Phone to hi-fi amp dac dongle query

[Antrawks]

Hi all. Naive newby here, so be gentle with me! 2 quick questions which I hope you can help me with....

1) I have a Sony Xperia 10iv with lots of music on it. I want to play that music through my hi-fi using a budget portable DAC. All of the DAC dongles I've seen seem to for headphones. If I feed the headphone out into the line in of my amp will I get good sound? Any recommendations would be very helpful, but only if I can use the dongle as described.

2) I also have a Fiio X5 2nd gen. Using the phone and recommended DAC (UAPP software on the phone) will I get anywhere near the quality of sound as from the Fiio?

Thanks in anticipation, folks. I've read the forum a lot and I know there's a simple answer out there.

Ant(rawks)

 

[raindance]

Yes, the headphone out from a dongle will work. It is worth doing some research and finding out what the output voltage is, as a typical amp line in is looking for about 2 volts. Otherwise you can just be careful with volume settings on the amp, until you have an idea where it needs to be (as in turn it down before plugging in).

The dongle volume will need to be turned up and you'll effectively have two volume controls.

I haven't tried it, but I've heard that the Behringer UCA202 interface can work with a phone, so hopefully someone can chime in - if this works, you'll have a real line level output that isn't a headphone output.

 

[Antrawks]

Yes, the headphone out from a dongle will work. It is worth doing some research and finding out what the output voltage is, as a typical amp line in is looking for about 2 volts. Otherwise you can just be careful with volume settings on the amp, until you have an idea where it needs to be (as in turn it down before plugging in).

The dongle volume will need to be turned up and you'll effectively have two volume controls.

I haven't tried it, but I've heard that the Behringer UCA202 interface can work with a phone, so hopefully someone can chime in - if this works, you'll have a real line level output that isn't a headphone output.

Thanks raindance. I actually have a Behringer UCA222 which I use for recording purposes. I was hoping to get something smaller and easier to carry around and use for multiple purposes so your info on voltage is extemely helpful.

 

[JeremyFife]

Your Sony has decent Bluetooth - LDAC - you could even try a LDAC receiver (FiiO BTR5?) and I'd be astonished if you could hear the difference - very portable

 

[Vincent Kars]

2) I also have a Fiio X5 2nd gen. Using the phone and recommended DAC (UAPP software on the phone) will I get anywhere near the quality of sound as from the Fiio?

If you buy a DAC equaling or outperforming the X5, the answer is yes.

I want to play that music through my hi-fi using a budget portable DAC.

Why must it be portable as your HiFi ain't?

What about https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ds/jcally-jm20-headphone-dongle-review.58749/

 

[Multicore]

Your Sony has decent Bluetooth - LDAC - you could even try a LDAC receiver (FiiO BTR5?) and I'd be astonished if you could hear the difference - very portable

Yeah. Phones really are better without cables attached. Try to find a way to make the Bluetooth work.

 

[Antrawks]

If you buy a DAC equaling or outperforming the X5, the answer is yes.


Why must it be portable as your HiFi ain't?

What about https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ds/jcally-jm20-headphone-dongle-review.58749/

Hi Vincent. Thanks for your reply.

How would I find out if the DAC dongle outperforms the X5? What measurements do I look for? Would the Jcally JM20, for example?

I want a portable solution because I'll use it for other purposes too, but the best quality would come through the hi-fi, so that's what I'm most concerned about.

Cheers

 

[unpluggged]

How would I find out if the DAC dongle outperforms the X5? What measurements do I look for? Would the Jcally JM20, for example?

I want a portable solution because I'll use it for other purposes too, but the best quality would come through the hi-fi, so that's what I'm most concerned about.

LDAC is transparent. And if you get the Qudelix 5K, for instance, you can even use its DSP to implement room EQ. This would bring much more significant improvement compared to a couple dB of SINAD.

 

[JeremyFife]

LDAC is transparent. And if you get the Qudelix 5K, for instance, you can even use its DSP to implement room EQ. This would bring much more significant improvement compared to a couple dB of SINAD.

I didn't realise that this was an LDAC receiver ... absolutely where I'd go too. Portable and with DSP, ideal