Noise is limiting.
What you get is what I was expecting.
But I'm nowhere close to that.
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TANCHJIM Space Portable Headphone Adapter Review
- Thread starter amirm
- Start date
What you get is what I was expecting.
But I'm nowhere close to that.
Tanchjim Luna now released - 130 usd.
shenzhenaudio.com
I like that it has 2 versions, one standard and sober, and the other waifu for those who like this.
2 x CS43198 based, which is the DAC chip without HP amp from Cirrus Logic, and instead using their own amp stage.
Specs are slightly better but to be honest it is beyond transparent as the Space 90 usd already is.
TANCHJIM LUNA Dual CS43198 Portable USB DAC/AMP
NOTE: Inventory gradually available in Oct.
shenzhenaudio.com
I like that it has 2 versions, one standard and sober, and the other waifu for those who like this.
2 x CS43198 based, which is the DAC chip without HP amp from Cirrus Logic, and instead using their own amp stage.
Specs are slightly better but to be honest it is beyond transparent as the Space 90 usd already is.
Thank you for that, but has anyone seen this:Tanchjim Luna now released - 130 usd.
TANCHJIM LUNA Dual CS43198 Portable USB DAC/AMP
NOTE: Inventory gradually available in Oct.
SMSL D10 2*CS43131 3.5mm 4.4mm Portable USB Headphone Amplifier DAC
SMSL D10 is a high-performance portable USB headphone amplifier and audio DAC featuring dual Cirrus Logic CS43131 chips. It offers superb sound quality with support for DSD256 hard decoding and PCM 32bit/384kHz hi-res audio, making it an excellent choice for audiophiles seeking high-fidelity...
hifi-express.com
That looks cool but presumably very similar to the Space?Thank you for that, but has anyone seen this:
I just ordered one on impulse!SMSL D10 2*CS43131 3.5mm 4.4mm Portable USB Headphone Amplifier DAC
SMSL D10 is a high-performance portable USB headphone amplifier and audio DAC featuring dual Cirrus Logic CS43131 chips. It offers superb sound quality with support for DSD256 hard decoding and PCM 32bit/384kHz hi-res audio, making it an excellent choice for audiophiles seeking high-fidelity...
it would be interesting to know what type of op-amp they used for the amp stage (maybe the well known SGM\Ricore?) and the real effect of that class AB\H switch, bridge is still the CT7601 so Asio drivers are available and surely interesting the managing app (even though I prefer devices with few setting that you can manage via hardware buttons).Tanchjim Luna now released - 130 usd.
TANCHJIM LUNA Dual CS43198 Portable USB DAC/AMP
NOTE: Inventory gradually available in Oct.
I like that it has 2 versions, one standard and sober, and the other waifu for those who like this.
2 x CS43198 based, which is the DAC chip without HP amp from Cirrus Logic, and instead using their own amp stage.
Specs are slightly better but to be honest it is beyond transparent as the Space 90 usd already is.
here I see nothing more than any other classic dual CS43131 dongle, power statement is overrated and obviously referring to L+R combined power, honestly I can't find it competitive when Moondrop Dawn Pro and Sonata BHD are available at much lower price.Thank you for that, but has anyone seen this:
I just ordered one on impulse!SMSL D10 2*CS43131 3.5mm 4.4mm Portable USB Headphone Amplifier DAC
SMSL D10 is a high-performance portable USB headphone amplifier and audio DAC featuring dual Cirrus Logic CS43131 chips. It offers superb sound quality with support for DSD256 hard decoding and PCM 32bit/384kHz hi-res audio, making it an excellent choice for audiophiles seeking high-fidelity...
If that's the case, and power is not 500mW/ch, then I shall return it.
In UK, the SMSL and the Sonata are the same price.
Would SMSL, be so naive to think they could get away with it?
We'll see when it arrives, I will check it, measure both channel being driven, to see what it can do.
CS43131 amp stage capabilities are well known and at 32 ohm should not be much different than this:
So without additional op-amps (not mentioned) 500 mW per channel are technically impossible.
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It is not as simple as that. The chip can manage 30mW into 32R, yet the Tempotec can manage 80mW (280mW bal).
It is not that hard to add output drivers to boost it up. 300/350mW is quite possible (voltage swings of 4.5V) without a charge-pump PSU.
Anyways, I will check.
the officially advertised 30 mW @ 32R are (strangely) way less than what results practically from any CS43131 unit I've seen measured, all of them show results in line with the graph I linked, I simply doubt smsl would achieve something so different unless they used additional op-amp stage, that they didn't mention (but still possible).
It is not fix-able by opamps. USB voltage is no more than 5V.
You need the voltage-swing to output more power.
the 4.5V I mentioned, in balanced mode, can give just over 3V RMS, hence the power output of 300mW or so.
Unless one uses a dc-dc upconversion. Which is still possible.
Well, on the same specs sheet they also advertise max output level of 2 Vrms...
Clearly it is referred to the 3.5 output (i hope) but just to say how much you can trust those info...
I bet it will give out the "standard" 2V/4V at line level just like my Sonata BHD, and obviously less at 32R, let us know your measurements.
Reporting back on S.M.S.L D10
In my opinion, looks nice, looks the part, but it is CRAP!
First and foremost, it sounds crap! (with my LCD-XC). no amount of EQing does any good, I think the one I got was faulty, didn't last 15 minutes (Edit: before I decided to send it back).
It was a bright, distorted sound, that also clipped & compressed badly if pushed. It had more power on balanced, which incidentally, I had to make a new cable for it.
