E1DA 9038D Review (portable DAC & Amp)

[staticV3]

I wonder if it is a setting in the S20+.

Try disabling the UHQ upscaler:

 

[Rottmannash]

Try disabling the UHQ upscaler:
View attachment 200560

Thanks but it's already off. No processing of audio at all.

 

[Rottmannash]

I will try switching from "Allow sound and vibration" to "deliver quietly" and see if that helps.

 

[SimoF]

I will try switching from "Allow sound and vibration" to "deliver quietly" and see if that helps.

I have the same problem as yours. Plus I get micro stutters when playing music with every app that use the Android audio drivers. (No micro stutters with UAPP). On galaxy s22 ultra I have both the dropouts when switching from an app to another AND the micro stutters. On my LG v20 (android 9) only the micro stutters

 

[Alec246]

Question from a newbie.

Would this device be a good fit for my new Etymotic ER3XR with Sensitivity: 102 dB @ 1kHz, 1mW, or is it too powerful for that, and it would be smarter to get a lower powered dongle for the task?

My other alternative would be going to an Apple DAC for now, but since my main usage will be on a Desktop, the Apple adapter doesnt work too well, with the extremely short cable and such.

Edit: Just remembered I Have a Schiit Magni 2 Headphone Amp lying around. Would it work well with the E1DA 9038D as DAC, Magni2 as Headphone Amp for my Etymotic?

Thanks!

 

[staticV3]

Would this device be a good fit for my new Etymotic ER3XR with Sensitivity: 102 dB @ 1kHz, 1mW, or is it too powerful for that

The 9038D is not too powerful for the 3XR in the sense that there shouldn't be any hiss/background noise.

Just remembered I Have a Schiit Magni 2 Headphone Amp lying around. Would it work well with the E1DA 9038D as DAC, Magni2 as Headphone Amp for my Etymotic?

You can use the 9038D with external headphone Amps.

 

[Jimbob54]

Question from a newbie.

Would this device be a good fit for my new Etymotic ER3XR with Sensitivity: 102 dB @ 1kHz, 1mW, or is it too powerful for that, and it would be smarter to get a lower powered dongle for the task?

My other alternative would be going to an Apple DAC for now, but since my main usage will be on a Desktop, the Apple adapter doesnt work too well, with the extremely short cable and such.

Edit: Just remembered I Have a Schiit Magni 2 Headphone Amp lying around. Would it work well with the E1DA 9038D as DAC, Magni2 as Headphone Amp for my Etymotic?

Thanks!

9038D works fine with the Ety- more likely to get some hiss from the Magni though but you can try both. Yes the 9038D can do the job as just a DAC.

 

[jasonhanjk]

@amirm
Hi. Is there a power vs thd+n sweep graph for 33 ohm?

Thanks

 

[Jimbob54]

@amirm
Hi. Is there a power vs thd+n sweep graph for 33 ohm?

Thanks

Doubt you'll get from here now. But from the E1DA site, 32 ohm and 10k ohm

EDIT- no, I cant read the axes.

 

[staticV3]

Here's a hires version

 

[Alec246]

The 9038D is not too powerful for the 3XR in the sense that there shouldn't be any hiss/background noise.

You can use the 9038D with external headphone Amps.

Thank you,

It is great news the Etymotics work well with the dongle. Unfortunately it seems to be sold out, so I went with the TempoTec Pro HD for now, but in the future, I might switch to the E1DA, if I consider it to be a worthy upgrade.

9038D works fine with the Ety- more likely to get some hiss from the Magni though but you can try both. Yes the 9038D can do the job as just a DAC.

Yeah, I have given up on the Magni2 idea... It will probably make the sound path worse than a direct solution. Thanks!

Here's a hires version

It seems to be in different units than the ones Amirm posts. For 1M Watts, for example, do you know where it would translate into this graph of yours? Im curious to see how the Etymotics ER3XR would perform with the E1DA.

THanks all

 

[Black_Wolf]

Hello,
I've been owning an 9038d for some months.
Fantastic combo, light and efficient, no distorsion and a lot of power.
Iit works well with IEM like Etymotics and with Hugh impedance headphones like HD650.

I have a question..i would like to buy an Aeon 2 Noire

 

[staticV3]

Hi Black_Wolf,
Unfortunately I don't own an Aeon 2 Noire. However, a member of our Discord community had this to say about the 9038D+Aeon 2 Noire:


That being said, the 9038D is not really suited to low impedance headphones like the Noire (13Ω).
The OPA1622 Amplifier that it uses quickly runs out of current, and so the highest output voltage before clipping drops to just 1.2Vrms with a 13Ω load.

The Amp inside the E1DA 9038S is much more suited to drive low impedance headphones. It can do 2.9Vrms at 13Ω, 1% THD+N.

 

[Black_Wolf]

Thank you very much for tour answer.
I hope i'll find something else to drive it in single-ended (topping NX4 maybe? I dont know), as i tend to use less and less my fixed set (Topping D30 + Objective 2 DIY)

 

[mugbot]

Thank you very much for tour answer.
I hope i'll find something else to drive it in single-ended (topping NX4 maybe? I dont know), as i tend to use less and less my fixed set (Topping D30 + Objective 2 DIY)

Most portable amps can deliver much more power in balanced. For the record I have the A2 Noire's and E1DA 9038S and it's plenty of power.

 

[Black_Wolf]

I think i will try this solution...i'll buy the Noire in balanced version and order the 9038S when it will be back in stock. Thanks a lot.

 

[staticV3]

@Black_Wolf the 9038S is still available on AliExpress, Linsoul, and HiFiGO

 

[Garrincha]

Here you go: https://www.l7audiolab.com/f/fiio-ka3/

Well, since these measurements revealed some heavy channel imbalance, it would be nice if Amir could repeat them.

 

[staticV3]

I don't think you understood the review/graphs correctly.


The channel imbalance reveals itself only far into clipping territory. It is for all intents and purposes irrelevant.

 

[Melodeath]

Is it possible to buy the 9038D anywhere?