Worth getting a DAP / amp / dac for portable use?

[solderdude]

Basically, I am willing to spend extra $$$ is it is actually going to provide a reasonable improvement in sound,

The answer is no not very likely in your use case.
If you want to change/improve the sound you either use EQ or look for ear/headphones that you may like better. (the Shure is no slouch)
Personally I use FiiO DAP as my phone is a simple one (phone and SMS only) and like to have separate purpose made devices myself but can understand the desire to use an all-in-one daily usage device.

 

[Sal1950]

As to phones and charging, I always put my phone on charger each night before going to bed.
You never know what emergency may crop up and you have to run out needing the max amount of charge possible..

 

[BillG]

If I were looking for the Android device as a music source, I would rather chose WiFi streaming receiver and an appropriate app.

Somewhat unrelated, but I've always wondered if a Chromecast Audio could be used with a portable battery pack as on-the-go WiFi streamer. Has anyone ever attempted this? Hell! I may just try it later myself: I've a battery pack, CCA, Android devices, and headphones just sitting here...

 

[AudioSceptic]

When I was annoyed by Apple I tried a Samsung phone, maybe sacrilege but the main reason I gave up on it was the battery life, probably 24 hours at most. The Iphones I had before, and since, last 3-4 days and I listen to lots of music some days.

I also find that playing music or podcasts makes little difference to battery life with my iPhone (first a 3GS, now a 6S). It's accessing the internet and playing any video that gobbles up the power. Having said that, I can only get more than 2-3 days life if I hardly use it at all for anything, despite recently fitting a "high capacity" battery. Do you have a "Plus" model with its larger battery?

 

[AudioSceptic]

Thanks. From my naive understanding, the 846s are not hard to drive. (happy to be corrected...) I was intending on getting one of the suggested desktop solutions for my ancient HD580 however (plus other headphones I am looking to acquire)

Leaving aside the controversy above.... Another way of phrasing the question is: what are you actually getting from a DAP other than a DAC and amplification? I mean in terms of sound quality alone.

One thing would seem to be playing higher res files - This is where my point about 'obscure' music comes in. I simply meant unpopular, with the implication that you can't find it on Tidal, let alone in DSD. You can download albums from Bandcamp in WAV or AIFF. Would there likely be some value, in principle, of having these high res versions, and playing them for a DAP? Or is that really just smoke and mirrors as well?

Even if hi-res provided genuinely better quality (rather than rubbish like upsampled legacy analogue), what are the chances you would hear the difference above ambient noise when walking, on public transport, etc., even with the best possible equipment?

 

[Frank Dernie]

I also find that playing music or podcasts makes little difference to battery life with my iPhone (first a 3GS, now a 6S). It's accessing the internet and playing any video that gobbles up the power. Having said that, I can only get more than 2-3 days life if I hardly use it at all for anything, despite recently fitting a "high capacity" battery. Do you have a "Plus" model with its larger battery?

I have had loads of iPhones now, starting with the first. Currently an X which replaced a 6+. All had much better battery life than the Samsung I had for a while.

I only look at a few family videos on Whatsapp etc, If I want to watch videos I use a bigger screen.
OTOH this has always been the case with all the phones I have owned.

 

[AudioSceptic]

Somewhat unrelated, but I've always wondered if a Chromecast Audio could be used with a portable battery pack as on-the-go WiFi streamer. Has anyone ever attempted this? Hell! I may just try it later myself: I've a battery pack, CCA, Android devices, and headphones just sitting here...

I know the CCA has a 3.5 mm socket, but does it have a volume control?

 

[sajunky]

When I was annoyed by Apple I tried a Samsung phone, maybe sacrilege but the main reason I gave up on it was the battery life, probably 24 hours at most. The Iphones I had before, and since, last 3-4 days and I listen to lots of music some days.

I agree with, I had good experience with iPhone. Now when iPhones became to expensive for me and low cost SE model is no longer available, I had to switch to Android. Surprisingly, battery life is very long on the Huawei phone. They did lot of modifications to the Android power management. Currently have Y7 2019, it has excellent battery life that lasts for few days, no matter whether playing over Bluetooth 8 hours a day local files, or not. When connecting USB DAC dongle the battery is drawn much quicker, it also matters when streaming over cellular connection, but to a less degree. USB dongles draw a lot of energy. WiFi and Bluetooth do not.

 

[BillG]

I know the CCA has a 3.5 mm socket, but does it have a volume control?

In the Google Home app, or whatever other app one is using to access it...

 

[AudioSceptic]

I agree with, I had good experience with iPhone. Now when iPhones became to expensive for me and low cost SE model is no longer available, I had to switch to Android. Surprisingly, battery life is very long on the Huawei phone. They did lot of modifications to the Android power management. Currently have Y7 2019, it has excellent battery life that lasts for few days, no matter whether playing over Bluetooth 8 hours a day local files, or not. When connecting USB DAC dongle the battery is drawn much quicker, it also matters when streaming over cellular connection, but to a less degree. USB dongles draw a lot of energy. WiFi and Bluetooth do not.

