Do you think the xdsd has enough power to drive properly dt1990pro? I don't know why but I didn't notice an huge difference from listening directly from my phone (I paired it with the Beyerdynamic custom studio 80 ohm but I want to make an upgrade..). I am searching for stereo separation and imaging.. Maybe I just have to be more patient an let the xdsd do the burn in for more hours.. Sorry for my English.. And thank you for your answer..
@@HomeStudioBasics now it's been about 5 month I have the dt1990pro. At the beginnig (as with the old pair of beyers a cannot hear any difference from pairing only with my phone). Today I think the xdsd is great with the dt1990 and also in the late times I hear like the sound is really really improved. It is so powerfull and real. It seems like the cans paired with xdsd are entered in a "God mode" ahahaha and gave me a lot of emotions e sprint. So a the end I am really satisfied with this audio System!
Hey man thanks! Yeah actually working on improving that line. It will still have what you quoted in it but will attempt to dive deeper. Stay tuned and thank you so much for your kind words!
Your videos are so well done. It's stuff I already expect from much larger channels yet they don't do it. My OCD gets satisfied with time stamps and stuff haha
Thanks man! Means a lot considering this video is old. I really want to get a new camera and up the production value. Not because other people do it, but because I'm really OCD about quality, a perfectionist, and really actually kind of obsessive about it but try to let some things go. Right now it's killing me that my camera is about to die and not that great. Sometimes I'm tempted to go back and delete videos lol.
@@HomeStudioBasics definitely don't. I love how you organize sections of the video for stuff people wanna know. Long videos (if over 12min) i have a hard time watching. Time is limited, i aint got time for Zeos to ramble on for an hour about a pair of headphones. You make them 10 minutes? You get the watch sir. Especially since you break stuff down like comfort, sound, etc.
Thanks man. I'm currently in the midst of a creative hiatus/crossroads in how I want to make content. I found scripting them works pretty well for retention, but then some people were saying they like the off the cuff natural style. Right now I'm trying to come up with a way to kind of incorporate both while holding people's attention because AIN'T NOBODY GOT TIME TO WASTE, including me. LOL. The camera thing is my biggest obstacle at the moment but I'm piecing together the new setup bit by bit!
@@HomeStudioBasics I say script it but dont force yourself to stick to it. OR make yourself simple bullet points of pointers to follow vs scripting yourself. That way you're not totally bound to a script and can wing it a bit. Just dont do like a FAMILY GUY and go 5 minutes of Conway Twitty i change the channel lol keep the off the cuff stuff short and to the point, i like it too, just dont drag it too long from the main the video point. It refreshing and the analogies are funny and make sense just dont make em too long :)
@@Graciashauf Yeah man I found that I did really well with bullet points for the 58X vid and since it was one page it was super easy to record and went very smoothly. In a vid I just recorded today, I did a little mix of both scripting and off the cuff and found that worked pretty well too. Check out the new video I just uploaded on Top 5 Amps & DACS. I think you'll enjoy the work that went into it!
I rock the Fiio A5 as a daily driver. However, I loved the A3 before I upped the juice to A5. If you need just a portable amp, the A3 convo in this vid is spot on.
Thanks for the vote of confidence DJ! Love the A3. It was super squeaky clean, even sounded a tad better than the E10K which surprised me. How are you liking the A5? Is it A numbah one!?
@@djwats7 Hey where are you located? Would you be willing to send me an A5 for demo or do some sort of trade for a bit? I have the K3, E10K, K5 Pro, and DF Red. My friend is letting me borrow the NX4 as well. Probably can't send that one but just wanted to mention it anyways :P
@@HomeStudioBasics I had mojo a year ago and had to resell it to make some money; now that I have less financial problems, I think I'll buy it again. i have a couple of dt1990s and hd560s
Hey man! Thank you so much! I thought you were one of my old work buddies with that beard lol. You look just like him! Corey Shockley. You planning on getting one of these amps?
Ive had a dragonfly cobalt I paid $300 for for a couple years and decided I'd buy a used Mojo for $235 today and I remembered your video saying it's so much better.
