Review and Measurements of E1DA 9038S BAL Portable DAC & Amp

[Benaudio]

Yes I have tried a variety of dongles (apple usb C to A, apple multipart, cheap amazon usb c hub, Anker usb dongle, multiple cables), with no result at all.
Anyway using a hub negates the convenience of 9038s size.

I'm bummed and mad at apple right now, would be great if Comtrue could solve the issue to be honest

 

[Jimbob54]

Benaudio, I didn't test 9038SG3 with MBP 2020 yet, I will ask our discord channel guys.
PS: the app we calling Tweak app is delayed, so I decided to let you guys try some new FW.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Dvb2J0oVGq0sHy7nZyBwUmH4LTDgOYPY/view?usp=sharing

What changes /fixes does this provide please Ivan? I'm thinking I'll leave well alone unless benefits!

 

[VonGoethe]

What changes /fixes does this provide please Ivan? I'm thinking I'll leave well alone unless benefits!

New features:
- PTL function, which allows you to adjust max volume limit with 3dbfs steps. - cool feature

The FW pack includes 8 versions with different filters and SE mode, known from gen2.

 

[Jimbob54]

New features:
- PTL function, which allows you to adjust max volume limit with 3dbfs steps. - cool feature

The FW pack includes 8 versions with different filters and SE mode, known from gen2.

Thanks. Easy to install? Unzip on pc and execute I guess?

 

[VonGoethe]

Thanks. Easy to install? Unzip on pc and execute I guess?

You have to install an update driver - manual is in the fw rar package.

 

[ZeDestructor]

Yes, I working on it but still not finished yet.

Is there any chance that the 3.5mm SE version will have an ADC for mic input? This would be very convenient for use on the go with headphones/headphone cables that have an inline mic, or even just a splitter to headphones + modmic or similar.

 

[Benaudio]

Bad news (for me), after the issues on my MacBook Pro, I also have drop outs on my Samsung S10 and UAPP, around one every minute. Tried different buffer and USB tweaks within the apps without success.
Anyone had experienced something similar?

Edit: more like 1 glitch every 20 seconds or so

Beginning to think that my 9038s might be faulty. Bought it on Hifigo, hope I don't have to send it all the way back to China...

 

[badboygolf16v]

I listened to my 9038SG3 last night using UAPP and Samsung Galaxy S8 with no drop outs for around 45 minutes.

That's with the latest firmware, although I never noticed any dropouts with the original firmware.

 

[Benaudio]

Sorry to post back on my issue, but maybe people buy the new MacBooks will face it as well, so I joined the discord and posted this message in the hope to find a solution and share it

Hi, hope you guys can help me
My 9038S works on every device I tried it on (macbook 2015, windows laptop, Samsung S10) except on my new Macbook Pro 2020.
All other DAC I have (Dragonfly, Fiio Q1, ES100) work on this laptop
When I connect, the led lights and when I hit play I just have horrible stutter
Someone suggested that could have to do with the macbook pro 2020 usb2 issues as posted on reddit, but that issue seems to be more related to hub usage.
Anybody having this issue? Any insight would be appreciated

 

[VonGoethe]

Sorry to post back on my issue, but maybe people buy the new MacBooks will face it as well, so I joined the discord and posted this message in the hope to find a solution and share it

Hi, hope you guys can help me
My 9038S works on every device I tried it on (macbook 2015, windows laptop, Samsung S10) except on my new Macbook Pro 2020.
All other DAC I have (Dragonfly, Fiio Q1, ES100) work on this laptop
When I connect, the led lights and when I hit play I just have horrible stutter
Someone suggested that could have to do with the macbook pro 2020 usb2 issues as posted on reddit, but that issue seems to be more related to hub usage.
Anybody having this issue? Any insight would be appreciated

Look some posts above.
Seems to be a "USB-gate" in the Apple world: https://appleinsider.com/articles/2...0-accessories-in-2020-macbook-air-macbook-pro

 

[Benaudio]

I'm not using any hub, connected direct, so not sure if its the same issue?
Also, why my other usb2 dacs and others usb2 gear (mouse), work flawlessly?

 

[Veri]

I got my E1DA 9038s a couple of days back. It is an absolute delight to listen through this dac+amp. Vocals, instruments and background music come together as members of one orchestra.
I have Centrance DACport HD and obj O2 amp. I love those products but I like this even more.

That's some great praise!

 

[jacksonstrom]

Hi @IVX,
I'm going to buy the E1DA 9038S Gen 3: I don't have a balanced cable for my headphones so I was wondering if the forthcoming 9038D will have the same performance of the wonderful 9038S. In other words: is it still true that a balanced connections is better than an unbalanced one? Should I wait for the 9038D?
Thanks for you great work!!

 

[PSO]

That's some great praise!

To add, it weighs 10 grams, and my dac+amp 'setup' is the size of a pen drive. I also liked that there was no marketing pressure, no one pressed me to leave a review, or tell my grandmother about it .

And I don't know Ivan or others personally (This sentence is not intended for you, Veri, but generally, if others reads it).

Please note - I don't have audiophile knowledge like most of you. But I do realise that, though I increase volume pretty high, I don't hear distortion.

 

[tsanguine]

Is there a way I can connect this to my JBL M-Patch Active 1? I have a 2.5mm balanced to dual RCA cable but I know that the RCA inputs of the JBL are not balanced. I believe the other inputs are TRS balanced or unbalanced. Could I use 2.5mm to XLR and then XLR to TRS adapters? But what would happen when I plug in an unbalanced pair of headphones into one of the front TRS outputs?

Here is the schematic of the JBL. I'm actually using the PowerDac V2 but the connection is the same.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[IVX]

It is possible but:
a) you need to add GND wire from the USB
b) PDv2 has a residual switching at 384kHz, and your amp maybe not ready for that

 

[tsanguine]

It is possible but:
a) you need to add GND wire from the USB
b) PDv2 has a residual switching at 384kHz, and your amp maybe not ready for that

These would run into JBL LSR305's. Would the ground need to connect from the sleeve of usb to sleeve of both left and right TRS connectors?

 

[Tks]

What's residual switching anything? >_>

 

[IVX]

tsanguine, good idea to check out our discord channel where that topic multiple times discussed.
The residual switching is a sine wave 384kHz, if the Amp has limited BW at 20-50kHz, the resifual switching isn't problem.

 

[MalinYamato]

9018sG3 with Y-spliter and C-to-C cable ordered fom E1DAs store at Ali, and on its way -- hope to have it before X-mas.