TANCHJIM Space Portable Headphone Adapter Review

[staticV3]

It is not by chance that Amir takes 1% (corresponding to -40 dB) as the threshold.
[...]
I am taking about the distortion measurements for headphones/IEMs, as the point was about audible distortion and not maximum power.

Here's Amir's personal distortion threshold for headphones:

10^((40-94)/20)*100=0.2% THD. Not 1%.

Same story for IEMs.

 

[TK750]

BTW, it doesn't clip at 0 dB. It clips at max volume with balanced output. That is, it is an amplification/power limitation and not a faulty DAC.

My understanding is this chip has an integrated headphone amplifier within it. I believe that is the main difference between the CS43131 and the CS43198.

 

[Bernd]

On your phone, invest a few dollars and get Neutron media player. Just about the best player to use with an external DAC.

And/or USB AUDIO PLAYER PRO, which also integrates streaming from Tidal and Quobuz

 

[robertozappala]

And/or USB AUDIO PLAYER PRO, which also integrates streaming from Tidal and Quobuz

I listen almost only from streaming and use UAPP

 

[Labjr]

@amirm, you should try top of the line dongles, like Cayin RU6, RU7, Questyle M 15 and Ubasso DC4 pro

This review is top of the line.

 

[staticV3]

@amirm, you should try top of the line dongles, like Cayin RU6, RU7, Questyle M 15 and Ubasso DC4 pro

RU6: https://www.l7audiolab.com/f/cayin-ru6/ ->Trash
Questyle M15: https://www.l7audiolab.com/f/questyle-m15/ ->Meh

 

[Multicore]

Blon HBB Z300 can be ordered with one.

I cannot use IEMs for a useful length of time. I get an itch within a few minutes and if I continue use for an hour or two despite the itch it becomes real discomfort that takes a day or more to disappear.

Unfortunately the indi IEM subculture that's flourishing at present isn't something I can take part it.

 

[pseudoid]

I cannot use IEMs for a useful length of time. I get an itch within a few minutes and if I continue use for an hour or two despite the itch it becomes real discomfort that takes a day or more to disappear.
Unfortunately the indi IEM subculture that's flourishing at present isn't something I can take part it.

Are there 'recommended' types of music to be listened with IEMs?
Any genres to be avoided?
Could this be your 'itch' problem?

 

[Doodski]

I am guessing the itch is ear-gasm from the ear hair and bass response from the IEMs. I get those and they are annoying.

 

[Matias]

This review is top of the line.

Agreed. A little below is the TempoTec Sonata E44.

Measurements of TempoTec Sonata E44 USBDAC/HPAmp - L7Audiolab

便携设备 前面测量TempoTec Sonata E35的时候，就有一个网友一冲动下了个 TempoTec Sonata E44 的单子，说要看看E44的测量…… 然后收到货之后由于我还在忙于X18的测量/抓虫，因此这篇测量拖到了现在

www.l7audiolab.com

But they have the new BHD Pro released which should be pretty similar to the Space.

Sonata BHD Pro

Sonata BHD Pro is a USB C dongle DAC& DAC: 2*CS43131 SNR: 131dB THD+N: 0.00012%(@32ohm 1kHz 0dB signal ) OUTPUT LEVEL: [email protected]/32Ω,[email protected]/32Ω OUTPUT POWER: [email protected]/32ohm Frequency: 0-40KHZ /+- 0.5dB RGB light: indicates working status PCM: up to 32Bit/384kHz DSD256(NATIVE) DSD...

www.tempotec.net

 

[MacClintock]

Here's Amir's personal distortion threshold for headphones:
View attachment 297873
10^((40-94)/20)*100=0.2% THD. Not 1%.

Same story for IEMs.

Ok, but usually 1% distortion is rightly considered to be a (conservative) threshold of audibility (therfore I mixed it up). If Amir takes 0.2%, this seems excessively cautious. By the way, for speakers he uses 50 dB, but independent of measured SPL, so not a constant level of distortion, which I don't really understand.

 

[Galke6]

This maybe will sound very noob but I can pair this dongle with an amp? I always has that question of the possibility of pair a dongle dac/amp with a desktop amp

 

[abm0]

This maybe will sound very noob but I can pair this dongle with an amp? I always has that question of the possibility of pair a dongle dac/amp with a desktop amp

Yes, it can give you 2 Vrms single-ended at high impedances, so you could use it as a line source for most amps.

 

[restorer-john]

You speak of features (10 of them), I spoke of design success: One does its (single) design mission splendidly... the other fails in most - if not all - of its (ten) design features.

The Roksan fails in nothing as far as I can see.

You are comparing a single feature component with an entire complex product and you well know that. It's just a simple DAC. A tiny 2 chip subset of a real component in a little box with a wire hanging out. Of course it can perform well in isolation- it doesn't do much at all.

No excuses for the Roksan's overall poor performance, but compare apples with apples.

Not this:

With this:

 

[pseudoid]

apples.

This time of season, it's cherries and apricots for me.
We can argue whether a banana is a fruit or a vegetable offline!

 

[restorer-john]

Unfortunately the indi IEM subculture that's flourishing at present isn't something I can take part it.

Just grow some dreadlocks and put a bone through your nose and you'll fit right in.

 

[Labjr]

I've been using the Fiio Music App. The only music player I've found that doesn't crash my old phone while playing DSD files on my DAC/AMP. Seems to have lower overhead than most.

 

[Glen20]

I cannot use IEMs for a useful length of time. I get an itch within a few minutes and if I continue use for an hour or two despite the itch it becomes real discomfort that takes a day or more to disappear.

Unfortunately the indi IEM subculture that's flourishing at present isn't something I can take part it.

Could be contact dermatitis (irritant or allergic) from one of the materials in the tips or the iem. But more likely the tips. You could try wearing them without tips and see if they are comfortable, and if so, try a different type (material) of tip. Tape the offending tip to back of hand to see if you get rash (after consulting with your doctor of course.)

 

[elole]

I don't know what the "phase compensation" means. Which ones are FIR and which are IIR?

I'm not sure which is which, but I do know the usual English names for the filters, you could continue searching from there. In order:
1 (short delay fast roll-off)
2 (short delay slow roll-off)
3 (fast roll-off)
4 (slow roll-off)

 

[alekksander]

Professor Wolf

are we on the same page?