I started with the Oppo HA2-SE then got the Mojo and agree with your assessment. I love both but think the Mojo has better separation and depth. I also have the same complaint, terrible battery life! :(
Hey man! Welcome! I loved the HA-2. I'm still really sad it's been discontinued. I actually sold mine because I really needed the money a few months back but it's like pretty much the only thing I sort of miss out of all the stuff I've purged out of my apartment. The Mojo is definitely the best sound I've heard along with the BHA-1 but it's battery life is fairly atrocious. Either that, or I'm way less tolerant of batteries in general. I'm more of a desktop listening kind of guy so that's probably part of it too. I hate having to charge things lol. My friend Luke gave me his Topping NX4 for demo and I've been having the same sorts of issues with that as well.
Could you recommend, if it exists, a combination tube amplifier/dac around $300-$500. It would be my first tube amplifier, and I would use it with audiophile-quality headphones and no IEM’s. Portability is not necessary. Thanks.
Hey man! Right now I'm demoing to the TA-20 which is a tube hybrid, but I may go with the Bottlehead Crack as a true tube amp. Listened to it at a friends house and love it. May get one for my HD600s at some point.
Have you tried Apple's dongle? I went out and bought one for like $10 because I read that it performs really well for low impedance gear, and I'm pretty satisfied with it. Eliminates all the noise from my phone and laptop, and drives my iems as loud as I need without distortion.
Amazing review and you covered so many units ! I’m lucky to have the mojo and also the now Dan Clark Audio aeon 2 (closed) and omg Track that did me is Goldfrapp “Drew”, I was physically moved when the orchestra kicked in like - well , have a listen and you’ll know 🙌🏻
Yeah man those 2 together are like a match made in heaven. The Aeon + Mojo = musical bliss. Is there a version 2? Haven't heard of that. Would love to try it out. Thanks for the love my friend!! Stay tuned for more good stuff coming.
🙌🏻 yeah the version 2 launched in November just as I was upgrading - trialled the aeons but ordered aeon 2 and boom 💗. Also have since had a listen with a Hugo 2 with the aeon 2 and it’s completely on the next level , but really opens the door to that diminishing returns scenario. If I wanted the best and didn’t care for cash , Hugo2. But , real world ? Mojo is more than fine . Also the Hugo2 did reveal so much that some tracks were just uncomfortable to listen to . Maybe that’s just a mental recalibration I need to go through !
@@Villaboy78 Nah man you're spot on; I actually did a comparison of the 2 awhile back and came to the exact same conclusion. Hugo 2 def not worth all that money. Mojo to me actually sounds a bit better. It has a warmer tilt and doesn't sound so cold. Diminishing Returns is super apparent with those 2 products. Leave me a comment or share! I'm sure the article could help others in deciding. homestudiobasics.com/chord-mojo-vs-hugo-2/
Thanks for this review. The most in-depth I’ve come across. Just researching before buying my first 250ohm headphones. Going for the Beyerdynamic 770 pro. Looking to do music production and chilling and just listening. Thinking of pairing that with the Fiio e10k ( like the price of this) Which will be hooked up to my Mac laptop. I was wanting something I could connect my iPhone too as well. For when I just wanted to stream music and not have my laptop on. Seems I can’t do that with the e10k. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks
Hey man! Thank you so much! I think the Q1 MK II would be right up your alley if you'd like to pair with iPhone as the Q1 is meant for apple devices! :) I loved it with my Android but it comes with a bunch of stuff in the box. What do you think? The NX4 is also a great option. Check out my comparison. homestudiobasics.com/topping-nx4-vs-fiio-q1-review-comparison/ I think the Q1 would be perfect. It also depends on if you like your music with a bit of warmth or more neutral/crisp. Def let me know that as well!
