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Round-up of small, battery USB DAC/Amp/Bluetooth receiver devices

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Asylum Seeker

Asylum Seeker

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So far there are only five products that meet the criteria in the OP.

They are:
  • Fiio BTR5
  • Fiio BTR3K
  • Shanling UP4
  • Shanling UP2
  • Hiby W3
  • Qudelix 5K
 
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PenguinMusic

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Hi,

Maybe I missed a post, but why does the Qudelix 5K not qualify ?

Or it might be because it's availability is somewhat unkonwn as of now...
 

PenguinMusic

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Hi,

Just to mention it : the Qudelix is now available to pre-order. 109$ + 20$ for shipping. 129$.
I think it is still within the boundaries of what was given.

But I think that for those small toys, the output power should be taken into consideration.
And the mention of that output power has simply vanished from Qudelix webpage...

Unless I did not see it :-(

That will make me decide to complete the pre-order : is that outpout power more than, say ES100, BTR5 or BTR3k or Shanling UP4 ?

Regards.
 
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Asylum Seeker

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...because until just a few days ago, the Qudelix was not released and available to the public. Simple as that. I see a lot of premature fanboyism around this product. On headfi a few have already proclaimed it King even before its release, before anyone has even heard it. You all need to keep yourselves in check. And until we have measurements, all impressions are personal and subjective. I don't care who the designer is or the fact that it has an EQlizer. Keep it in your pants.
 
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milus

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Hi,

But I think that for those small toys, the output power should be taken into consideration.
And the mention of that output power has simply vanished from Qudelix webpage...

Unless I did not see it :-(

That will make me decide to complete the pre-order : is that outpout power more than, say ES100, BTR5 or BTR3k or Shanling UP4 ?

Regards.

Maybe here? -> https://www.qudelix.com/blogs/5k-dac-amp/es9218p
 

PenguinMusic

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Hum... I think that is the DAC output voltage.
Not sure it gives any indication about the ability to have "loud" headphones. I think that result should be given in mW.
 

PenguinMusic

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...because until just a few days ago, the Qudelix was not released and available to the public. Simple as that. I see a lot of premature fanboyism around this product. On headfi a few have already proclaimed it King even before its release, before anyone has even heard it. You all need to keep yourselves in check. And until we have measurements, all impressions are personal and subjective.

Why so agressive ?

I thought you were making a "round-up".
This product can be included in the round-up right ?
So I think you should add these to the round-up selection criterion :
- availability
- existence of measures made by someone you trust
- irrelevancy of subjective listening tests.

Besides, I do not think anyone in this forum, including me, has stated that this is the new King and Reference amongst those devices.

So please, do not blame us for posts on other sites...

Regards.
 
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solderdude

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Hum... I think that is the DAC output voltage.
Not sure it gives any indication about the ability to have "loud" headphones. I think that result should be given in mW.

2V (SE) is 125mW in 32 Ohm, 13mW in 300 Ohm.
4V (bal) = 500mW in 32 Ohm, 53mW in 300 Ohm.
 

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2V (SE) is 125mW in 32 Ohm, 13mW in 300 Ohm.
4V (bal) = 500mW in 32 Ohm, 53mW in 300 Ohm.

Hi,

Thanks.

Those values are amazing are they not ?

If I compare to Fiio BTR3K, it outputs 25mW in 32 Ohm SE and 78mW in 32 Ohm balanced...
The BTR5 outputs 80mW in SE and 240 mW in Balanced mode, both at 32 Ohm.

So if I just look at tech specs, it seems the Qudelix may drive almost any drive where the BTR3k and BTR5 may be limited when driving demanding headphones ?

Is that correct ?
 

solderdude

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13mW in SE 300 Ohm (1V) is not that impressive and about the same as a phone.

In balanced mode output power is sufficient for most headphones. personally I would like a bit more headroom for higher impedance headphones even in balanced mode. Good enough for casual listening in most cases for sure.
 

PenguinMusic

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13mW in SE 300 Ohm (1V) is not that impressive and about the same as a phone.

In balanced mode output power is sufficient for most headphones. personally I would like a bit more headroom for higher impedance headphones even in balanced mode. Good enough for casual listening in most cases for sure.

Hi,

OK. According to your numbers, I can assume that the BTR5 from Fiio would output 6mW at 300 Ohm... That would then be totally insufficient to drive some demanding headphones...

Regards.

FRED
 

solderdude

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BTR5 is specified as 80mW in 32 Ohm (SE) and thus 8mW in 300 Ohm = 1.6V
in balanced mode is spec'ed at 240mW in 32 Ohm and works out at about 34mW in 300 Ohm = 3.2V
BTR5 appears to be current limited in balanced mode.

The problem is that it is unclear whether or not the balanced out of the qudelix actually reaches 4V under 32 Ohm load.
This requires 125mA (180mA peak) and is quite possible to reach.
 

PenguinMusic

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OK...

So the more mW you have, the more likely the thing is capable of driving even demanding headphones ?
Is taht more or less correct ?

I don't own one of those... Fidelio X2 HR and B&O H9 (already wireless... but with less codecs and unknown DAC and specs) or both quite easy to drive, but I assume if it can drive demanding phones it will be more comfortable at driving less demanding ones...

Regards.
 
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I own the BTR5 and it can barely power the DT880 Pro 250 Ohm. It powers the likes of AKG K371, AT M60x and 1More H1707 just fine in Low gain mode single ended.
 

PenguinMusic

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I own the BTR5 and it can barely power the DT880 Pro 250 Ohm. It powers the likes of AKG K371, AT M60x and 1More H1707 just fine in Low gain mode single ended.

Hi,

Thanks for the info.

So I should look for something that has more output power than the BTR5 has...

That is a nice to know :)

Regards.
 
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Hi,

Thanks for the info.

So I should look for something that has more output power than the BTR5 has...

That is a nice to know :)

Regards.
Look no further than the Topping NX4 DSD.
 
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Asylum Seeker

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Qudelix asked about measurements tests...

Screenshot_20200605_103641_com.android.chrome.jpg


Read'em & weep here.
 

PenguinMusic

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Hi,

Yeah.

Saw that.

Pity.

I think for the time being, I'll stick to my B&O Wireless for wireless.
 
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Asylum Seeker

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From their perspective, it is the right move. Trade and capitalize on the hype and fanboyism. Of which, sad to say, there's been a some on ASR too.
 
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