• WANTED: Happy members who like to discuss audio and other topics related to our interest. Desire to learn and share knowledge of science required. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!

Objetive recommendations for DAC/Amp portable

vvs.angelo

Member
Joined
Oct 31, 2021
Messages
26
Likes
18
Budget: 150$ (sadly).
Format: Portable (iOS, Android and Windows)

Features to consider for my main earphone:
Etymotic ER4SR
Impedance: 43.9958 to 75.8971ohms (from 20.3hz to 16khz (frecuency response respectly))
Sensitivity: 98 db/mW

Loudness(dBSPL)--------Voltage(Vrms)--------Current(mA)--------Power(mW)


85 -------- 0.06 -------- 0.86 -------- 0.05

100 -------- 0.33 -------- 4.71 -------- 1.56

110 -------- 1.05 -------- 15 -------- 15.75

115 --------- 1.87 -------- 26.71 -------- 49.96

120 -------- 3.33 -------- 47.57 -------- 158.41

What should be considered objective in the measurements:
Lenient Limits:
Dynamic range, linearity: 96 dB
THD, IMD: -66 dBFS / 0.05%
Noise: -85 dBFS / 0.005%
SINAD: 85 dB
Crosstalk: -60 dBFS
Jitter: -110 dBFS, -100 dBFS around the main tone
Frequency response: ±0.5 dB
Channel balance: 1 dB
Output impedance: 2 ohms

Strict Limits:
Dynamic range, linearity, SINAD: 120 dB
THD, IMD, noise, crosstalk, jitter: -120 dBFS / 0.0001%
Frequency response, channel balance: ±0.1 dB
Output impedance: 0.16 ohms


EDIT: At the moment the only good DAC/Amp I find is the Fiio KA3 (with low TDH around 70ohms with good power too)
 

Jimbob54

Grand Contributor
Forum Donor
Joined
Oct 25, 2019
Messages
11,096
Likes
14,753
To take power from the source device or battery?
 

Holmz

Major Contributor
Joined
Oct 3, 2021
Messages
2,020
Likes
1,242
Location
Australia
All the Eytimotics I have used have sounded great straight into the iPhone or iPad.
I suppose the AudioQuest dragonfly (or maybe firefly) would be OK, but the built in DAC is likely good enough.

I either loose the Etymotics or damage them so I go through a set or two/year.
And I would buy two of the IEMs and not worry about a DAC myself.
 
Top Bottom