Home Studio Basics Hey man. Thanks for your reply. Just checked the Q1’s MK II and its looking good. Will they be powerful enough to run the Beyerdynamic 770 at 250ohms? If so - I think we’re onto a winner and will be placing my order for both tonight! After about 48hours of researching. Main use will be producing music on my Mac using Logic and disconnecting from the Mac - and chilling listening to music on my iPhone 8 using Apple Music. Sound wise , it’s more about clarity for me. And I guess a flatter sound will be better for production/audio recording. To be honest - I love the look of the Schiit audio magni and modi combo. But spending less that £200 in total is what it’s about right now. Thanks for your feedback. It’s much appreciated. You’ve got a subscriber and fan on me!
Haha I had to look that up because I completely forgot I had them in this video! Love their music as well! Haven't seen them live. Have you ever heard of Chon? I saw them in 2017 and it was a face melter for sure.
Thank you so much man! Check out this shootout article. homestudiobasics.com/ifi-zen-vs-fiio-k5-pro-vs-jds-atom-vs-bravo-ocean/ I think it will help you. All of those would be fantastic choices. I think either the K5 Pro or iFi Zen would be a great start, but do you need something portable and would you prefer a cleaner more neutral sound or something a bit warmer?
@@HomeStudioBasics Sadly I am not knowledgeable enough to know what is meant by "warmer". I appreciate the link, but I have already watched all of your videos and I went with the Dragonfly Red. I was curious about the Cobalt version, hopefully you can do a review soon. I haven't used my PC in nearly a decade and didnt want to upgrade, and portability is essential. I have been using the headphones for the past few days to get a base level, and the amp should be here Tuesday. I'll keep you updated.
@@HomeStudioBasics I received my Red today, used the USB C adapter I ordered from Amazon into my Samsung Tab A (if I recall correctly), and it actually reduced the volume. The light is Magenta. I even downloaded their $8 recommended app, but that only seems to work with music or movies on the hard drive/SD card. Is the Dragonfly not compatible with UA-cam?
Hello, I recently bought Shure se425. I am a drummer so I wanted iem with good sound isolation. Also I wanted to use theese as my daily earphones. But I am really disappointed with the sound. Is it possible that the sound will drastically improve when I buy amp/dac? Will the dongle amp/dac work even though I already have 3.5 jack asside USB c? Or are my ears weird and am I not appreciating already great sound? Sorry for kinda noob questions and thanks for answers :)
Hey Kryštof!! What don't you like about the 425 if you don't mind me asking? Also in many cases yes the sound will be enhanced, but with the 425 you're not really going to want to plug these up to an amp given their super low impedance (22 Ohm), and very high Sensitivity (109dB/mW). Don't know if you're familiar with these terms, but basically the higher the Sensitivity, the more efficient the IEM/Headphone is (meaning it can be driven to loud levels with virtually zero power required). That said, if you really wanted to, the Q1 MKII is probably the only one I'd recommend here. It's a great product and will make for a great pairing. To be honest, your ears may not be accustomed to the good sound, IF: you haven't heard this type of signature before. It's very balanced/flat, and pretty neutral sounding. So if you were coming from bass heavier stuff, you may not appreciate it right away. Let me know if that helps!
Great video thank you for the comparison. What would you consider as an upgrade from the chord mojo? It doesn't have to be a portable solution. My current daily driver is mojo paired with hd660s , what would you suggest as an upgrade from mojo? Thanks!
