Neutron HiFi DAC V1 Review

[Brab]

I've used the Neutron audio player happily for years. It's not the easiest to figure out but it has great features and flexibility.

 

[GXAlan]

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.

Some of the latest Samsung’s will do USB audio and let you use the volume control of the TV to adjust the digital output!

 

[Multicore]

Is the power consumption a problem for people running it off a phone battery?

Can you have the phone plugged in for charge while using this DAC?

 

[staticV3]

Can you have the phone plugged in for charge while using this DAC?

Only if the phone supports USB PD charging and you have a USB hub with PD Pass-through.

There are very compact versions of this, like the Ugreen 60165.

I tested one a while back (Link).

With older Lightning iPhones, you can use Apple's USB3 Camera connection kit.

 

[Ken Tajalli]

Maybe… But then why Neutron only DAC/Amp device is precisely built around a HW DSP solution?

Yep, That is what I was wondering.
I rather buy something else for a $100 but miss out on HW DSP.

 

[Rednaxela]

All right, you’re correct on this one.

In all honesty I thought the Q5K was slightly less capable than what you pointed out. So I did learn something from you, thanks. It's good to have all these options!

 

[Brianc]

I don't think the Neutron has BlueTooth. That might be as big a deal as anything else for most users.

Agree. I love only having to connect my headphones to the Qudelix and not my phone or laptop. It essentially makes them wireless and with LDAC I hear no downgrade in sound. But the balanced output is another plus that the Neutron doesn't have.

 

[Robbo99999]

Seems a little underpowered to me. I have a Hidizs S9 Pro Plus (Martha) which outputs at 32 ohms 138 Mw with the single ended 3.5 and 183 Mw with 4.4 balanced. It only costs $90 on Ali. Doesn't have the PEQ, but I get that from USB Audio Player Pro (costs around $15) on my Android phone.

So if you're willing to roll your own a little bit, you can, I think, do better than the Neutron for cheaper.

(You can even use Neutron Player itself from the same company!)

 

[Robbo99999]

I think this is a really good device, very useful, it's the PEQ that's so flexible......indeed the developer has said that he's gonna try working on a Virtual 7.1 Surround Sound implementation on this - you know to rival some of the capabilities of gaming DACS like the SoundBlasterX G6 that I use. If he can get Virtual 7.1 Surround Sound option working as effectively as Creative's (Soundblaster) own Virtual 7.1 Surround Sound then that probably makes it a more useful device than my current setup. (It would have to be seen as a 7.1 multichannel device by Windows to do it properly (as one of the criterion), which I think he said was possible.) One of the practical problems with Virtual Surround Sound is that it's very subjective to the individual if a particular implementation works effectively or not, so it's a kind of buy & try routine if there's not a software based trial program you could sample that replicates the effect - try before you buy if you like.

 

[Hifihedgehog]

Built-in Crossfeed DSP? Day 1 insta-buy. I listen to all of my music in Foobar2000 and MPC-HC with crossfeed as headphones sounds tonally and pyschologically wrong otherwise with the hyper-localized sound in the side channels. I've always wanted system-wide crossfeed and this plus transparent measured performance is extraordinary. Thanks!

 

[Music1969]

The original post said:
View attachment 389434
No mention of Parametric.

This is what you quoted when you replied Mojo2... all these support PEQ, Mojo2 does not....

 

[Ken Tajalli]

(You can even use Neutron Player itself from the same company!)

The only thing missing from Neutron Player, is streaming services.
Otherwise, it is the best, most comprehensive player for Android.
With a GUI as complex and comprehensive.

 

[Ken Tajalli]

This is what you quoted when you replied Mojo2... all these support PEQ, Mojo2 does not....
View attachment 389539

As Spock said:

 

[jhaider]

When is the need for onboard EQ on a DAC ? I wonder

When it’s driving headphones.

EQ can easily be applied at software level.

That’s a lot more cumbersome and frustrating than dedicated audio hardware that just works.

 

[Ken Tajalli]

That’s a lot more cumbersome and frustrating than dedicated audio hardware that just works.

Please explain.
Remember, to set the hardware EQ, you have to use software, UNLESS!
They happen to have hardware buttons, like Mojo2. I can tell you, that is a hell of a lot more cumbersome.
So far, the best excuse has been, a catch-all system-wide solution. Another would be, connecting one's DAC to a random player, such as someone else's phone. But these situations are rare.
With software, one can create, per-song and/or per-headphone EQ profiles (limitless). Per-song can activate automatically. Per headphone takes a couple of taps to activate. There is no HW equalizer/tone control (that I know of) that can match that. With V1, you can save one profile!

 

[WalterW]

This could have been a winner, if it weren't for the feeble amp. What a pitty!

 

[CedarX]

This could have been a winner, if it weren't for the feeble amp. What a pitty!

For the intended use—portable DAC/Amp—I think power is more than adequate.

 

[Rednaxela]

Planning to try and test over the weekend.

For anyone interested, a quick test with a pair of Behringer Media 40USB speakers reveals that indeed there is volume controlled USB audio output on my TV. When they’re powered and connected, the TV says ‘headphones connected’, operating the volume control shows ‘headphones volume’ on the TV next to the volume level slider, and the volume also changes audibly.

So far the good news.

Sadly this is only the case in the Google TV functional area such as when using the Spotify, YouTube and Netflix apps. In other modes, like TV or HDMI input, only the visual part is there. So I see the same messages and indicators re. the use of headphones but there is either no sound or very loud noise and it is unclear when you’ll get which one of the two. These findings are in line with reports of other people having tried the same thing with their Bravia TV, so I don’t think I’m gonna pursue this much further.

Sorry perhaps for the off topic rambling but I think it would have made for an interesting alternative use case for this DAC, especially in the context of my system and where I’d like to take it. Will drop the subject going forward.

 

[Phorize]

Like what?

I suppose the Qudelix 5K is cheaper with better connectivity, balanced outputs etc. that's the only one I can think of though!

 

[Phorize]

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?

Putting eq in the dac makes 2 things possible that can't otherwise be done at all with a phone:

1) eq can be applied to all output. On android the eq apps only support a very limited range of input applications.e.g qobuz, YouTube etc.

2) you can't output bitperfect from a phone with eq due to os resampling. In audibility terms it's rather moot but having the eq in an external device means you can use players that can circumnavigate os resampling (such as usb player) to output bitperfect to the dac.