Neutron HiFi DAC V1 Review

[JoetheLion]

Is this a Russian company?

 

[JSmith]

Is this a Russian company?

Nope... unsure why you thought so? In the last link I posted;

NEUTRON CODE LIMITED
Flat/Rm A-C, 25/F., Seabright Plaza, 9-23 Shell Street, North Point, Hong Kong

JSmith

 

[jhaider]

20 band PEQ. This is how you make a DAC.

View attachment 389333

Did the number of DAC-headphone amps worth a damn just increase by 150%? Qudelix, RME, and now this one. So that makes three. Loudness compensation would be a nice add, but still looks good.

Looks like the DSP has a proper macOS controller app too. So looks like the company put actual thought into it instead of just chasing numbers.

 

[amirm]

Integrated DSP is great, is it a 1-time set and then always applied (so no smart devices needed afterwards ?)

Correct. It downloads whatever you set it to, to the device.

 

[amirm]

Can one easily set different presets (when using different headphones with it) without having to use smart gear ?

Not on the device. It only has a tiny display. I am pretty sure you can only download one profile to it at a time.

 

[amirm]

No filter response plots this time ?

Don't laugh but I couldn't find my white noise test file in Roon. It has three programmable filters so I suspect it works.

 

[Rednaxela]

I am now so wondering if my TV would allow it to be used as a volume controlled sound output device.

It would unlock a most interesting upgrade, simplification and modernization path for my system.

 

[ayane]

Wow, by far the most interesting gear tested here in a while.

I'd love to see a future iteration with a 4.4 mm pendaconn output, 4 volt or higher output (maybe even using USB-C power delivery), and low impedance load current delivery competitive with the E1DA 9038s or L&P W4 or Moondrop MoonRiver 2.

 

[staticV3]

I am now so wondering if my TV would allow it to be used as a volume controlled sound output device.

It would unlock a most interesting upgrade, simplification and modernization path for my system.

Few, if any TVs support USB Audio output with volume control.

If you're fine with an external remote, then a 2x4 HD would be a logical choice.

If you want to continue using the TV remote for volume, then a Flex HT or WiiM Ultra would work.

 

[Rednaxela]

Few, if any TVs support USB Audio output with volume control.

Thanks, noted.

Mine (Sony X90L) might be one of the exceptions, if this is indeed true for its predecessor:

[...]

I have a new 85" Sony x90k (HDMI/Toslink/USB outputs)

[...]

I have discovered that a USB sound adapter (TV usb-A output) can be volume-controlled with my TV remote. Woohoo!

[...]

Planning to try and test over the weekend.

 

[feitaishi]

Can you add the NFB measurement?

Yes, thank you. Corrected.

 

[amirm]

What is NFB measurement?

 

[Tell]

The PEQ and software for this looks really neat, but apart from that it's too big and too expensive. The Jcally JM20 (or something similar) with Poweramp on Android and EQAPO on Windows does everything I need for a far better price!

 

[Graham849]

earlier thread with dev input https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/neutron-hifi-dac-v1.53889/

 

[AudioSceptic]

This is a review, listening tests and detailed measurements of the Neutron HiFi™ DAC V1 portable DAC and headphone amplifier with signal processing (e.g. EQ). It was sent to me by the company and costs US $180.
View attachment 389309

I didn't think it was possible to give a feeling of luxury and style to a dongle like this but Neutron manages to do so. The display is very small but high resolution, allowing you to see the current settings. I wish that it would display the volume rather than sampling rate by default. It is highly configurable though the config utility but I didn't see an option to do so. Speaking of the app, it allows more capabilities than just about any DAC I have seen let alone portable ones. For example, it comes with EQ profile for hundreds of headphones and IEMs (more on this later). Importantly, you have access to parametric EQ so you can correct for headphone deficiencies and listening preference.

I was impressed by the transparency of the signal processing. When you turn it on or off it will stop playing for a few seconds. But after that, changes are made quickly and with no audible glitch at all. This lets you optimize things faster and perform AB tests.

The unit runs a bit warm. Idle consumption was around 0.3 watt but was variable. When driving my headphones, it went up to 0.6 watt and mostly hovered around half a watt.

