USB Dongle DAC

[poopy]

No. There are many.

Luxury & Precision W1/W2, Moondrop Moonriver 2, Tanchjim Space, Whatever model Hidizs is up to now - no doubt a few hundred more if you scour Aliexpress.

Oh, and the most flexible dongle by a mile- the Qudelix 5k. Balanced 2.5mm (but 4.4mm to 2.5mm adapters are nor hard to find) , 3.5mm, USB C or LDAC bluetooth, 10 band PEQ across all sources etc etc

Thanks for the suggestions.

By 'pretty much the only ones', I was meaning that have been measured

 

[Jimbob54]

Thanks for the suggestions.

By 'pretty much the only ones', I was meaning that have been measured

Cast your eye over https://www.l7audiolab.com/f/category/portable/ (assuming youre not a chinese speaker, will need to translate)

 

[poopy]

Cast your eye over https://www.l7audiolab.com/f/category/portable/ (assuming youre not a chinese speaker, will need to translate)

I was expecting someone to have already gone through this, that's why I was asking

No worries I have some time to kill this weekend

 

[staticV3]

Am I correct saying that those dongles are pretty much the only ones with true balanced 4.4 outputs?

Here are just a few 4.4mm dongles. Not included are Bluetooth adapters and 4.4mm SE dongles.

Spoiler: Spoiler

Tanchjim Space
FiiO KA2
ifi GO bar
Quloos MC-01
HiBy FC4
EarMen Colibri
iBasso DC06
Audirect Beam 3S
MoonDrop MoonRiver2
Shanling UA5
Cayin RU6
FiiO KA3
Luxury&Precision W2-131
Lotoo PAW-S2
ColorFly CDA-M1
Luxury&Precision W2
iBasso DC04
Quloos QLS MC01
Shanling UA3
Shanling UA2 Plus
DUNU DTC-500
Questyle M15
ddHiFi TC44C
ddHiFi TC44B

 

[Jimbob54]

I was expecting someone to have already gone through this, that's why I was asking

No worries I have some time to kill this weekend

No free lunches here

 

[Ken Tajalli]

Good day!
I suffer with the choice of a portable USB DAC. There are problems everywhere.
I would like a DAC at the sound level of a Cozoy Rei and above, with a regular 3.5 jack and a balanced jack with a sane price and availability. It would be nice to be with MQA. Also, to work normally, without falling off the sound.

@Phoney , on a different thread, had suggested Qudelix 5k, which is a good Dongle with both balanced and unbalanced output.
There is always E1DA , but it is either or.
Has anyone suggested that yet?

Qudelix-5K Bluetooth DAC & Headphone Amp

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Qudelix-5K USB DAC and balanced headphone amplifier with Bluetooth receiver. I purchased this myself but a member kindly donated one third of the cost. The Qudelix 5K costs US $110 on Amazon including shipping. The Qudelix comes in a nice...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[poopy]

Here are just a few 4.4mm dongles. Not included are Bluetooth adapters and 4.4mm SE dongles.

Spoiler: Spoiler

Tanchjim Space
FiiO KA2
ifi GO bar
Quloos MC-01
HiBy FC4
EarMen Colibri
iBasso DC06
Audirect Beam 3S
MoonDrop MoonRiver2
Shanling UA5
Cayin RU6
FiiO KA3
Luxury&Precision W2-131
Lotoo PAW-S2
ColorFly CDA-M1
Luxury&Precision W2
iBasso DC04
Quloos QLS MC01
Shanling UA3
Shanling UA2 Plus
DUNU DTC-500
Questyle M15
ddHiFi TC44C
ddHiFi TC44B

Excellent, thank you very much!

Will go through the measurements now.

 

[Matias]

Am I correct saying that those dongles are pretty much the only ones with true balanced 4.4 outputs?

As far as I know there are several others, like Questyle M15, iBasso DC06, etc.

 

[Peterinvan]

true balanced 4.4 outputs?

No. There are many.

Luxury & Precision W1/W2, Moondrop Moonriver 2, Tanchjim Space, Whatever model Hidizs is up to now - no doubt a few hundred more if you scour Aliexpress.

Oh, and the most flexible dongle by a mile- the Qudelix 5k. Balanced 2.5mm (but 4.4mm to 2.5mm adapters are nor hard to find) , 3.5mm, USB C or LDAC bluetooth, 10 band PEQ across all sources etc etc

I have the Cayin RU6 USB-C, 4.4mm balanced R2R DAC and amp. I use this out of my iPad Pro with all my phones. Really enjoy the sound profile.
My iPhone 6 will not power it. I use a FiiO KA3 on the iPhone (USB-C to Lightning cable). It's also fully balanced 4.4mm out. Not quite as good sounding as the RU6, but fine for out and about.

 

[poopy]

Here are just a few 4.4mm dongles. Not included are Bluetooth adapters and 4.4mm SE dongles.