Wow. An upgrade from the Mojo? The sound of the Mojo was almost second to none for me. If you really want my upgrade recommendation that would be the Bryston BHA-1 which would probably be my personal end game at around $2k. I'm still not entirely sure I would spend that much and it's a really tough decision given that the Mojo is a clear cut off as far as price goes for Amps and DACs. It's actually the exception and not the rule as I think diminishing returns starts to set in even lower than $500. But: The Bryston was absolutely the best I have ever heard, slightly edging the Mojo. It sounded flat out amazing with the 400i and FLAC, to the point of sheer disbelief. Think of the most natural and effortless sound you've ever heard and then add a bit of impact and weight to it for some excitement. It was just sublime. To this day I haven't heard better resolution out of a set up (save for the Mojo + Aeon Flow but like I said: the Bryston slightly edges it). If you can get one for $1400 I would say it's probably worth it. Even at $2k I may just sell off everything and have it around forever. What do you think? www.moon-audio.com/bryston-bha-1-balanced-headphone-amplifier.html
I'll add to the other 288 comments that this was the best review in the 3+ hours I spent hopping around on UA-cam. Just a fantastic job. I was hoping to find an iPhone to DAC amp to BT Airpod Pros. I looked at the FiiO A5 but my expectations for power and great sound via BT might be over the top. Nothing I saw or read produced more volume to my airpods without a huge sacrifice mostly because BT can't handle that. Am I right, or did I overlook anything? (my cans are the Audeze Sine's) Note: looked also at the BTR5 and wondered, hmmm
Hey man! Thank you so much! Love the Sine. Probably still in my top 5. The only thing I didn't like about that one was comfort. So you're looking for a dac amp for your iPhone into some Airpods? What about the BTR3K? I have it here but haven't opened it yet lol. Just have a lot going on. In all honesty, it may not be worth it to invest in a BT DAC just for the pods though. For the Sines I would def have something, BT or otherwise. The BTR3K is cheap enough to where you could try it out though and see what happens. I'm going to test it out with the TWS600 buds I have here I think.
@@HomeStudioBasics Well, I am all ears when it comes to your reviews. So let's see if there's a perceptible loss in dynamics when flipping to BT. After watching your first Tube here, I went to my Apple TV to catch up on other Tubers and I think you had 3-5 recommended videos for me. YESSSSS!!! Keep up the great work.
Yeah man! I wouldn't hesitate! Lots of power for such a small DAC. :) I've never had an issue driving anything I've used with it. Thank you for the love my friend. Check this article: homestudiobasics.com/audioquest-dragonfly-red-review/
I know you're big on the Atom, but you should check out some of the new Amps and Dac/Amps on the market. Namely the Ifi Zen, Fiio K 5 Pro and the Loxjie D10. Geshelli's amp and dac are also getting great reviews as well. I know there's an endless amount of these products flooding the market these days, but great time to be a consumer.
Hey man I actually just received a Zen from ifi a few weeks ago so I'm demoing it now! :) Also got a K5 Pro so be on the lookout. On deck: Zen 1st, then Creative Aurvana Live, then Topping NX4, HIFIMAN TWS600, and K5..
I will soon get a hd58x what amp/dac do you recommend for me I am new to headphones I will be using hd58x with my one plus 7 pro and my laptop thanks for help.
Hey man! I'd go with the JDS Atom or an iFi Zen Amp/DAC. I'm demoing the Zen as I type this and it's superb. I can't believe it's $129 to be honest. Build is better than the Atom and it is a combo amp/dac so you don't have to worry about pairing it up with a separate dac like you would with the Atom. Technically you can use your PC's internal DAC via 3.5mm into the Atom though. I love the Atom but the Zen is built like a tank. The Atom has 2 pairs of RCA (1 set of inputs and 1 set of outputs), while the Zen has 1 pair of just outputs. Zen also has a power match button, true bass button, unbalanced 1/4" jack and a balanced 4.4mm on the front. On the back it has a 4.4mm balanced output. You can use that to connect to speakers as well via 4.4mm to dual XLR. The Atom has a gain button which also doubles as the toggle for the output to separate speakers. On the Zen it's the variable/fixed switch on the back. Variable is for speakers. Both of these come it at a similar price point with similar features. It's close, and I love both, but I'm leaning towards the Zen at the moment. Both are fantastic though and provide a mind blowing sound at this price point. If build and convenience is more important, I'd go with the Zen. If you need the extra set of RCA inputs and don't mind purchasing a separate DAC I'd go with the Atom. Let me know your thoughts!
