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Potential New 3.5mm USB-C Dongles & USB DAC/AMPs

I haven’t seen the Qudelix 5K over here. Arguably the worst measuring one, but that PEQ and other features it has makes it my best purchase.
 
The author of the measurement of the iBasso DC03 subsequently measured again with a firmware update (1.0), where it seems that some problems were solved (read the comments): https://www.l7audiolab.com/f/ibassodc0304phasefixed/
There is another newer firmware still on the iBasso page. (1.1.0): http://ibasso.com/dcseries2/
I use the Meizu HiFi DAC (not the Pro), I only listen to music stored on my mobile, so I do not suffer from asynchrony problems, and otherwise it seems that it measures similar as the Pro when it's used on a phone: https://www.0db.co.kr/index.php?mid=REVIEW_0DB&category=183&document_srl=1005449
I have ordered the iBasso DC03, will try to install the latest firmware on it and see if I notice differences beyond the probable volume differences.
 
But... isn't the Meizu Hifi Pro, like, nearly impossible to find nowadays?

Also, the iBasso DC-03 measures better in every way. I don't get the fanboyism over the Meizu tbh.
 
Chordeater said:
The author of the measurement of the iBasso DC03 subsequently measured again with a firmware update (1.0), where it seems that some problems were solved (read the comments): https://www.l7audiolab.com/f/ibassodc0304phasefixed/
There is another newer firmware still on the iBasso page. (1.1.0): http://ibasso.com/dcseries2/
I use the Meizu HiFi DAC (not the Pro), I only listen to music stored on my mobile, so I do not suffer from asynchrony problems, and otherwise it seems that it measures similar as the Pro when it's used on a phone: https://www.0db.co.kr/index.php?mid=REVIEW_0DB&category=183&document_srl=1005449
I have ordered the iBasso DC03, will try to install the latest firmware on it and see if I notice differences beyond the probable volume differences.
Click to expand...
I'm looking forward to this...
 
So I'm still confused. Which is better in implementing the cirrus logic dac cs43131?
 
WoodyLuvr said:
:facepalm:A taste of your own medicine young man. You made it too easy tbh. ;)
Click to expand...

WOAH, YOU GOT ME TBH!!1! Except it's a fact the iBasso DC03 measures better (unless the measurements from the Chinese site are fake). I'm only defending it because of that reason, while the Meizu fanboys defend what is obvious a inferior product - more distortion, less dynamic range, about the same amplification power.
 
It seems to me that it's irrelevant which one measures better. I have received the iBasso DC03, installed the latest firmware on it, and compared it to the Meizu HiFi DAC. They both use the Cirrus Logic CS43131 (2x on the iBasso), and have a similar output. They sound exactly the same to me, with the only difference being that the iBasso DC03 sounds about 2db louder.

I was very happy with the Meizu, but I needed another one and in my country it is no longer available, that's why I bought the iBasso.
Whatever the difference in their measurements, it is below the audible spectrum. At least below mine.
 
Chordeater said:
It seems to me that it's irrelevant which one measures better. I have received the iBasso DC03, installed the latest firmware on it, and compared it to the Meizu HiFi DAC. They both use the Cirrus Logic CS43131 (2x on the iBasso), and have a similar output. They sound exactly the same to me, with the only difference being that the iBasso DC03 sounds about 2db louder.

I was very happy with the Meizu, but I needed another one and in my country it is no longer available, that's why I bought the iBasso.
Whatever the difference in their measurements, it is below the audible spectrum. At least below mine.
Click to expand...
Concur; I too was unable to hear a difference. The Pro version of the Meizu when "tricked" was ever so slightly louder than the iBasso DC03. A real shame it is no longer available as it measured extremely well and in a amazingly low-profile package.

WoodyLuvr said:
I myself can not hear a difference between most DACs (unless they are poorly/incorrectly made and/or implemented) once the volume is corrected (matched). I could not hear a difference between the Meizu HiFI Pro, iBasso DC02, or iBasso DC03 but simply ended up choosing the Meizu Pro as it was smaller and measured the best.
Click to expand...
 
Meizu Hifi non Pro was great while it lasted. Its distortion on ASR's measurements was roughly equal to the Apple dongle. With cleaner power it would be even better.
 
Dongles galore really.

