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

[JustAnandaDourEyedDude]

JustAnandaDourEyedDude #9038S G3 has balanced output ONLY, no any adapters please, you can kill the DAC.

Thanks, @IVX, I read your cautions loud and clear! I replaced the cables on most of my earphones and a couple of my headphones with balanced cables (terminated in 2.5mm or 4.4mm Pentaconn or 4-pin XLR), quite a while ago. So no problem for me, I use a 2.5mm to 4.4mm Pentaconn adapter. I just wondered how @DivineCurrent connects the Sundara to the #9038S G3, and how @somy plans to do so, because the Sundara comes with only a SE cable. I just bought a couple of #9038D that I can use with the other headphones still on SE cable.

 

[somy]

Hmm, ok so it is not about the connector, the whole cable need to be replaced?

 

[Jimbob54]

Hmm, ok so it is not about the connector, the whole cable need to be replaced?

Yes. But I believe the Sundara takes the same twin 3.5mm plug at the headphone end as many others (beyers) with detachable cables.

 

[staticV3]

Hmm, ok so it is not about the connector, the whole cable need to be replaced?

Technically it is just the connector. You could snip off the 3.5mm plug and solder a new 2.5mm plug onto it.
Adapting the original 3.5mm cable is not an option.

 

[somy]

Somy, by any chance you know what balanced cable to use for Sundara? I assume one is available in the market? 9038S only allows balanced cable, like Ivan said (just in case you don't know ).

Sorry can’t help I haven’t bought sundara yet, i wanted to see if 9038s can drive sundara well

 

[staticV3]

Sorry can’t help I haven’t bought sundara yet, i wanted to see if 9038s can drive sundara well

If you're looking for a balanced cable for the Sundara, then you can find some for less than $30 on AliExpress.
Here's one: https://a.aliexpress.com/_BUowUX

 

[somy]

cool thanks! Looks like ananda will be an easy cake for 9038s. I can even get good volume from iPhone and the sound is plush.

 

[staticV3]

Listening on Hifiman 400i through 9038S (mobile phone as source, UAPP as player, MP3 format song, no EQ), and it drives it very well. I can go to max volume for bits of songs, but not for longer duration. I am close to 44. For younger people, the volume required might be lesser.
(Music can be such a healer. Lost a cousin to Covid today, so submerged in Pink Floyd, Dire Straits, etc).

I'm sorry to hear about that. You have my sympathy.
It's good that you've found relief in your music!

 

[somy]

You can always try someone else's device, if feasible.

Thank you and hope all is well, sorry about your loss.

 

[Truanon]

Please explain the phenomenon:
When 9038s is working with auxiliary power source (i.e. power bank) thru Y-splitter the DAC is not even warm and the sound is much better (far beyond any comparison in fact), regardless of IEM used (it's sensitivity and impedance). Thank you in advance.

 

[basshead]

Warning: 9038D contains a high-sensitive I/V stage that may cause audible noise when your phone uses LTE 4G, 5g.

Dear IVX, is 9038D more susceptible to cellular noise than 9038S Gen3 SE? Or it's the same more or less?

 

[IVX]

9038D is more sensitive to LTE indeed, due to unbalanced topology.

 

[DivineCurrent]

Thanks, @IVX, I read your cautions loud and clear! I replaced the cables on most of my earphones and a couple of my headphones with balanced cables (terminated in 2.5mm or 4.4mm Pentaconn or 4-pin XLR), quite a while ago. So no problem for me, I use a 2.5mm to 4.4mm Pentaconn adapter. I just wondered how @DivineCurrent connects the Sundara to the #9038S G3, and how @somy plans to do so, because the Sundara comes with only a SE cable. I just bought a couple of #9038D that I can use with the other headphones still on SE cable.

Hey, I didn't see your comment until now. I actually built my own 2.5mm balanced cable for the Sundara, but there are plenty of options on the web if you do a quick Google search. This one looks nice: https://www.amazon.com/NewFantasia-Balanced-Connector-Compatible-Headphones/dp/B08DKCB4WN

 

[DivineCurrent]

Also, @IVX , I was curious if you would consider making a DAC/Amp with 4.4mm (Pentaconn) output in the future. It's probably more robust and less prone to breaking than 2.5mm, so I was wondering your thoughts on that.

 

[Veri]

Also, @IVX , I was curious if you would consider making a DAC/Amp with 4.4mm (Pentaconn) output in the future. It's probably more robust and less prone to breaking than 2.5mm, so I was wondering your thoughts on that.

Guessing it'll bring the price up quite a bit so it would be riskier to produce a batch, whether they'll actually sell well.

 

[Jimbob54]

Hi Jim - Did you receive 9038D? (Mine is in Customs and will arrive in some time). I'd like to know your feedback, if you are okay to share.

Sorry- didnt ignore this- was just hoping it would arrive shortly after but as I type my national postal service still havent received. I am hoping customs dont go prying. Hope yours has arrived and is delivering smiles. I am long past expecting wonders from these things- the existence of all such things is wonderful enough. I am fully expecting it to sound no different to the Sonata HD Pro and Meizu Pro I have, but might be able to power more challenging cans better whilst sat at my kitchen table (now office desk) away from my main rig.

 

[Jimbob54]

Also, @IVX , I was curious if you would consider making a DAC/Amp with 4.4mm (Pentaconn) output in the future. It's probably more robust and less prone to breaking than 2.5mm, so I was wondering your thoughts on that.

I really dont like 2.5mm either but given its increased size and cost, I doubt we will see a 4.4mm version.

The sin of all this is a 3.5mm balanced socket exists and can accommodate single ended jacks too if wired right. I do wish the industry had gone further into that rather than 2.5mm balanced- far too flimsy if your DAP is in your pocket and plugging a 2.5mm cable vertically in the top that then droops straight away. Niggly!

 

[Veri]

View attachment 88547

Love the sound of the E1DA 9038D. Listening to classical , R.E.M - Everybody Hurts, and Metallica - S&M2. Does justice to all of them.

That sure was fast ! Enjoy!

 

[Arch]

My 9038D (bundle 2: USB-C-C) arrived (Britain) this morning.

I'm very pleased with it, though lack the experience to compare it to similar products. I can, however, say that it's a beautiful little thing. Tiny, much smaller than I'd expected. Feels like quality. I suspect this is the beginning of my disappearing down the audiophile rabbit-hole, having first bought into Sonos then a 2H Sennheiser Momentum 1 wired. The 9038D was cheap, but I suspect will end up costing me thousands as I chase the thing that cannot be caught. What next? a 2H HD650/HD6XX? New HD 560S? Topping L30/E30?

My first post after browsing ASR for some weeks and buying the 9038D on the strength of what I learned. Thank you ASR contributors, especially Amir. I suppose I should chuck him a few quid.

 

[IVX]

I made some little demo about the THD compensation with the TWEAK9038 Android App