So you ruled out buying used? Get an iPhone like new but a couple of years old for ½ price?

 

[sajunky]

So you ruled out buying used? Get an iPhone like new but a couple of years old for ½ price?

Well, I didn't buy on the free market, very few do. Cellular network providers offer complete packages with phones. For that prices it would be damn stupid to not take a phone that comes out free after two years. In that way retail prices for cellphones are pushed up behind a horison, even a second-hand ones, especially iPhones. You should know it well, not asking such a stupid question.

BTW, Huawei Y7 is a very good phone and I am not unfamiliar with more expensive models. If only they had decided to break with Google Fool Play Services, it would be perfect for me. All these nonsense things with Google makes me looking back for an iPhone.

 

[Frank Dernie]

For that prices it would be damn stupid to not take a phone that comes out free after two years.

The contract I had meant buying a phone new then getting a cheaper non-phone contract was a fair bit cheaper over 2 years, and I keep the phone longer than that, so an even bigger gain. Not much use if you are part of the population that buys everything on credit I suppose...

 

[AudioSceptic]

Well, I didn't buy on the free market, very few do. Cellular network providers offer complete packages with phones. For that prices it would be damn stupid to not take a phone that comes out free after two years. In that way retail prices for cellphones are pushed up behind a horison, even a second-hand ones, especially iPhones. You should know it well, not asking such a stupid question.

BTW, Huawei Y7 is a very good phone and I am not unfamiliar with more expensive models. If only they had decided to break with Google Fool Play Services, it would be perfect for me. All these nonsense things with Google makes me looking back for an iPhone.

I don't know the phone market in RSA but if you like the deal, that's what matters. In the UK many buy their phones and SIM-only contracts separately. This nearly always works out cheaper than buying the whole package from a network provider, and you have more choice this way. Anyway, I'm glad that you like the Huawei.

 

[sajunky]

I don't know the phone market in RSA but if you like the deal, that's what matters. In the UK many buy their phones and SIM-only contracts separately. This nearly always works out cheaper than buying the whole package from a network provider, and you have more choice this way. Anyway, I'm glad that you like the Huawei.

Apologies.
And yes, it is apparently a different market, but similar to some developing countries in EU.

 

[alluvial]

The answer is no not very likely in your use case.
If you want to change/improve the sound you either use EQ or look for ear/headphones that you may like better. (the Shure is no slouch)
Personally I use FiiO DAP as my phone is a simple one (phone and SMS only) and like to have separate purpose made devices myself but can understand the desire to use an all-in-one daily usage device.

Thank you. That was what I assumed. I am very happy with my earphones. The issue is more, conditional on the earphones are (likely) sources, is there any point it worrying about daps etc. Sounds like not. Especially, as you say, because one device has it's advantages.

 

[alluvial]

Even if hi-res provided genuinely better quality (rather than rubbish like upsampled legacy analogue), what are the chances you would hear the difference above ambient noise when walking, on public transport, etc., even with the best possible equipment?

Well I wouldn't have thought you could. But I don't know, that's why I can here to ask; my experience with such esoterica is limited.

 

[alluvial]

I can't stand the user interface or response time of DACs. They just don't hold a candle to smartphones.

That said, I am uncomfortable draining the power from my phone listening to music. I worry about too little power when I need to look up something urgent. So having a second device that you can run down with music fits that anxiety.

Understandable. Luckily, I can pretty much charge my phone on demand at work. The pixel 3a battery life is also pretty good I've found, even listening for 5+ hours a day, as I often do. It is a pretty new phone though.

 

[Alex-D]

For listening on the go Bluetooth usability is just great.

Listening with a cable running to the phone is fine when you are using it strictly as an audio device.
But the very second second you need to check a map, take a photo, google something this wire does not make sense any more.

 

[alluvial]

For listening on the go Bluetooth usability is just great.

Listening with a cable running to the phone is fine when you are using it strictly as an audio device.
But the very second second you need to check a map, take a photo, google something this wire does not make sense any more.

Are you talking about using e.g. ES100? I would have thought that would have made taking a photo etc easier since the earphones are no longer connected physically to the phone. That's my only real complaint about wired headphones. the cord sometimes gets in the way when I am wandering around and want to snap a shot. Or am I missing something?

 

[Alex-D]

Personally I went for Fiio RC-BT for now https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32863695477.html
Plugs into MMCX connectors.
Planning to upgrade to true wireless earbuds sometime later when tech is a bit more mature.

But if you have some great headphones you'll be missing then something like ES100 or Fiio BTR3 could be great.