1.
It says further that the devices listed as supported are merely those that Ugreen have gotten around to testing themselves.
It is also clarified that the hub does not support analog Type-C headphones or dongles, like for example the OnePlus 6T's headphone adapter. Only external USB DACs are supported.
The hub cannot differentiate between a Type-C IEM with DAC inside the Type-C plug and a 9038D plus whatever headphone you plug into it.
As far as the hub is concerned, they're the same thing (just with different power consumption).
 

chi2

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In other words it may be ok for hooking up any portable dac with any portable USB C output device?
 

staticV3

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@chi2
My Ugreen 60165 "2-in-1 USB C Headphone & Charge Adapter" arrived yesterday and today I tested it with:
  • three mobile devices:
    • OnePlus 6T
    • Samsung Tab S7+
    • Samsung Tab S5e
  • five USB Type-A chargers:
    • IMG_20220111_144151.jpg
    • IMG_20220111_143931.jpg
    • IMG_20220111_144022.jpg
    • IMG_20220111_144231.jpg
    • IMG_20220111_144105.jpg
  • three Type-A to Type-C cables:
  • four Type-C chargers:
    • IMG_20220111_143602.jpg
    • IMG_20220111_143826.jpg
    • IMG_20220111_143457.jpg
    • IMG_20220111_143734.jpg
  • five Type-C to Type-C cables:
All in all I tested (5*3+4*5)*3=105 different combinations.

OnePlus 6T:​

No matter which charger and cable I used, it was not possible to charge the phone and use the 9038D at the same time.
Use the Ugreen splitter without external power supply and it acts like a simple cable, so the 9038D works just fine.
Plug a charger into the splitter's charge port, and the DAC gets disconnected.

Samsung Tab S5e:​

Only Type-A chargers enable charging the tablet while using a DAC. Not a single Type-C charger worked.
Charging speeds were as follows:
  • OnePlus DC0504B3GB: 5.5-7.0W depending on cable used
  • Apple A1357: 5.5-6.0W depending on cable used
  • Samsung EP-TA200: 7.0-8.5W
  • OnePlus WC0506A3HK: 7.0-8.5W
  • Nillkin KCH0502000EU: 6.5-8.0W

Samsung Tab S7+:​

All nine chargers did the job. Charging speeds were as follows:
  • Anker A2633: 3-6W
  • Anker A2637: 3-5W
  • Samsung EP-TA845: 4-7W
  • Anker A2615: 3-6W
  • Apple A1357: 5.0-5.5W
  • OnePlus WC0506A3HK: 7.5-8.5W
  • OnePlus DC0504B3GB: 4.5-6.5W
  • Nillkin KCH0502000EU: 6.0-7.5W
  • Samsung EP-TA200: 6-8W

Final notes:​

  • The Ugreen splitter feels nicer than I expected! Soft cable, aluminium housing, and a good quality Type-C plug.
  • The 180cm Powerline II and the 120cm B&O cables charged the slowest.
  • The splitter supplies 4.75V to your phone/tablet and 4.85V to your DAC.
 
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bYOndo

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staticV3

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thanks @staticV3 ! a related info: I want to buy the 180 degrees male/male adapter but I'm struggling to find it, only AliExpress seems to sell it:


am I right? anything on Amazon?
If you can't find the same adapter on Amazon, then you could replicate it with a type c to type c u shape adapter
41ZkUKZwzKS._AC_SL1000_.jpg
plus a type c male to type c male adapter.
e922e10ce200ef1e3c381574a6657edf.png
 
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