But more power, with the same distortions and brightness of single ended. Maybe it just doesn't like my headphone's impedance of 20R.
I was looking forward to testing the device, see how much actual power it had, but very quickly, I repackage it to send it back.
Last point! - I did try an Apple dongle in the past. I can not recall it sounding bad, it just had no power. My Huawei phone sounds superior to D10, but again, no power.
hifi-express.com
In my opinion, looks nice, looks the part, but it is CRAP!
First and foremost, it sounds crap! (with my LCD-XC). no amount of EQing does any good, I think the one I got was faulty, didn't last 15 minutes (Edit: before I decided to send it back).
It was a bright, distorted sound, that also clipped & compressed badly if pushed. It had more power on balanced, which incidentally, I had to make a new cable for it.
But more power, with the same distortions and brightness of single ended. Maybe it just doesn't like my headphone's impedance of 20R.
I was looking forward to testing the device, see how much actual power it had, but very quickly, I repackage it to send it back.
Last point! - I did try an Apple dongle in the past. I can not recall it sounding bad, it just had no power. My Huawei phone sounds superior to D10, but again, no power.
SMSL D10 2*CS43131 3.5mm 4.4mm Portable USB Headphone Amplifier DAC
SMSL D10 is a high-performance portable USB headphone amplifier and audio DAC featuring dual Cirrus Logic CS43131 chips. It offers superb sound quality with support for DSD256 hard decoding and PCM 32bit/384kHz hi-res audio, making it an excellent choice for audiophiles seeking high-fidelity...
hifi-express.com
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It's too bad, seems actually a faulty unit, I own 3 different CS43131 dongles (vanilla, with op-amp and dual vanilla) and all sounds the same to me and perfect. I have to say that I only have iems (Zero:Red is 17R and no issue at all) and efficient headphones and I listen at moderately low volume, so never pushed them too much. LCD-XC is rate at 100 dBmW @ 20R -> 83 dbV if i did the math right, so maybe a bit hard to drive even with balanced out, but bright and distorted sound at any level seems very strange if not a failed unit.Reporting back on S.M.S.L D10
In my opinion, looks nice, looks the part, but it is CRAP!
First and foremost, it sounds crap! (with my LCD-XC). no amount of EQing does any good, I think the one I got was faulty, didn't last 15 minutes (Edit: before I decided to send it back).
It was a bright, distorted sound, that also clipped & compressed badly if pushed. It had more power on balanced, which incidentally, I had to make a new cable for it.
But more power, with the same distortions and brightness of single ended. Maybe it just doesn't like my headphone's impedance of 20R.
I was looking forward to testing the device, see how much actual power it had, but very quickly, I repackage it to send it back.
Last point! - I did try an Apple dongle in the past. I can not recall it sounding bad, it just had no power. My Huawei phone sounds superior to D10, but again, no power.
SMSL D10 2*CS43131 3.5mm 4.4mm Portable USB Headphone Amplifier DAC
SMSL D10 is a high-performance portable USB headphone amplifier and audio DAC featuring dual Cirrus Logic CS43131 chips. It offers superb sound quality with support for DSD256 hard decoding and PCM 32bit/384kHz hi-res audio, making it an excellent choice for audiophiles seeking high-fidelity...
uhm, and indeed it seems i completely missed the math... wrong calculator... the LCD-XC should be pretty efficient, at 100 db/mW 20R it is 117 dbV and should need no more than 70 mV to get 94 db (220 mV for 104 dB)
so every dongle should be more than enough even with SE output.
Amir measured LCD-X at 150 mv for 94 dB that should be around 93 db/mW @ 20R instead of rated 103 db/mW so LCD-XC could also actually be less sensitive, but not challenging.
Anyway nothing of this can be related to the sound issue you perceived, and if the dongle have some kind of flaw even power considerations can't be done.
staticV3
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oh god, I just remembered the LCD-X reviewed here and didn't even bother searching if LCD-XC were too
ok at least my revised conclusions were right.
Yeah, high powered headphones amps really are unnecessary for the majority of headphones.
And we have discussed this before.
Proof of the pudding is in the eating. When you or somebody you know has confirmed practically that an LCD-X runs loud and nice on 100mW or 1.4V , let me know.
Indeed let Audeze know, because they foolishly have recommended 250mW! (2.25V).
After all, what do they know.
Read here, and follow it up to second reply by Amir. It is about a similar subject:
Post in thread 'Chord Hugo 2 Review (Portable DAC & HP Amp)' https://audiosciencereview.com/foru...review-portable-dac-hp-amp.35812/post-1681225
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Well yes it depends what volume you listen to mus6at. Need to bear in mind though that if you're listening in the 80db range that is pretty loud and there are going to be peaks in the 90s at least.
Well, the S.M.S.L has been returned.
I just ordered the new E1DA 9039S from Hifigo for £110!
That's a lot of money for a dongle. But according to Archimago, it is the Bee's knees, with over 500mW each channel (wow).
Should get it in two weeks. Will report back.
archimago.blogspot.com
I just ordered the new E1DA 9039S from Hifigo for £110!
That's a lot of money for a dongle. But according to Archimago, it is the Bee's knees, with over 500mW each channel (wow).
Should get it in two weeks. Will report back.
EARLY LOOK (Part II): E1DA #9039S USB Balanced DAC dongle/headphone amp - DSD and performance under load. A few more words on the "need" for higher DAC fidelity!
A blog for audiophiles about more objective topics. Measurements of audio gear. Reasonable, realistic, no snakeoil assessment of sound, and equipment.
archimago.blogspot.com
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