TANCHJIM Luna Portable HP Amp & DAC Review

[CedarX]

Why are so many headphones people and companies into the waifu aesthetic? It comes across as rather virginal

USB-C dongles can be connected in two ways: face up or face down. Well… that’s a problem… and many audiophiles—you know, the ones who don’t read ASR—have noted that it definitely impacts the sound. With Luna’s waifu engraving down, the sound is more organic… but with the waifu engraving up, the sound is, as you noted, more virginal.

Can somebody prove with data that this is the wrong answer to your question?

 

[mc.god]

Why are so many headphones people and companies into the waifu aesthetic? It comes across as rather virginal

Ask Z.

or not so virginal...

 

[beeface]

View attachment 405974

or not so virginal...

awful.

 

[Hasan Aydin]

Nearly triple the price compares to the Fosi DS2, while performing similar even worse in most aspects except higher output power, quite pricey IMO.

With Luna, you can be sure it operates in Class AB mode instead of H-mode. Fosi and many other dongles hide this information, so I’d prefer Luna to reduce the risk.

 

[GeekyBastard]

With Luna, you can be sure it operates in Class AB mode instead of H-mode. Fosi and many other dongles hide this information, so I’d prefer Luna to reduce the risk.

I don't think there's a “risk” if you can't measure it out or hear it, at least I don't think the DS2 runs in Class H mode.

 

[Hasan Aydin]

I don't think there's a “risk” if you can't measure it out or hear it, at least I don't think the DS2 runs in Class H mode.

You can Measure it and hear it in some cases. My Sonata BHD Pro runs in class H Mode for example.

 

[mc.god]

I don't think there's a “risk” if you can't measure it out or hear it, at least I don't think the DS2 runs in Class H mode.

From CS43131 datasheet:

The CS43131 headphone output amplifiers use Cirrus Logic two-mode Class H technology. This technology maximizesoperating efficiency of the typical Class AB amplifier while maintaining high performance. In a Class H amplifier design,the rail voltages supplied to the amplifier vary with the needs of the music passage that is being amplified. This preventsunnecessarily wasting energy during low power passages of program material or when the program material is playedback at a low volume level.The internal charge pump, which creates the rail voltages for the headphone amplifiers, is the central component of thetwo-mode Class H technology implemented in the CS43131. The charge pump receives its input voltage from the voltagepresent on the VCP or VP pin. From this input voltage, the charge pump creates the differential rail voltages supplied tothe amplifier output stages. The charge pump can supply two sets of differential rail voltages: ±VCP and ±VP_LDO.

But you can set it to work in class AB

If ADPT_PWR is set to 001 or 010, the rail voltages supplied to the amplifiers are held to ±VP_LDO or ±VCP, respectively.The rail voltages supplied to the output stages are held constant, regardless of the output signal level. The CS43131amplifiers simply operate in a traditional Class AB configuration.

Luna lets you manually set this in the app, no other CS dongle I've seen has this and i suppose they are generally set in standard H\AB mode.

 

[CedarX]

From CS43131 datasheet:


But you can set it to work in class AB


Luna lets you manually set this in the app, no other CS dongle I've seen has this and i suppose they are generally set in standard H\AB mode.

Note that Luna uses the (similar) CS43198.

Tanchjim description talks about an independent power supply: do we know whether the Class AB/H switch in the app is controlling the CS43198 Class AB/H internal operating mode or two different operating modes of that independent power supply (DC-DC type power supply / charge pump) for the output amps?

Not that it won’t matter but…

 

[mc.god]

Note that Luna uses the (similar) CS43198.

Tanchjim description talks about an independent power supply: do we know whether the Class AB/H switch in the app is controlling the CS43198 Class AB/H internal operating mode or two different operating modes of that independent power supply (DC-DC type power supply / charge pump) for the output amps?

Not that it won’t matter but…

I've been pwnd lol, your are right, Luna has the 43198 that doesn't have integrated hedphone driver... Anyway its datasheet reports the very same description about class H output and setting for AB mode, so i can think the app setting is controlling it and not the opamps. And not knowing what those opamps are can't bring us to other speculations anyway.

