Neutron HiFi DAC V1 Review

[migo77]

@dmitrykos When I change cT and fT in gui (first two bands here) it is not reflected in console output (last lines), please see attached screenshot. Is it a bug? thx.

 

[dmitrykos]

Would it be possible for Linux app to have web based configurator that can be accesed remotely to configure V1 DAC?

It is generally possible but just needs to be implemented. Will consider this functionality.

thank you, just now there are only x64 binaries of NConfigurator, can we get arm build too?

Will check if it is possible to compile for the ARM platform, I believe you mean ARMv8 arch. Will add into to-do.

@dmitrykos When I change cT and fT in gui (first two bands here) it is not reflected in console output (last lines), please see attached screenshot. Is it a bug? thx.

Will have a look by the end of the next week and respond.

 

[migo77]

Thank you very much!

It is generally possible but just needs to be implemented. Will consider this functionality.



Will check if it is possible to compile for the ARM platform, I believe you mean ARMv8 arch. Will add into to-do.



Will have a look by the end of the next week and respond.

 

[migo77]

I hear popping sound when is DAC V1 changing sampling frequency. It is a bit annoying when listening, can it be avoided? Thank you!

 

[dmitrykos]

I hear popping sound when is DAC V1 changing sampling frequency. It is a bit annoying when listening, can it be avoided? Thank you!

In general, ESS DAC chips are prone to pop & click noise when mode is changes due to reinitialization of the chip, especially if Master frequency changes, for example 44100 vs 48000 Hz. Some developers put an analog switch between DAC chip and Line-out jack which breaks connection between DAC and headset during mode changes. It comes at a cost - decreased analog performance. As we listen to music 99.9% of time and track transitions of different formats are quite rare then it would not be wise to degrade the analog performance just for absolute elimination of pop & click sound.

DAC V1 is trying to employ different approaches to minimize pop & clicks in firmware by playing with DAC chip modes during format changes and in my tests quite transition was achieved. I was using Neutron Player for that as it guarantees correct audio data on format changes. Other software can have its own issues with that causing pops & click from its side.

Could you clarify more details on your own case, you could just e-mail to me to [email protected].

 

[migo77]

In general, ESS DAC chips are prone to pop & click noise when mode is changes due to reinitialization of the chip, especially if Master frequency changes, for example 44100 vs 48000 Hz. Some developers put an analog switch between DAC chip and Line-out jack which breaks connection between DAC and headset during mode changes. It comes at a cost - decreased analog performance. As we listen to music 99.9% of time and track transitions of different formats are quite rare then it would not be wise to degrade the analog performance just for absolute elimination of pop & click sound.

DAC V1 is trying to employ different approaches to minimize pop & clicks in firmware by playing with DAC chip modes during format changes and in my tests quite transition was achieved. I was using Neutron Player for that as it guarantees correct audio data on format changes. Other software can have its own issues with that causing pops & click from its side.

Could you clarify more details on your own case, you could just e-mail to me to [email protected].

Thank you for clarification. Playing random songs from Tidal makes this appear very frequently. I'm using UAPP app for bit-perfect playback. Can it by possible to mute audio output for that fraction of time needed to mask that sounds?

 

[dmitrykos]

Thank you for clarification. Playing random songs from Tidal makes this appear very frequently. I'm using UAPP app for bit-perfect playback. Can it by possible to mute audio output for that fraction of time needed to mask that sounds?

Firmware is dong that and not only. I will experiment more with apps you mentioned and check what they are doing when changing the stream's frequency.

 

[migo77]

Firmware is dong that and not only. I will experiment more with apps you mentioned and check what they are doing when changing the stream's frequency.

OK, thank you! Android UAPP plays correctly bit-perfect like your Neutron player does. When playing form Tidal web app on Linux, stream is always resampled to 48k/24bit unf = no pop sounds.

 

[Zim]

Went through 11 pages. Much of it rage and price comparison so there was a lot of.. Skimming.

Unsure if anyone can answer this but is the Neutral DAC V1 the only portable USB DAC Amp that has per channel paraEQ? I've got partial hearing loss in specific frequencies in one of my ear and finding a portable device with per channel EQ has been quite the challenge.

 

[LoFiAudiophile]

Went through 11 pages. Much of it rage and price comparison so there was a lot of.. Skimming.

Unsure if anyone can answer this but is the Neutral DAC V1 the only portable USB DAC Amp that has per channel paraEQ? I've got partial hearing loss in specific frequencies in one of my ear and finding a portable device with per channel EQ has been quite the challenge.

Qudelix 5K and T71 also support per channel PEQ.

 

[Zim]

Qudelix 5K and T71 also support per channel PEQ.

I own the Q5K. There's no per channel PEQ on it unless I'm blind but shall have a look at the T71..

 

[Rednaxela]

 

[staticV3]

is the Neutral DAC V1 the only portable USB DAC Amp that has per channel paraEQ?

The miniDSP IL-DSP also supports per channel PEQ:

 

[Zim]

Just checked my Q5K again and it definitely does not have independent EQ. Also read that there was a revision on the Q5K; mine's the older one. So I guess they never updated the older one to have that option unfortunately. Thanks though @LoFiAudiophile @Rednaxela Just might have to buy the new one.

@staticV3 apparently it's been discontinued but thanks for the suggestion!

 

[staticV3]

Just checked my Q5K again and it definitely does not have independent EQ.

It's a setting in the menu ("EQ MODE"):

 

[Zim]

It's a setting in the menu ("EQ MODE"):

Yeah mine doesn't even have those menus. I guess it's only for the new revision model.

 

[staticV3]

Yeah mine doesn't even have those menus. I guess it's only for the new revision model.

Honestly I'm not convinced yet, might just be a different UI layout

@Jimbob54 Would you mind checking on your unit what the menu option to switch between 20-band global/10-band per channel switch looks like and where it's located?

The hardware revision, firmware version, and App version would be the cherry on top

 

[CedarX]

Yeah mine doesn't even have those menus. I guess it's only for the new revision model.

I have both old (ES9218) and newer (ES9219) Q5K, and they both offer that L/R independent option in the 10-band “SPK EQ” setting.

First, you have to select this option
(From my iPhone):

Then when you click on “Both”, you cycle through the “L” and “R” independent PEQ settings :

 

[Zim]

I have both old (ES9218) and newer (ES9219) Q5K, and they both offer that L/R independent option in the 10-band “SPK EQ” setting.

First, you have to select this option
(From my iPhone):
View attachment 392794

Then when you click on “Both”, you cycle through the “L” and “R” independent PEQ settings :
View attachment 392795
View attachment 392796
View attachment 392797

Oh dang. Thank you so much for that! Saves me from buying another one!

 

[Jimbob54]

Oh dang. Thank you so much for that! Saves me from buying another one!

Saved me a job of looking at mine too @staticV3 ! Cheers @CedarX