Unusual comparison - Topping DX1 vs Rode NT USB Mini (DAC/AMP of this microphone)

[Pawlakbest]

I wanted to know if anyone ever measured the performance of Rode NT USB Mini DAC/AMP?

I know this is unusual as even the producer is posting the specs of its ADC as this is mainly microphone and headphone output is just an addition.

To make story short, instead of buying XLR mic and audio interface I bought USB mic. Seeing that it can also output audio like my Topping DX1, I was wondering if it will be big downgrade when using it with Hifiman Edition XS.

I was aiming to have as minimalistic setup as possible, so I thought of having just 1 device for input and output. 1st I was considering XLR mic and selling DX1 for E1x2. But E1x2 has worse DAC than DX1. I'm guessing that Rode DAC is even worse than E1x2, but maybe not?

In blind test I couldn't hear much difference between DX1 and NT.

I don't need much power for XS as I listen to it at barely 1/4-1/3 of volume knobs of both DX1 and NT. Question is about SINAD, THD+N, channel balance and transparent output. If these are good enough, I think of just leaving NT and selling DX1.

Sorry if this question is probably abomination to some as I shouldn't compare specifications of studio quality DAC DX1 to cheap DAC of USB mic(even though Rode also market it as studio quality), but still, I wanted to know.

 

[DVDdoug]

If it sounds good I'd say it's good!

DACs are usually transparent.

With headphone amps it's usually about having enough output to go as loud as you want with your particular headphones. When the DAC and amp are combined, usually the amp has more headroom than the DAC so it can't be overdriven into analog clipping/distortion.

Sometimes there could be background noise and in some cases the output impedance isn't low enough and headphone impedance variations get "translated" to frequency response variations. Most Planar headphones have "flat" impedance over the audio range so that shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Pawlakbest]

I just wondered if I will lose any detail or quality when I go from DX1 to NT. I tried different FLAC music tracks and 1 movie and I couldn't tell the difference, but maybe I would hear it if I listened to correct tracks?

I asked Rode for specifications but they said:

"Unfortunately specific design documentation is not available. The only available information available can be found on the datasheet on the link below.
https://edge.rode.com//pdf/products/96/NT-USB_Mini_ds_V06.pdf
Other than that, there's no additional information we could provide. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
If your blind test had good results, then I would go with that. If you don't hear much difference, there's probably not."

And as stated before, yes both AMPs are more than fine for Edition XS.