E1DA #9039S Balanced Portable DAC/Amp Review

[nick_l44.1]

temperature of the E1DA 9039S

That’s how it heats up under moderate load.

 

[Ken Tajalli]

I've seen some comments with cooling suggestions. Out of proportion with CPU coolers and such, just people modding around. But how is it in reality?

Naah!
Just hand warm.
The device draws some current even when not playing, this makes it a little warm to touch. Play music loudly, it gets a little warmer, but never HOT.
Look at this:

I have mine shrouded in heat-shrink & attached a little neodymium magnet, so it would stick to my MagSafe ring.
The thing goes into my pocket, gets warm, but that's it. My IEM's are 16 ohms, so they do draw some current!

 

[Ruediger]

Neat little mod!

40 deg is looking reasonable. That's not hot, just expected IMO.

 

[Ken Tajalli]

& after about 15 minutes.
Just about 8 degrees above body temp. at the highest spot.
Remember, mine can not dissipate heat well, it is shrouded in thick plastic cover.
EDIT:
Here are currents draws at normal volume playing & at max. volume.

A little calculation:
- At rest it draws about 130mA or so @ 5.2V & a little less at nominal phone's 5V. About 600mW.
- At max or high volumes feeding into 16 ohm load (music dependent) it draws 250mA or about 1200mW, 600mW of which must have gone into the IEMs.
- I suppose after fours hours of use at this level, it has used about 5000mW (5W) or 1200mA . This is about a quarter of a 5000mA battery.
I could not tolerate that volume for long, so take the above as an aggregate.
Somebody check my maths please.

 

[tccalvin]

Where did you get that figure from ?
It's rather around 105dB (@100mW, 32 ohm), as per Aiyima's own specs (H4).

My bad. My math was wrong...

Actually, I'm surprised that the number is this low since the E9039Q2M usually does get to >120dB SINAD. I wonder if it's for energy efficiency reasons since the H4 has a "performance mode" that supposedly "optimizes analog noise floor". Interesting...

 

[Ruediger]

Lucky guys who got this around $100. Currently the only source I see is audiophonics and it's up to 177 €.

For the 2.5mm balanced out there are adapters to 4.4mm I guess?

 

[caocaolatre199x]

They could make it bigger with a 4.4 plug and the power output could be even better. There is no need to keep the size too small and users have to carry a jack to convert from 2.5 to 4.4. It's too inconvenient. Where is the ergonomics?

 

[Rja4000]

Actually, I'm surprised that the number is this low since the E9039Q2M usually does get to >120dB SINAD.

For a desktop device, sure.

The thing very special here is the level of performance for such a small USB powered device, within so much power on tap.

By the way, another thing very special that my review just hinted about is the incredibly low distortion.
With a little tweaking, you may get harmonic peaks below -150dB, for a THD below -140dB.
That's better than AudioPrecision and almost anything else I'm aware of, desktop DAC included !

 

[Rja4000]

@Ruediger

Just about 8 degrees above body temp

And, as I explained in my review, after very hard measurements at max power for an extended period, and in a room at a temperature close to 34°C, I measured 47°C.

This can be considered the max max temperature, IMO.

 

[Rja4000]

For the 2.5mm balanced out there are adapters to 4.4mm I guess?

I'm using a 2.5mm male to 4.4mm female adapter indeed.
If I was younger, with better eyes, I'd for sure solder my own 2.5mm connector+cable myself...

 

[Rja4000]

There is no need to keep the size too small

While I agree a 4.4mm connector would be more practical, I also think size is important.
I really like it small !

 

[Rja4000]

In Liège?

Nah. South of France.
I'm back home now.

 

[Ruediger]

While I agree a 4.4mm connector would be more practical, I also think size is important.
I really like it small !

The size of this box would also be linked to engineers pride. Big is easy. Just big enough is smart.

 

[nick_l44.1]

They could make it bigger with a 4.4 plug and the power output could be even better.

The output impedance of the 9039s with a 2.5 connector is only 0.1 ohms. It can already be considered ideal. From my perspective, the 2.5 connector is more ergonomic because all my headphone cables use the 2.5 connector. Although I understand your concerns, as well as why IVX isn’t eager to use the 4.4 connector.

That's better than AudioPrecision and almost anything else I'm aware of, desktop DAC included !

As far as I understand, the APx generator doesn’t have any outstanding characteristics. But it’s calibrated in much the same way as REW anti-harmonics works. And with this approach, it’s possible to obtain a test signal with very low THD using almost any DAC.

 

[Multicore]

Nah. South of France.
I'm back home now.

How is it back home?

 

[tccalvin]

For a desktop device, sure.

This is the Fosi DS3 according to RAA. It has selectable filters and PEQ for around 110€.

 

[IVX]

View attachment 550335

This is the Fosi DS3 according to RAA. It has selectable filters and PEQ for around 110€.

This is not sinad or THD+N(which is the same thing as sinad), on your plot is bare THD. THD@1000Hz of 9039S at 16.2ohm load, I see -130db with 3.34Vrms 698mW vs 100mW at 15.8ohm on your plot. So, 120€ 9039S has ~7 times more power with 15db lower distortion, but no EQ

 

[tccalvin]

This is not sinad or THD+N(which is the same thing as sinad), on your plot is bare THD. THD@1000Hz of 9039S at 16.2ohm load, I see -130db with 3.34Vrms 698mW vs 100mW at 15.8ohm on your plot. So, 120€ 9039S has ~7 times more power with 15db lower distortion, but no EQ

Fair. But why not a linear phase filter?

 

[IVX]

 

[Ruediger]

This is the Fosi DS3 according to RAA. It has selectable filters and PEQ for around 110€.

It has an 9039 but isn't that dongle more aimed at gamers / desktop users / a somewhat pretty decent soundcard replacement?