E1DA #9039S Balanced Portable DAC/Amp Review

[Ken Tajalli]

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.

Absolutely. I missed that bit in your review.
At any rate, those fancy thermal pictures of it are a killer on Google search for lazy folks who don't like reading reviews thoroughly!

 

[Ken Tajalli]

If I was younger, with better eyes, I'd for sure solder my own 2.5mm connector+cable myself...

As I said before, I did exactly that. My phone, the dongle and the jack need to go in my pocket for my walks, size matters.
BTW, this is what I also carry. It is a 3" rechargeable, rainproof BT remote, so I don't have to take the whole phone assembly out just to change tracks or adjust volume..

 

[Luciferium]

I'm proud owner of #9039S

 

[caocaolatre199x]

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.

Choosing output 2.5 or 4.4 has nothing to do with output impedance because it's just an interface, nothing to do with circuit design. As for the 2.5 jack, 99% of headphones on the market today do not have the 2.5 jack option. All have moved to 4.4, or more simply 3.5.

 

[caocaolatre199x]

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

And you will have to use an additional 2.5 to 4.4 adapter for your newly purchased headphones, or spend money to buy another custom cord with a 2.5 plug. After all that, is it still small?

 

[nick_l44.1]

Choosing output 2.5 or 4.4 has nothing to do with output impedance because it's just an interface, nothing to do with circuit design. As for the 2.5 jack, 99% of headphones on the market today do not have the 2.5 jack option. All have moved to 4.4, or more simply 3.5.

I find it hard to imagine what other connector specifications might affect the output power, as you mentioned earlier.

It’s hard to say for the entire market, but I don’t own any headphones with a 4.4 connector at all. There are a couple of unbalanced headphones that, in principle, aren’t compatible with the 9039s. For the ones that allow for cable replacement, I simply purchased balanced cables with a 2.5 connector.

 

[Rja4000]

And you will have to use an additional 2.5 to 4.4 adapter for your newly purchased headphones, or spend money to buy another custom cord with a 2.5 plug. After all that, is it still small?

If you buy or build a cable with a 2.5mm jack, yes, it will still be small.
Personally, I went for an adapter, since I also use a pair of desktop headphones amps that come with a 4.4mm plug.
Still, it remains small.

 

[Rja4000]

more simply 3.5

This one is targetting hungry balanced headphones.
E1DA had (has?) another model for unbalanced headphones.

But competition there is heavier, so I understand he's focusing on what makes its devices special:
here we have a unique world class performance powerful adapter.

 

[338h10]

I find it hard to imagine what other connector specifications might affect the output power, as you mentioned earlier.

It’s hard to say for the entire market, but I don’t own any headphones with a 4.4 connector at all. There are a couple of unbalanced headphones that, in principle, aren’t compatible with the 9039s. For the ones that allow for cable replacement, I simply purchased balanced cables with a 2.5 connector.

4.4mm has been adopted by industry giants like Sennheiser as the standard for balanced (for example, HD800S comes with a 4.4mm cable). Boutiques like Hifiman and Audeze have also adopted 4-pin XLR (for example, LCD-5s come with XLR as standard), which admittedly is not great for mobility. I am not aware of any major headphone manufacturer that provides 2.5mm as standard and free cable accessory. I had to get the 4.4-to-2.5 adaptor from E1DA, but I have always thought that it defeats the purpose in term of size.

 

[caocaolatre199x]

4.4mm has been adopted by industry giants like Sennheiser as the standard for balanced (for example, HD800S comes with a 4.4mm cable). Boutiques like Hifiman and Audeze have also adopted 4-pin XLR (for example, LCD-5s come with XLR as standard), which admittedly is not great for mobility. I am not aware of any major headphone manufacturer that provides 2.5mm as standard and free cable accessory. I had to get the 4.4-to-2.5 adaptor from E1DA, but I have always thought that it defeats the purpose in term of size.

It's a natural evolution in the industry. 4.4 with better mechanical durability, and I think we don't really need such small dongles. In fact, the size difference is not much between E1DA and other dongles with 4.4 output. If you just need the numbers, I think the hiby FC4 (340mW @32Ohm) would be more suitable than a #9039S + 2.5 to 4.4 adapter. If you really need compactness, choose Apple usb-c to 3.5. It's enough for needs on the subway.

I find it hard to imagine what other connector specifications might affect the output power, as you mentioned earlier.

