
USB DAC/Amp Dongles, Reviewed and Rated
Author:Andy.EF
USB DAC/Amp Dongles, Reviewed and Rated
PROVISIONAL RANK
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (98-100)
- Ovidius B1 (Detailed review, Product info)
- iBasso DC04 (Detailed review,Product info)
- Astell & Kern PEE51 (Detailed review)
- HiliDAC Audirect BEAM 2S(Detailed review, Product info)
- Hidizs S9 Pro (Detailed review, Product info)
⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (96-97)
- Lotoo Paw S1 (V3) (Detailed review, Product info)
- VE Odyssey HD (Detailed review)
- CX-Pro Audio CX31993 (Detailed review coming soon)
- E1DA 9038SG3 Susumu (Detailed review,Product info)
- E1DA 9038D (Detailed review,Product info)
- iBasso DC03 (Detailed review, Product info)
- xDuoo Link2 (Detailed review,Prouduct info)
- THX Onyx (Detailed review, Product info)
- TANCHJIM STARGATE iOS (Detailed review,Product info)
- Xynocyn X1 (Detailed review)
- Hidizs S3 Pro (Detailed review)
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (85-95)
- Hidizs S9 (Detailed review)
- Questyle M12 (Detailed review, Product info)
- Shanling UA2 (Detailed review, Product info)
- JCally JM08L iOS (Detailed review coming soon)
- UGREEN MFi iOS (Detailed review coming soon)
- JSAUX Type-C (Detailed review coming soon)
- Meizu HiFi Audio Pro (Detailed review coming soon)
- HiliDAC Audirect BEAM 2SE (Detailed review, Product info)
- HiliDAC Audirect ATOM2 (Detailed review,Product info)
- ddHiFi TC35 Pro (Detailed review)
- HiBy FC3 (Detailed review, Product info)
- Tempotec Sonata BHD (Detailed review,Product info)
- Hill Audio ALC4050 (Detailed review)
- JCally JM04Pro (Detailed review)
- JCally JM20 (Detailed review)
⭐⭐⭐ (60-84)
- Nillkin Type-C (Detailed review coming soon)
- Hill Audio WSH9415 (Detailed review coming soon)
- Hill Audio ALC4042 (Detailed review coming soon)
- CS-PRO CS46L41 (Detailed review)
- CYBERDRIVE XMOS+ CS4398 (Detailed review)
- ES-PRO Audio (Detailed review coming soon)
- UGREEN AV161 (Detailed review coming soon)
- JCally JA21 (Detailed review)
- JCally JM01 (Detailed review)
- JCally JA04 (Detailed review)
- JCally JA05 (Detailed review)
- JCally JA06 (Detailed review)
- Apple Type-C (Detailed review coming soon)
- PLEXTONE Type-C (Detailed review coming soon)
- Monolith Hi-Res DAC (Detailed review coming soon)
⭐⭐ (50-59)
- 3D SigmaTel (Detailed review coming soon)
- JCally JA02 (Detailed review)
- JCally JM08C (Faulty)(Detailed review)
- Tempotec Sonata HD II (Detailed review)
- Vention Type-C (Detailed review)
INCOMING (July 2021)
IKKO Zerda ITM03
GGMM WM8533
ZOOAUX Type-C (In Progress)
Stouchi Type-C (In Progress)
TERA Grand MFi (In Progress)
Reiyin Type-C/Optical
Custom PCM2704 DIY Kit
JSAUX iOS MFi (In Progress)
Luxury & Precision W2 (In Progress)
Glotao Type-C
ARKTEK Type-C
AudioQuest Dragonfly Cobalt
JCally JM08C
Zorloo Ztella MQA
About Me: Andy.EF
This rabbit hole of portable audio obsession of mine started back in 2006. Since then, I have been active in the scene, trying out this and that. What remained consistent until today, I am firmly rooted to portability and will use my portable rig almost all the time even at home. After 2010 things slowed down and I wasn’t as active until recently when Covid brought humanity to a standstill. So began the lifestyle of confinement that we all endured and for me it gave me the excuse I needed to delve back again into this addictive rabbit hole. So here I am, not being able to do vacations and stuffs like that. To fill the void, I find myself gradually and steadily piling up interesting portable audio gears in the pursuit of that Endgame sound. I am based in Malaysia, and this is my impressions on some of the gears that I have acquired recently.
FOREWORD:
- These are my own items purchased with my own money. No sponsorship, However I would like to clarify that HifiGo has been kind to ease my burden by offering good discounts on my subsequent purchases (because I can’t stop buying) and I will continue to do this as an independent entity. Free to write my impressions and thoughts from the perspective as a user. I do this because it is fun, and I love trying out gadgets. I have also agreed to keep a copy of this #donglemadness on HifiGo site as a mean to help fellow audio enthusiasts in getting better perspective of the dongles that caught their attention.
- Dongles usage on my tests are for IEMs and Headphones NOT exceeding 250 Ohm, minimum sensitivity of 96db.
- The results and rating done are heavily influenced by the nature of the IEMs/Headphones used. A dongle will score high if they exhibit great technical ability while remaining smooth sounding at the same time - the most technically competent ones does not necessarily mean they will be superior in my POV. I will rate a dongle more points if they exhibit great flexibility with different type of IEMs/Headphones – meaning they are easier to establish synergy.
- My preferred sound and timbre signature classified as Neutral, Natural Flat - Analogue and Organic tonality.
- I describe what I hear, no more no less. No techie measurements involved. There will be no FR measurements or anything like that as I have no access to such tool, nor do I know how to operate them even if I have one in front of me.
- Please excuse my haphazard format, I am not a professional reviewer, and I wrote things as I heard them. Also, I will use non-conventional analogies to describe what I hear, sometimes I describe them as if I am savoring some food
- Agree to disagree, what is beautiful to my senses could be utter shit to you.
- I NEVER use software EQ. So don’t expect my writings to include FR range because I am not proficient in pinpointing those numbers.
- My tests do not include anything above 44.1/16bit. I am an Oldschool FLAC Junkie.
- I don’t use UAPP to bypass Android SRC since I have no need for Bit Perfect beyond Android stock 48Khz limit.
- I am 46, so my senses are a bit denser than it was 10 years ago. My tolerance level to sibilance is as trained as it is forgiving. Younger folks may be less similar.
TEST EQUIPMENT:
DD IEM (LOW Sensitivity): ETYMÒTIC ER2XR, VE Monk GO
DD IEM (HIGH Sensitivity): HZSOUND Heart Mirror, Moondrop Aria, TRN MT1
Balanced Armature IEM: ETYMÒTIC ER4SR (45 Ohm/98db)
Electrostatic IEM: Shure KSE1500 (Energizer Mode Only)
Magnetic Planar IEM: Tin HiFi P1 (95db)
Magnetic Planar HP: Monolith M565c (96db) & FOSTEX T40RP (91db)
DD Headphones: Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro 250Ω & AKG K52 177Ω
Reference DAP: Cayin N6ii E02 (ES9038Q2M Discrete 2X Balanced)
Reference DAC/AMP: Topping D10s/A50s (ES9038Q2M/XU208)
Impedance Adapter: Custom 47Ω
Source Transport: LG V35, Sony Xperia Z5C, Xiaomi Mi9t, Samsung S20 & iPhone 8
Source Media: Lossless Deezer Offline FLAC 44.1/16Bit
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