Anyone interested in seeing dozens of dongles side by side? See the pics here.
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/usb-c-to-3-5mm-adapters-dac-lets-find-the-best.908839/page-167

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/40-...ctive-impressions.958216/page-4#post-16407023

Subjective testing on steroids basically. It's a rough guide of nearly every dongle and how it performs in real life conditions.

I will stick to the trusty Apple/Meizu/Sonata HD Pro trio, for there's no real reason for these ultra expensive, latest late-comers with unnecessary dual dacs to steal the show.
 
The reason for me to upgrade from Apple USB-C dac is the get a USB DAC that support for higher sampling rates. It is not that I can hear the difference between 44.1k and 96k, but I use foobar to play music and the WASAPI or ASIO driver complain when playing higher sampling rates files when using Apple USB-C dongle that support only 44.1k and 48k. And it is just not practical and a waste of time to convert all my music files to either 44.1k and 48k for the reason so I can use ASIO / WASAPI on Apple USB-C DAC. And to use the Direct Sound driver to let Windows downsampling higher res files to 44.1k and 48k sound pretty bad to my ears. The Windows downsampling algorithm sounds pretty lame to me. And yes, the difference between using WASAPI (follow the file higher sampling rate) and DS (when downsampling higher res files to 44.1k or 48k) is audible.

So the reason to use better dongle is to be able to play any song file with any sampling rate natively without any sampling rate conversion by the OS.
 
Saidera said:
Dongles galore really.

Anyone interested in seeing dozens of dongles side by side? See the pics here.
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/usb-c-to-3-5mm-adapters-dac-lets-find-the-best.908839/page-167

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/40-...ctive-impressions.958216/page-4#post-16407023

Subjective testing on steroids basically. It's a rough guide of nearly every dongle and how it performs in real life conditions.

I will stick to the trusty Apple/Meizu/Sonata HD Pro trio, for there's no real reason for these ultra expensive, latest late-comers with unnecessary dual dacs to steal the show.
Click to expand...

There is one exception among them tho. It's the $20 Xnyocn X1 which gets the same rating as ultra expensive ones. I think it's worth a try.
 
Last edited:
Chordeater said:
The author of the measurement of the iBasso DC03 subsequently measured again with a firmware update (1.0), where it seems that some problems were solved (read the comments): https://www.l7audiolab.com/f/ibassodc0304phasefixed/
There is another newer firmware still on the iBasso page. (1.1.0): http://ibasso.com/dcseries2/
I use the Meizu HiFi DAC (not the Pro), I only listen to music stored on my mobile, so I do not suffer from asynchrony problems, and otherwise it seems that it measures similar as the Pro when it's used on a phone: https://www.0db.co.kr/index.php?mid=REVIEW_0DB&category=183&document_srl=1005449
I have ordered the iBasso DC03, will try to install the latest firmware on it and see if I notice differences beyond the probable volume differences.
Click to expand...
He says the multitone bug is in the chip itself, and (apparently?) not fixable via firmware. In a review of another product, he says that he thinks the multitone test is the most important test.
 
Hello
Please help me chose a dongle amp for an android phone - Pixel 4a.
Priorities:
1. Reliability and ease of use. My Tempotec Sonata HD Pro stops working from time to time when switching apps and I have to reboot the phone to get sound back.
2. The amp should be able to drive both low and high impedance HP.
3. Price.
3. DAC performance is not a huge factor for me.

What would you recommend? Thank you.
 
Subjective evaluation of dongles can reveal general categories which correlate with objective measurements to some extent: https://andyaudiovault.com/donglemadness/

However, objective measurements are the surest way short of trying it out yourself.
 
Saidera said:
Subjective evaluation of dongles can reveal general categories which correlate with objective measurements to some extent: https://andyaudiovault.com/donglemadness/

However, objective measurements are the surest way short of trying it out yourself.
Click to expand...
I can't take this guy serious:
All of the dongles tested and rated has gone reasonable amount of burn in. Yes I am a believer in burn in even for solid state devices.
Click to expand...
Besides: trying the dongles yourself (subjective) is not a better way to know how good they are than getting reliable objective data.
 
RHO said:
I can't take this guy serious:

Besides: trying the dongles yourself (subjective) is not a better way to know how good they are than getting reliable objective data.
Click to expand...
Yes, but ASR has moved on from dongle testing. For now the market is able to put quality aside and focus on aesthetics etc
 
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