Spoiler: Spoiler

Tanchjim Space
FiiO KA2
ifi GO bar
Quloos MC-01
HiBy FC4
EarMen Colibri
iBasso DC06
Audirect Beam 3S
MoonDrop MoonRiver2
Shanling UA5
Cayin RU6
FiiO KA3
Luxury&Precision W2-131
Lotoo PAW-S2
ColorFly CDA-M1
Luxury&Precision W2
iBasso DC04
Quloos QLS MC01
Shanling UA3
Shanling UA2 Plus
DUNU DTC-500
Questyle M15
ddHiFi TC44C
ddHiFi TC44B

Top 4 in terms of measurement appears to be:

Luxury&Precision W2, MoonDrop MoonRiver2, Tanchjim Space, MoonDrop Dawn 4.4

Tanchjim Space and MoonDrop Dawn 4.4 are killers in terms of price/performance. The amp of the Tanchim Space seems to be slightly better.
MoonRiver 2 has a better amp. If it was €150 I’d go for it, but it’s like €230 on Amazon. It’s about 3 times the price of the Dawn 4.4. Hard to justify…

If budget is not an issue, the W2 is certainly a good option with appealing features. I wouldn’t need those TBH.

 

[Jimbob54]

Top 4 in terms of measurement appears to be:

Luxury&Precision W2, MoonDrop MoonRiver2, Tanchjim Space, MoonDrop Dawn 4.4

Tanchjim Space and MoonDrop Dawn 4.4 are killers in terms of price/performance. The amp of the Tanchim Space seems to be slightly better.
MoonRiver 2 has a better amp. If it was €150 I’d go for it, but it’s like €230 on Amazon. It’s about 3 times the price of the Dawn 4.4. Hard to justify…

If budget is not an issue, the W2 is certainly a good option with appealing features. I wouldn’t need those TBH.

Fair summary. Amongst those you pick the one that can power the phones you need it to for the best price.

 

[eyeswideshut]

How about the iFi GO bar? Well maybe the price ain't sane...

 

[staticV3]

How about the iFi GO bar? Well maybe the price ain't sane...

Even more insane considering the performance...

 

[Matias]

Top 4 in terms of measurement appears to be:

Luxury&Precision W2, MoonDrop MoonRiver2, Tanchjim Space, MoonDrop Dawn 4.4

Tanchjim Space and MoonDrop Dawn 4.4 are killers in terms of price/performance. The amp of the Tanchim Space seems to be slightly better.
MoonRiver 2 has a better amp. If it was €150 I’d go for it, but it’s like €230 on Amazon. It’s about 3 times the price of the Dawn 4.4. Hard to justify…

If budget is not an issue, the W2 is certainly a good option with appealing features. I wouldn’t need those TBH.

I did not know Tanchjim Space, really impressive dongle that ticks several needs:
- 3.5 and 4.4 mm at the same time
- Low distortion and noise
- Independent volume control
- Detachable cable
- Affordable

It would be my choice of dongle if I were buying one today.

Thanks for the tip!

TANCHJIM SPACE 3.5/4.4mm Dual CS43131 Chip Portable USB DAC/AMP PCM 768KHz DSD256 Type-c Headphone Amplifier

Specifications: Model: SPACE Weight: 14.8g Size: 4.1*2.1*1.2cm Headphone port: 3.5mm SE / 4.4mm Bal Input port: USB Type-C Frequency response: 6hz-85Khz Backgr

shenzhenaudio.com

Measurements of TANCHJIM Space USBDAC/HPAMP(Prototype) - L7Audiolab

便携设备 这台 TANCHJIM Space 小尾巴之前在展会中出现过样机，展会结束之后梁工就找了一台工程样机寄给我，让我看看有没有需要改进的地方（这是被厂商嫖成产品经理了的节奏）…… 虽然是工程样机，但经过和梁工的沟通之后我获得了发布授权：

www.l7audiolab.com

 

[Jimbob54]

Even more insane considering the performance...

That familiar ifi spray of distortion...

 

[alter4]

Has anybody faced shanling ua3 measurements?

 

[Jimbob54]

I did not know Tanchjim Space, really impressive dongle that ticks several needs:
- 3.5 and 4.4 mm at the same time
- Low distortion and noise
- Independent volume control
- Detachable cable
- Affordable

It would be my choice of dongle if I were buying one today.

Thanks for the tip!

TANCHJIM SPACE 3.5/4.4mm Dual CS43131 Chip Portable USB DAC/AMP PCM 768KHz DSD256 Type-c Headphone Amplifier

Specifications: Model: SPACE Weight: 14.8g Size: 4.1*2.1*1.2cm Headphone port: 3.5mm SE / 4.4mm Bal Input port: USB Type-C Frequency response: 6hz-85Khz Backgr

shenzhenaudio.com

Measurements of TANCHJIM Space USBDAC/HPAMP(Prototype) - L7Audiolab

便携设备 这台 TANCHJIM Space 小尾巴之前在展会中出现过样机，展会结束之后梁工就找了一台工程样机寄给我，让我看看有没有需要改进的地方（这是被厂商嫖成产品经理了的节奏）…… 虽然是工程样机，但经过和梁工的沟通之后我获得了发布授权：

www.l7audiolab.com

I've had one on order from shenzhenaudio for the last month not yet despatched. Not sure what the hold up is but I'd wait to see if people have got theirs before ordering

 

[poopy]

I've had one on order from shenzhenaudio for the last month not yet despatched. Not sure what the hold up is but I'd wait to see if people have got theirs before ordering

Was highly tempted as well but gave up since it woyld be too messy to return things to Shenzhenaudio.

I ordered a MoonRiver 2 from Amazon. I can easily return if not convinced

 

[Matias]

I just ordered a Tanchjim Space as an unnecessary, impulse purchase... Let's see if it replaces my TempoTec Sonata E44 for driving the Dusk.

 

[Jimbob54]

Wondering why you choose the Qudelix 5K over the E1DA 9038D ?

I didn't. I have both. But the 5k is more versatile due to eq and both balanced and single ended.