It’s hard to say for the entire market, but I don’t own any headphones with a 4.4 connector at all. There are a couple of unbalanced headphones that, in principle, aren’t compatible with the 9039s. For the ones that allow for cable replacement, I simply purchased balanced cables with a 2.5 connector.

Randomly count a few recently reviewed products regardless of desktop or mobile on this ASR site, and the number of appearances of DAC/AMP with 4.4 output versus 2.5 output and you will see how the market is shifting. Or simply search for a new dongle on e-commerce sites to see how many manufacturers still keep the 2.5mm output option and you will have your answer. If you simply still want 2.5 output, you'll either never buy a new amplifier, or you'll have less than 99% of your trading options.

 

[nick_l44.1]

If you simply still want 2.5 output, you'll either never buy a new amplifier, or you'll have less than 99% of your trading optio

No, I'm only interested in sound quality comparable to that of the 9039s. Everything else is completely secondary.

hiby FC4

It's empty inside. There are no 4 op-amps, no separate USB bridge, and no three huge capacitors.

 

[Ken Tajalli]

This one is targetting hungry balanced headphones.
E1DA had (has?) another model for unbalanced headphones.

But competition there is heavier, so I understand he's focusing on what makes its devices special:
here we have a unique world class performance powerful adapter.

Perhaps a new MK-II version should be designed with a 5-pin output port! then with cable accessories, one could;
- provide 4.4mm out
- XLR out
- True balanced DAC function (not so possible as is)
- even a 3.5mm out could be possible! (just ground and the hot-out)

 

[CedarX]

Perhaps a new MK-II version should be designed with a 5-pin output port! then with cable accessories, one could;
- provide 4.4mm out
- XLR out
- True balanced DAC function (not so possible as is)
- even a 3.5mm out could be possible! (just ground and the hot-out)

I believe the connector size is E1DA’s main concern. Even replacing the 2.5mm with a 4.4mm connector is not that simple: the male connector is much stronger… so now, the internals/PCB must withstand much higher bending moments: put a dongle with a plugged cable in your pant pocket long enough and the 2.5mm male connector just breaks.

 

[Ken Tajalli]

I believe the connector size is E1DA’s main concern. Even replacing the 2.5mm with a 4.4mm connector is not that simple: the male connector is much stronger… so now, the internals/PCB must withstand much higher bending moments: put a dongle with a plugged cable in your pant pocket long enough and the 2.5mm male connector just breaks.

I have been putting it in my pockets on & off for two years, it hasn't so far.
I believe Ivan said once he didn't have any space left inside, because of the large capacitors mainly . he can fit a 4.4mm but it makes the dongle larger (he can make sure that it is secure).
But putting a fifth pin (earth) would turn it into a proper fit'n'forget balanced DAC.

 

[john61ct]

I use 4-pin mini-XLR as my "Rosetta stone" universal standard for all cable interconnects.

It is slim and has proven very robust

 

[Joe Bloggs]

No, I'm only interested in sound quality comparable to that of the 9039s. Everything else is completely secondary.

It's empty inside. There are no 4 op-amps, no separate USB bridge, and no three huge capacitors.

oh dear my electric car is missing an engine, a huge radiator and an exhaust pipe

 

[caocaolatre199x]

No, I'm only interested in sound quality comparable to that of the 9039s. Everything else is completely secondary.

If E1DA does not publish the hardware configuration, I am 100% sure you cannot distinguish between FC4 and #9039s.

It's empty inside. There are no 4 op-amps, no separate USB bridge, and no three huge capacitors.

I thought on this forum people only talked about SINAD and output power, not caring about what chip it runs, how many opamps, and how many capacitors it has?

 

[nick_l44.1]

If E1DA does not publish the hardware configuration, I am 100% sure you cannot distinguish between FC4 and #9039s.

There are plenty of DACs with 4.4 outputs. If you’re satisfied with their quality or simply can’t tell the difference, there really’s no point in splurging for the 9039s.
I don't have an FC4, but to my ears, all my other DACs are, to one degree or another, inferior in quality to the 9039s, including the older E1DA and SMSL DL200 models.

I thought on this forum people only talked about SINAD and output power, not caring about what chip it runs, how many opamps, and how many capacitors it has?

Well, take a look at how THD+N degrades as power and frequency increase on other dongles that lack composite amplifiers (4 op-amps) and power supply filters (caps). Or just try to find any other DAC with THD@10 kHz = -130 dB.