Is this better than Atom in combination with Khadas Tone Board? As I can see Khadas and Atom is measuring much better ?
I thing dynamic range is not issue if using Khadas just with an AMP, like in my case. Problem potentially raises noise when used with an active preamp and an external system. Am I right?Khadas is great but fall short in dynamic range. So strictly speaking the latter is not measured much better.
With that said you won’t here the difference at all between these two combination.
The only audible problem they have is channel imbalance.
So choose the one looks good to you. People complain about khadas not having a case. The upgraded version (QXD1) solves that problem but is more expensive.
Right. Depends on how you use it.I thing dynamic range is not issue if using Khadas just with an AMP, like in my case. Problem potentially raises noise when used with an active preamp and an external system. Am I right?
I am really satisfied because I am using Khadas just with an amp so there are no possibilities to have dynamic range issues or similar. I also have 3D printed case to match Atom dimensions and it looks very good. No ground loop or anything. Khadas DAC is very revealing and produce ton of details. Thanks for detailed answer btwRight. Depends on how you use it.
When the DAC noise is high, you can't lower your volume much on the DAC. Otherwise the SNR will be bad. So you have to use DAC close to full volume, and use low noise preamp/HP amp to adjust the volume.
If the DAC is low in noise, you can basically ignore preamp/HP amp's volume control (because they cause noise and channel imbalance), and adjust volume on the DAC side only.
Or you can just double the price and get QXD1, designed by the same author. It has xlr output, a nice case, great dynamic range, no ess hump.
Also, having one unit such as the element 2 here might reduce your chance to get ground loop. if you buy your amp/hp amp separately, and use various power source/data line, with single ended i/o, you are very likely to get ground loop hiss.
Would you mind sending a picture of your Khadas with its case ?I am really satisfied because I am using Khadas just with an amp so there are no possibilities to have dynamic range issues or similar. I also have 3D printed case to match Atom dimensions and it looks very good. No ground loop or anything. Khadas DAC is very revealing and produce ton of details. Thanks for detailed answer btw
SureWould you mind sending a picture of your Khadas with its case ?
I don’t get why/how can Element 2 be somehow slightly worse than Atoms? I understand Price/value might not be as high, but performance?
Element 2 was measured over its amplified output. It is not in fact worse than Atom DAC! The knob on the el amp/element is so much better in real life use compared to Atom amp's tiny knob. I would recommend going Element 2 if you can afford it. Unless you are a big IEM user, Element 2's 50mW output is less stellar than Atom. If you don't use IEMs, Element 2 is great, go for it
Last questions, things that bugs me (being a noob) :
- Will I miss the optical in? I intend to use my iPad Pro (USB-C) as source, but if I some point I wanted to upgrade to a streamer most of the cheapest options doesn’t output USB, only optical.
- If I decide to you a raspberry PI as streamer at some point, without going Hifiberry, will the performance be acceptable? I was initially thinking Hifiberry but again, it’s optical out.
thanks!
Element 2 with a Raspberry Pi4 over USB works a treat I do this at work at times. I have both the Original Element and the upgraded Element 2, they are great bits of kit imo for driving cans. That volume knob is a beast
DX3 Pro is half the price..
says who?"There was thundering amount of power with ample headroom -- something I don't get with Topping DX3 Pro."
Topping also has complaints about high failure rates and terrible support.