Neutron HiFi™ DAC V1 Measurements
Due to nature of these devices, I can't run my full suite of tests. But there is enough to get a good feel of its performance. Let's start with the dashboard:
View attachment 389312

That is impressive performance for any DAC let alone a portable one:
View attachment 389314

I turned on the DSP/GEQ but let the frequency response as flat. Performance did not change:
View attachment 389315

Noise performance is excellent at full volume and nearly so at 50 mv output:
View attachment 389316

Portable devices tend to suffer in jitter tests but the DAC V1 performs well:
View attachment 389317

Courtesy of 2 volt output, we have good amount of power for high impedance devices such as 300 ohm:
View attachment 389318
View attachment 389319

Likewise at 32 ohm:
View attachment 389320
View attachment 389321

Sweeping impedances shows essentially zero output impedance:
View attachment 389324

Neutron HiFi™ DAC V1 Listening Tests
I tested the DAC V1 with Sennheiser HD650. It performed excellently with comfortable level at around 60% volume. There was plenty of bass and of course detail and overall fidelity. I then switched to Hifiman HE400i. Similar performance was had, making me want to sit there and listen. Instead, I decided to pull up the frequency response corrections from different sources. Not the fault of DAC V1 but I thought all of them were poor. Not only was tonality wrong, but level of distortion increased due to lack of headroom. This might work better for high impedance headphones where the DAC V1 doesn't clip.

For kicks, I also tried to drive my everyday headphone, the Dan Clark E3. As measurements would predict, I could only get to modest volumes before audible distortion set it. At max volume there was both clicking and distortion. Usable at 50 to 60% volume but really not a good fit for this low impedance and difficult to drive headphone.

Of course, driving Tanchjim One IEM was a walk in the park with superb fidelity and plenty of volume headroom.

As I said in the intro, adjusting DSP settings was instant, inviting one to play and play with settings!

Conclusions
When developer of Neutron audio player told me he was working on a hardware DAC, I just about told him he was out of his mind! Boy did he prove me wrong. His software skills shows in incredibly powerful and useful software abilities of the DAC V1. It renders almost any other DAC as "dumb." What's more, the hardware platform is highly capable, achieving full transparency as far as noise and distortion. The only thing I would wish for is balanced/differential output of 4 volts in a future device. Yes, $180 is a lot for a dongle but for that, you get a device that lets you squeeze the bester performance out of your headphone and IEM. And good looks as well.

I am happy to recommend the Neutron HiFi™ DAC V1. It is a model of innovation and performance in a portable audio product.

-----------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.

Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/

Very nice. I felt frustrated by the lack of your usual excellent photos but there are plenty at the maker's website <https://neutronhifi.com/devices/dac/v1>.

I really like the "preamp" abilities but wonder if they will go unused on a mere "dongle". I'd like to see a larger device with "normal" outputs, much like the Pro-Ject Pre Box S2 Digital I already have.

 

[lordhumungous]

Only a 3.5 mm port . I want balanced .

 

[JeremyFife]

Cool little device - good DAC, DSP and enough power for 'normal' 'phones. Not cheap for a dongle, but cheap for the features. What's not to like

 

[Ken Tajalli]

Like what?

Like Tanchjim, and a copy of Neutron media player!
I am a big fan of Neutron music player, have used it for years, recommended it to just about anyone, I believe it is second to none.
Having said that, this dongle, as good as it is, for $180 , it is expensive, and does not have much power.
Now if it had balanced output (more power), possibly a tiny rechargeable battery or large capacitor for peaks, it would have justified its price to some degree.
You see Neutron Player only costs a few Dollars. Who uses a dongle mainly? Cellphone users. Put the two together, and many good dongles would have the same ability as V1.

When is the need for onboard EQ on a DAC ? I wonder
A DAC needs a DAP. EQ can easily be applied at software level. Any laptop, Android phone (don't know much about iphones) can implement EQ very well, for very little money.
Rob Watts implemented a tone-control on his Mojo2. But his claim to fame on that, was that His hardware filters, did a much better job. OK questionable, but that is not the point. The point is, even he had recognised that the need for a hardware EQ, is only when the hardware can do a better job, otherwise, what's the point?
The question is, are hardware EQs better at the job? Are they more convenient?

 

[Ken Tajalli]

It's not the first, by far. There is RME's ADI-2 DAC series (targetted to hifi, not pro), the Topping D50 III and the Qudelix 5k.

. . . Mojo2

 

[bbrrtt]

Like what?

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