Crap I missed the part about your phone. Sorry bud. For all in one phone/desktop I like the Topping NX4 to replace the HA-2 mentioned in this video. HA-2 is discontinued, NX4 sounds amazing and it's less money. The FiiO Q1 MKII is also a good option. For pure desktop I still love the Zen or Atom but for you the NX4 would be a great solution. :)
good day bro. what dac you recommend for tidal MQA ? now, I'm using dragonflyred. I'm looking to another MQA dac and please not a usb dac. more like hip dac form. price range $150 - 200. thanks. I like neutral to crisp sound.
Hi, great video. I was wondering what your AMP/DAC recommendation would be for some beyerdynamic DT 1990 pros? I would like it to be just about small enough to fit in a large pocket and would like to be able to use it wired with my android phone and desktop PC without loosing much sound quality. I'd be looking to spend under 200
I run my Motorola z3 play with aux to my 2013 Harley stereo with Harley cvo amp jl audio c2 6 " fronts and jl audio 6x9 in bags. I want to clean up the sound with a DAC. Will an AMP DAC do anything for amplification with this system? What would you recommend?
Hey man yeah you'll be fine :) I haven't actually listened to that combo but it will probably make the LCD-2 sound a bit crisper and somewhat more neutral. LCD-2 is rather warm and fairly dark but not quite as dark as LCD-4.
I'm looking for a good portable dac for better sound on my laptop and mobile .. i rather have a direct type C connection , with a small form factor like a dongle/cable sort of thing .. any suggestions ? I would buy the dragonfly but they are not type C
Hey man I don't normally recommend the Cobalt but I think it does come with a Dragon Tail USB-C adapter for phones IIRC. Other than that, I don't have much experience with dongles to be honest with you as I *mostly* listen to music at my desk. The one portable option that I really love nowadays is the FiiO BTR3K. It's Bluetooth though. Still worth a look: homestudiobasics.com/fiio-btr3k-vs-btr5-vs-dragonfly-red/
Hi, what is the best amp/dac for listening to music with headphones beyerdynamic dt990pro 250 ohm that also supports Android mobile phone(jack 3.5 mm)?What do you think about the creative sound blaster x7 amplifier?
Hey man here's where you want to go for some great portable options: homestudiobasics.com/ifi-hip-dac-amp-review/ I'm leaning NX4 but hip-dac is real good too and tends to help with brighter cans like the 990.
Hey man I haven't heard the M5 but ask around I wanna say Markus (who frequents my channel) may have experience with it but I'm not 100% on that. Keep me posted!
Hey man thank you! I'm demoing them now for you. They actually sound very similar. DF Red slightly more open. Not a huge difference though. Audio quality excellent on both.
I've always said this that the ESS sabre chip in the DF red does tend to outperform other chips and thus why I recommend it a lot. That said, if you need some extra features the K3 is a great product. :)
Hi there, where do you fit the NX4? And the last ones: Ifi Hip Dac, Xduoo XD05/XP2 Pro, Monolith THX, Earmen TR-Amp.. and those new chinese dongles (like the lastest Hibizs and Shanling) that are even better than the Dragonflies.. After almost mmm 2 years, how would be your choice, your rank (probably a top 10) updated? What do you think about it?
Hey man yeah I need to do a video update but really enjoyed the NX4. Crisp, neutral, clean. Great for most headphones but I probably wouldn't pair anything too bright with it. I don't listen much to dongles. 2 years later my choice is still mostly DragonFly Red/K3/E10K. DACS are incredibly overrated but you can check out my page here: homestudiobasics.com/amps-dacs-and-audio-interfaces/
So you A/B'd them and liked the Nano better? How much is that running for? I haven't gotten a chance to try it. Lawrance from ifi is sending me the new Zen so I'm really looking forward to that.
@@HomeStudioBasics The Zen does look nice. I did A/B and sure there were differences, especially in soundstage (the ifi is good but not as good as the mojo) but here in New zealand the mojo is $1000 but the nano is $300 on sale
@@RobNotANumber Holy smokes Batman! $500 for the Mojo maybe. $1000? Wow that's a bit excessive. The xCAN and xDSD come close to Mojo's sound. I love ifi products. What headphones are you rockin'?
