splinterm93
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- Feb 27, 2025
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Hi guys! I'm newbie, appreciate all contribution you make to audio communty with kinda "scientific" approach, so decided to ask here:
Need advice for new DAC/AMP in a sub-100$ range (probably to 150$ if it makes any sense for my usage scenario).
Currently own Audient id14 MKII and Douk U3 mini as headphone amp. My headphones/IEM - AKG K612 PRO and Letshuoer S12 Pro.
Why I (supposedly) need new DAC/AMP or headphone AMP:
- id14 have high headphone output impedance - around 22 ohm. So not optimal for K612 (120ohm) and S12 PRO (16 ohm)
- Douk U3 barely suitable for S12 Pro - usable range is about 1-2 notches on volume dial, at about 3-4 notches from 0. Put it higher - it becomes veryy noisy, put it lower - too quiet and has noticable channel inbalance. K612 become noisy at high gain too
- Douk U3 have RCA connectors, ID14 - balanced output, so not sure at all if its good match
- I think U3 is noisy, i can hear quiet noises even at low gain. Tried different power - USB bricks (67W) and 12v 4A power adapter, doesnt make much difference.
- I'm a bit paranoid about CS43198 (which ID14 has) and CS43131 DACs "clics" bug - i defienetly hear clics here - https://reference-audio-analyzer.pro/en/demo-cs131.php#gsc.tab=0. Cant hear clicks on my old M-Audio Fast Track MKII (it has some AKM DAC i think). I think I hear clicks on ID14 MKII even with daily music/audio - i thought it was clipping at records themselves (sometimes its defienetly on records), but now I'm not that shure.
My main criterios - non-audible noise/distortion, good match with both S12 Pro and k612 (impedance/power/gain cotrol-wise)
Currently thinking about Akliam PD5/PD6, they have AKM/ESS DACs and pretty good measurments on paper, compact, and I can use them with phone as a bonus. Dont wanna any CS based DACs since i'm paranoid about clics. But probably I miss some options? Or buying new DAC/AMP wont get me any benefits at all? Thanks in advance!
* English is not my native language, sorry for mistakes here and there.
Need advice for new DAC/AMP in a sub-100$ range (probably to 150$ if it makes any sense for my usage scenario).
Currently own Audient id14 MKII and Douk U3 mini as headphone amp. My headphones/IEM - AKG K612 PRO and Letshuoer S12 Pro.
Why I (supposedly) need new DAC/AMP or headphone AMP:
- id14 have high headphone output impedance - around 22 ohm. So not optimal for K612 (120ohm) and S12 PRO (16 ohm)
- Douk U3 barely suitable for S12 Pro - usable range is about 1-2 notches on volume dial, at about 3-4 notches from 0. Put it higher - it becomes veryy noisy, put it lower - too quiet and has noticable channel inbalance. K612 become noisy at high gain too
- Douk U3 have RCA connectors, ID14 - balanced output, so not sure at all if its good match
- I think U3 is noisy, i can hear quiet noises even at low gain. Tried different power - USB bricks (67W) and 12v 4A power adapter, doesnt make much difference.
- I'm a bit paranoid about CS43198 (which ID14 has) and CS43131 DACs "clics" bug - i defienetly hear clics here - https://reference-audio-analyzer.pro/en/demo-cs131.php#gsc.tab=0. Cant hear clicks on my old M-Audio Fast Track MKII (it has some AKM DAC i think). I think I hear clicks on ID14 MKII even with daily music/audio - i thought it was clipping at records themselves (sometimes its defienetly on records), but now I'm not that shure.
My main criterios - non-audible noise/distortion, good match with both S12 Pro and k612 (impedance/power/gain cotrol-wise)
Currently thinking about Akliam PD5/PD6, they have AKM/ESS DACs and pretty good measurments on paper, compact, and I can use them with phone as a bonus. Dont wanna any CS based DACs since i'm paranoid about clics. But probably I miss some options? Or buying new DAC/AMP wont get me any benefits at all? Thanks in advance!
* English is not my native language, sorry for mistakes here and there.
