Need a new and durable USB C dongle DAC/AMP for flying

[agiletiger]

Two of my dongles have gotten pretty beat up from travel - 75 flights already year to date. I know that the simplest solution is to just buy multiple Apple dongles. A few months ago, I got the JCally JM20 Max and fell in love with it - the extra volume boost made my listening so much more enjoyable. What sucks is that after a wet short amount of time, if the dongle gets jostled ever so slightly, the sound disconnects. I’m getting sick of constantly unplugging and plugging in the dongle. So I’m basically looking for a replacement for the JCally JM20 Max that’s much more durable.

 

[rcstevensonaz]

... [T]he extra volume boost made my listening so much more enjoyable.

I have tinnitus; so does my wife. We both trace it to listening to music on international flights ... despite using over the ear headphones with active noise cancellation. We can't prove it; but both us independently believe that was the cause. And I massively regret that period of time when I switched away from my Etymotic IEMs to a blue-tooth powered ANC over-the-ear phones.

My very strong recommendation:

• Get a pair of in-ear headphones with the highest rating for blocking noise (e.g., Etymotic ER2SE); and I would use the flange rubber tips instead of foam since that provides greater noise reduction
• Use those anytime you listen to anything on an airplane

I am not an expert on acoustic sound pressure, but I believe that a good IEM will sound louder (since so much closer to the ear drum) with much less sound pressure to start with. And better since the passive noise reduction already blocks out nearly all of the background noise, so a vastly lower noise floor to overcome.

And with that, the stock USB-C to 3.5 mm headphone dongle from Apple or Samsung will be far more than loud enough (as will any other dongle). So now, focus on quality rather than the need for being loud enough to sound good on an airplane... and loud enough to help lead to permanent tinnitus.

 

[agiletiger]

I have tinnitus; so does my wife. We both trace it to listening to music on international flights ... despite using over the ear headphones with active noise cancellation. We can't prove it; but both us independently believe that was the cause. And I massively regret that period of time when I switched away from my Etymotic IEMs to a blue-tooth powered ANC over-the-ear phones.

My very strong recommendation:

• Get a pair of in-ear headphones with the highest rating for blocking noise (e.g., Etymotic ER2SE); and I would use the flange rubber tips instead of foam since that provides greater noise reduction
• Use those anytime you listen to anything on an airplane

I am not an expert on acoustic sound pressure, but I believe that a good IEM will sound louder (since so much closer to the ear drum) with much less sound pressure to start with. And better since the passive noise reduction already blocks out nearly all of the background noise, so a vastly lower noise floor to overcome.

And with that, the stock USB-C to 3.5 mm headphone dongle from Apple or Samsung will be far more than loud enough (as will any other dongle). So now, focus on quality rather than the need for being loud enough to sound good on an airplane... and loud enough to help lead to permanent tinnitus.

I’ve had tinnitus in my left ear long before I switched to IEM’s. If I had to guess, it was from working in a factory for years - even with ear protection. Happened well before my road warrior days. I am already using IEM’s: Topping Hané. Love it. I was ok with the Apple dongle but the JM20 Max spoiled me. I know exactly where my hearing loss lies - 4khz. I listen to mostly classical so we’re talking piccolo, high violin and overtones. I have a Bose QC45 which I finally stopped listening to because music did not sound good on it. I am more than happy dealing with the hassles of wires going forward.

 

[ShadowBoxer]

Fosi DS2 is too big? (cable is outboard of the DAC in case it gets damaged).

Or TRN Black Pearl. (similar size)

 

[agiletiger]

Fosi DS2 is too big? (cable is outboard of the DAC in case it gets damaged).

Or TRN Black Pearl. (similar size)

Will these easily fit in my pocket along with my iPhone?

 

[ZolaIII]

A CS43131 of your choice with separate replaceable USB cable and bunch of them. If Apple dongle has enough power to your needs and you find it cheaper then first solution then bunch of those. If it's Android phone and you don't mind hustle of additional adjustment of LDAC codec (96 KHz, 24 bit high) then BT dongle still based on CS43131 DAC might be a better solution. They start at about 50$ and with small power bank easily can last even longest flight (8~10 h on their own and 100+ even with small one attached to them). Why? Well USB port dosent only get bricked on mail connector but sooner or later also on the phone female port side. Sorry about your tinnitus and hearing loss, try to compensate and autended it at least partially with PEQ/GEQ. Wavelet can do it with additional GEK for free on Android along with big base of headphone presets for Harman targets and it's not that hard to bake samy costume ones (with Auto-EQ) and future adopt them (by hand in text editor).

 

[ShadowBoxer]

Will these easily fit in my pocket along with my iPhone?

Size of an original thumb drive so depends on the pocket.

 

[Human Bass]

I really like my Moondrop Echo B.

 

[MCH]

with separate replaceable USB cable

i think this is the secret for durability. For instance the soundblaster xfi amp, no fixed cable in the unit, if one breaks, just replace it. Extra plus: actual volume buttons. minus: power consumption.

 

[ZolaIII]

i think this is the secret for durability. For instance the soundblaster xfi amp, no fixed cable in the unit, if one breaks, just replace it. Extra plus: actual volume buttons. minus: power consumption.

It's weakest part always and when you can and it's easy to replace it's not much of a problem, works for all things.

 

[Timcognito]

Upper left > Review Index >Audio Electronics in banner > type dongle in Search box. Read all comments of interesting ones. Come back with questions as there so many good ones. Not trying to be flippant

 

[Somafunk]

My Hiby D1 dongle is decent, or so I consider as it has volume buttons that offer many more volume steps rather than the usual iPhone/ipad volume steps, it only has 65mw output but can power all my iem’s/headphone in signature below with ease. Seems to have a very secure braide cable and good strain relief. Another bonus is it does not drain much battery

HiBy Digital D1

The HiBy Digital D1 is a miniature USB audio dongle that may be connected to smartphones and computers alike! Best match: HiBy Digital D1 + HiBy Yves 6mm Micro-dynamic Ti-plated HiFi Earphones

store.hiby.com

 

[agiletiger]

View attachment 466446

Upper left > Review Index >Audio Electronics in banner > type dongle in Search box. Read all comments of interesting ones. Come back with questions as there so many good ones. Not trying to be flippant

Well others answered my question more than adequately. I still looked at the list and…came to the same choice? ‍

 

[Timcognito]

Well others answered my question more than adequately. I still looked at the list and…came to the same choice? ‍

Great news. But my point restated; some of us are settled on are their choice on particular device and no longer look at posts on that topic, as they once did so there is plethora of information in those other reviews. Also things that were very popular three years ago may still make one very happy to recommend it but now can be found with better performance, more features at a lower price. So by sorting reviews one may find that what they seeking is available with more for less with better features as Amir only tests the I/O with little subjective observation.