@@HomeStudioBasics We get shafted here in NZ for all electronics on price being a small market and high taxes (even buying via Amazon gets us taxed these days)
Hey man what's up4? I need to get a BTR5 here to do an in-depth A/B of the 3k vs. 5 but the 5 does have the ESS sabre chip which is my favorite out of all of them. Crisp, cool, open, and airy sound. You can def tell a difference between that chip and the others.
Well I haven't heard the NX3S but loved the NX4. Check my article I update the post from time to time: homestudiobasics.com/the-best-portable-headphone-amps-dacs/
Hi man. I read your review about fiio e10k dac on your site and at certain point you said is not good for ps5? There is no volume? I wanted this dac because is uac1 . Uac2 is not compatible with ps5.
Hey man! Basically anything lol. HD600/650, Sundara, 400i, Aeon Flow Closed. The Mojo is quite an amazing sound (still one of the 2 best I've personally heard) - the other being Bryston BHA-1. Check the review to learn more about it. I think you'll be convinced! homestudiobasics.com/chord-mojo-dac-review/
Any solutions to using in ears with in line mic with a dac amp? Basically I got an rha ma750 with mic and I need to use it for conference calls. I want good audio but I also want to use the in-line mic possible, if not... What are my options?
Hey man! Hmm. What about a Creative G6? Check out my article/video: homestudiobasics.com/creative-soundblasterx-g6-amp-dac-review/ Please let me know if you have further questions and keep me posted!
@@HomeStudioBasics do you think a 3.5mm splitter to mic/audio work(female to 2male)? Send the mic straight into the mic port on laptop and send the audio part to the dac/amp. (Trying to avoid being tied to a wall as I take my laptop and work on location) No dac at home for me to try, if it works... I'll pick up a dragonfly asapppp. Also, love your channel and your realness of it. You consider real world usage and compare the right products. Keep doing your thing. Feel free to come check out my kef r700's sometime if you fancy it ha
Hey man! Hmm. Haven't tried that, but don't see why not. Unfortunately I don't have something I can test on hand. :( And thank you so much for your kind words. I really do try to keep in genuine and candid here. :)
Hey man nice vids, I have shure se846 which have very low 9 ohm impedance. It is advised to pair them with a very low output impedance to get the sound right. What do you suggest as a smartphone dac amp with some options to tinker with the sound like 3d or bass boost
Hey thanks man! You may try the NX4, Q1, or hip-dac. Check out this video it goes into great depth: ua-cam.com/video/w5HLtsXfa-Q/v-deo.html Let me know what you think!
Any thoughts on the AEON Closed with either the Fii0 Q3 vs iFi Hip-dac or hip-dac 2? Trying to figure out which of the three would get the most out those cans.
@@HomeStudioBasics Hey, thanks for getting back to me! I actually got a really good Black Friday deal on the hip-day 2, so I just went with it. It's not bad. Not exactly blow away with it, but considering what it is - a portable dac + amp - it performs decently. It'll do for my traveling needs for the next few months ... like you said, audio is bread, and this is akin to orange cake: not delicious, but it works nicely with some tea.
Hey man! DSD is just an overrated file format that samples the information in a different way from a standard PCM file, but the kicker is that it doesn't matter because 1. You can't hear anything over 20kHz, and 2. DSD file formats can be reproduced by formats that aren't DSD, i.e. a 24/176kHz PCM file. It's mostly snake oil but I suppose it's nice to see the colors change on the DAC when you're listening to higher sample rates LOL. The balanced port is simply used for balanced cables with headphones, usually in 2.5mm or 4.4mm (which iFi uses). Which amp/dac were you interested in and what headphones do you currently have?
Home Studio Basics thanks for taking the time to break that down .. I appreciate that . I purchased the hd 600’s with the q1 mark2.. and I also have another amp that should be coming in today for the desktop... the bravo audio ocean mini valve tube amp.. it’s a small amp that I hear works good the hd 600’s. That’s another question of mine ... I have an Apollo twin interface.. does it make sense to combine the headphone amp with my interface or just plug it directly into my computer? Also somebody recently told me that using the balanced port on q1 for the hd600s would benefit them.. is there any truth in that?
