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TempoTec Sonata BHD Pro Portable DAC & Amp Review

Rate this DAC & HP Amp

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 5 1.8%

  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 8 2.8%

  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 29 10.2%

  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 241 85.2%
  • Total voters
    283
SlowLife said:
For me FW STOCK or 1.00 is more stable than 1.01

https://www.touslesdrivers.com/index.php?v_page=26&v_code=1600
https://www.touslesdrivers.com/index.php?v_page=12&v_code=1600
https://www.tempotec.net/pages/firmware-download
http://www.tempotec.com.cn/chs/3-Support/driver.htm

View attachment 330209
Click to expand...
I'm curious: what exactly does "Popping/Cracking" mean?
During normal playback? Or when changing sample rate? Or when starting/stopping/pausing? On Windows? In WASAPI exclusive mode?
I would really like to know the scenarios.
 
Eddie said:
I'm curious: what exactly does "Popping/Cracking" mean?
During normal playback? Or when changing sample rate? Or when starting/stopping/pausing? On Windows? In WASAPI exclusive mode?
I would really like to know the scenarios.
Click to expand...
FW 1.01 has random Popping/Cracking during normal playback. On Windows in ASIO, WASAPI and WASAPI exclusive mode.
Like this
https://www.reddit.com/r/SoundBlasterOfficial/comments/l0z9ib

Stock FW and 1.00 don't have this problem.
 
Asking for your help, please:
my BHD PRO seems to be captive to the audioquality I choose on windows playback devices properties. The led display different colors but only when I change quality on the playback properties, not when apps play different audio quality. Seems that windows settings is imposing the audio quality BHD can detect.

Sorry if it's a very noob question. If you can help me, please.
 
Tiago P said:
Asking for your help, please:
my BHD PRO seems to be captive to the audioquality I choose on windows playback devices properties. The led display different colors but only when I change quality on the playback properties, not when apps play different audio quality. Seems that windows settings is imposing the audio quality BHD can detect.

Sorry if it's a very noob question. If you can help me, please.
Click to expand...
I too noticed the same the same thing
 
Tiago P said:
Asking for your help, please:
my BHD PRO seems to be captive to the audioquality I choose on windows playback devices properties. The led display different colors but only when I change quality on the playback properties, not when apps play different audio quality. Seems that windows settings is imposing the audio quality BHD can detect.

Sorry if it's a very noob question. If you can help me, please.
Click to expand...
In such a way that my spotify wont play if I select 32bit 384k playback quality on properties. must be some Windows thing?
 
Tiago P said:
In such a way that my spotify wont play if I select 32bit 384k playback quality on properties. must be some Windows thing?
Click to expand...
In windows10 properties my device only shows up to 32bit 192kHz. That's the max. Spotify works fine for me
 

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Tiago P said:
Asking for your help, please:
my BHD PRO seems to be captive to the audioquality I choose on windows playback devices properties. The led display different colors but only when I change quality on the playback properties, not when apps play different audio quality. Seems that windows settings is imposing the audio quality BHD can detect.

Sorry if it's a very noob question. If you can help me, please.
Click to expand...
In Windows it's pretty normal, everything played passes through windows audio manager that resamples at the format you select in that audio property window.

Only way to avoid it is playing bit perfect using a software supporting it, i.e. foobar2000 with wasapi ouput, here the very nice guide by @solderdude
https://diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/digital/pc-software/foobar-2000-for-dummies/
 
That guide is not written by me though but a Spanish guy named Javier who is a computer guy with an interest in audio.
 
I listened to the Sonata BHD Pro from a MacBook Pro using Qobuz, and a pair of HD580's (the first set of phones sitting nearby with a 4.4mm cable attached), and it sounded a bit harsh, unmusical, and didn't have enough power for detailed bass. I used the 4.4mm jack, and a Sennheiser-branded cable - and when I pulled out the cable, some gold-colored metal ring came out with it; so much for quality. Luckily it still works without the ring.

I tried next using my Utopia 2022's and the harshness was even more pronounced, and overall unpleasant to listening to. The closest dongle I had nearby for comparison was the iFi Go Bar which sounded so much better with either pair of headphones.

I've been an 'audiophile' for the past 40+ years, and over the past few years have been on the fence about the controversy of ASR's approach to recommending devices solely off of measurements - but this device definitely shows the shortcoming of the approach: it measures great but sounds awful. And it was recommended by Amir without even listening to it?
 
SlowLife said:
If the problem is caused by Latency then why is it only FW 1.01 but 1.00 doesn't have a problem?
Click to expand...
I don't know if this is due to latency at all, but it could be. So my idea was to check if LatencyMon shows a latency difference between the two firmware versions. If so, you may get a clue about the problem.
For example, FW 1.01 may have changed something in the USB bridge causing unusually high latency due to communication between it and the Windows USB driver.
 
What's the point of the firmware? I plug it in, it works, and that's it. Does it really make a difference?
 
I had some pricey dac/amp over the years like that one r2r I forgot the name, rme adi 2, hugo 2, massdrop thx and this tiny thing just beat them all in term of subjective sound quality, it's absolutely crazy what we can get these days.
 
ReaderZ said:
Yeah, this thing seems only works on PC but not phones. On S23 Ultra it needs lots of work to connect it and it doesn't work on 13 pro max at all.

DO NOT BUY THIS
Click to expand...
Hello,

I just received it, and it does not work effectively with Samsung's S23 Ultra. So, I'll have to relegate it to only Macbook Pro use. I noticed that the light stays on when closing the laptop; I have to either turn it off or disconnect it from it to turn off the light.

Sounds great, although it is just a simple dongle without any other options, as far as I know. There is no app, no gain, no modes, no nothing.
 
I use 2020 moto g power. bhd pro works fine on it. HD600 sounds better on it than phone's own 3.5mm jack
 
Last edited:
iscorpio71 said:
Hello,

I just received it, and it does not work effectively with Samsung's S23 Ultra. So, I'll have to relegate it to only Macbook Pro use. I noticed that the light stays on when closing the laptop; I have to either turn it off or disconnect it from it to turn off the light.

Sounds great, although it is just a simple dongle without any other options, as far as I know. There is no app, no gain, no modes, no nothing.
Click to expand...
If the light stays on when closing the laptop, it probably means that the USB port it's connected to remains powered at all times. Try a different port or change the power configuration of that port if that option is available with the MacBook. Windows enables this in the device manager applet. The dongle works fine with my Samsung Galaxy 20FE and Galaxy TAB A7. You may try to experiment with different USB C jumper cables and also turn on USB debugging mode in Android's developer options. Good luck.
 
Last edited:
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