 

[GeekyBastard]

You can Measure it and hear it in some cases. My Sonata BHD Pro runs in class H Mode for example.

Is there any measurement evidence that the DS2 runs in class H mode?

 

[GeekyBastard]

or not so virginal...

Ew.

 

[Hasan Aydin]

Is there any measurement evidence that the DS2 runs in class H mode?

Unfortunately no. The measurements here on ASR only show the Multitone behavior at max output level. someone who owns the DS2 would have to measure it again with different levels. As I said, you can measure it on the Sonata BHD Pro, SMSL DO200, as well as the new Macbooks. They all have the newer Cirrus Logic chips that run in Class H mode by default. It is therefore very likely that other chips are also operating in this mode, unless the manufacturer has deliberately changed this in the chip.

 

[CedarX]

Unfortunately no. The measurements here on ASR only show the Multitone behavior at max output level. someone who owns the DS2 would have to measure it again with different levels. As I said, you can measure it on the Sonata BHD Pro, SMSL DO200, as well as the new Macbooks. They all have the newer Cirrus Logic chips that run in Class H mode by default. It is therefore very likely that other chips are also operating in this mode, unless the manufacturer has deliberately changed this in the chip.

How would you determine it anyway? I mean, without having access to the +/- V rails?

 

[musicforcities]

The engraving could be very controversial to the mystical audiophile crowd. Half will say the changing depth of the case interferes with em radiation patterns and thus signal path. The other half will claim it aligns the crystalline aura of the material and impart holographic sensations of presence.

Either way it’s okay you wake up with yourself

 

[Hasan Aydin]

How would you determine it anyway? I mean, without having access to the +/- V rails?

CS43198 and CS43131 DAC sound defects

reference-audio-analyzer.pro

At 0:23
Left AK4377, right CS43131/CS43198 (Class H Mode)

AK4377

CS43131/CS43198

 

[Hammeredklavier]

The engraving could be very controversial to the mystical audiophile crowd. Half will say the changing depth of the case interferes with em radiation patterns and thus signal path. The other half will claim it aligns the crystalline aura of the material and impart holographic sensations of presence.

Either way it’s okay you wake up with yourself

I will claim that it looks horrible, but will put up with it if the product works properly. For 20 years!

 

[GeekyBastard]

Unfortunately no. The measurements here on ASR only show the Multitone behavior at max output level. someone who owns the DS2 would have to measure it again with different levels. As I said, you can measure it on the Sonata BHD Pro, SMSL DO200, as well as the new Macbooks. They all have the newer Cirrus Logic chips that run in Class H mode by default. It is therefore very likely that other chips are also operating in this mode, unless the manufacturer has deliberately changed this in the chip.

Upon further listening test with samples from the RAA website, there's no audible clicks from my DS2 whatsoever, it behaves just like a normal DAC.

 

[CedarX]

CS43198 and CS43131 DAC sound defects

reference-audio-analyzer.pro

At 0:23
Left AK4377, right CS43131/CS43198 (Class H Mode)

AK4377
View attachment 406661
CS43131/CS43198
View attachment 406662

Thanks for the (interesting) link. Makes the Luna tempting (!) to see if these clicks from the test tracks are audible in Class-H mode vs. Class-AB.
On the other hand, I don’t think we know what the Class AB/H modes do exactly—whether it’s only about the CS43198 class AB/H, and/or the opamps and the “independent” power supply. Is this a smart power supply with Class H mode?

 

[potatosalad]

I don’t really think Luna has such complicated power circuitry.

It’s hard to see from the official image, but it seems to utilize RiCore RT6863D and single USB chipset.

…which is quite similar setup with Moonriver 2 Ti as well.

Can’t really find something fancy here.

 

[mc.god]

View attachment 406817

I don’t really think Luna has such complicated power circuitry.

It’s hard to see from the official image, but it seems to utilize RiCore RT6863D and single USB chipset.

View attachment 406818

…which is quite similar setup with Moonriver 2 Ti as well.

Can’t really find something fancy here.

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/new-face-in-op-amp-industry.6058/