Yeah man my pleasure! The Bravo Ocean is a fantastic choice! I had been using that a lot and did a shootout actually: ua-cam.com/video/ZeKYnErN_6U/v-deo.html I was using the Ocean mostly with like a DF Red/K3/E10K combo which you could also do. I think the E10K would be more than enough to use as the DAC into the Amp. If you don't want to spend that $75, You could technically use the line out from your PC into the Ocean via 3.5mm. This did work pretty well for me, but keep in mind I have a Lenovo X1 Extreme so the dac is a lot better I guess than my old T510. What kind of PC do you have? I think whether or not your purchase the E10K to go with the Ocean depends on the quality of your computers internal dac/soundcard. I assume you received the Ocean in the mail? You could just get a 3.5mm interconnect and try it with your PC first to see how you like it! Let me know. What kind of ins and outs do you have on the Apollo? I haven't really used balanced to be honest. I'm itching to do a video on unbal vs. bal to see if there's an actual difference or fi its just a power increase lol.
@@HomeStudioBasics I didn't get the ocean over the weekend . hopefully it comes today.. i Have a macbook pro from 2013 that i did some upgrades to. Ill definitely let you know how i like the ocean.. on a another i freaking love this fioo q1 and how its sounding with hd 600s.. Maybe its cuz im a newbie lol but from movies to music production, it sounds awesome. I have quarter inch and xls ports on the apollo. the only reason i didn't get the e10k was because it wasn't portable and i wanted portable amp/dac.. ill get back to you to let you know how i like the ocean mini.. peace n love bro and thanks for putting the knowledge out!
Home Studio Basics and also , yes! Please do a vid on balanced vs unbalanced ! Lol like what they actually mean and how to use them.. id tune in lol does it make sense to to hook the ocean amp up directly to my speakers or to my audio interface ?
Hey man! I guess I would consider the Black Label more of a desktop staple. I have it in my other article: homestudiobasics.com/the-best-desktop-headphone-amplifiers/ Yeah it's a great pair with the 600 series. Keep in mind I haven't heard a 660S but they are all very similar (600/650/6XX/58X/660S). I loved the Black Label with an HD600. Do you plan on using one with your phone?
@@HomeStudioBasics I thought the black label was supposed to be a 'transportable' amp/dac that's why it came with 2 rubber bands to bundle your phone or DAP with. I would mostly use it with my kann cube although I understand the cube already comes with enough power to run almost any cans I throw at it. I also wanted the option to use my HD660S with my smartphone so I was looking into a portable amp/dac. Regarding desktop amp/dac's, I just don't see the point of it especially when you consider that portable ones already perform identically.
@@mariodelaurie1142 I guess I would personally consider a Black Label too bulky for phone use, but that's just me. I look at it as a DAC I'd mostly have on my desktop, and likely wouldn't use it much with my phone. For me, a desktop amp is something that I wouldn't really consider lugging around town. If you want something with your phone, the xCAN or xDSD would be my recommendation. Let me know your thoughts though!
Hey man haven't heard that one! Do you like the sound coming out of it? It may be worth a shot getting a Q1 MK II. What's the sound profile like on the one you have? Warmer or cooler? What headphones do you have?
@@HomeStudioBasics i could like to recommend me something, i'm listening mostly 80s rocks disco like that kind with a bass sound.... im expecting to come the player i don't have yet in my hand. thanks
Yo I know this video is a year old now but I'm hoping I can consult you and your wisdom. I've got a pair of final audio E400 IEMs and have been keeping an ear out for a complimentary ampdac. I listen to a lot of music while walking so would definitely prefer something portable with decent battery life. ANYWAY, thanks for the vid and take it easy man
Thanks man! What kind of phone do you have? I haven't heard those but check out the article as I updated it from time to time. What about a BTR3k? Perfect solution for you: homestudiobasics.com/the-best-portable-headphone-amps-dacs/
I want a DAC for better music-quality via my laptop to my speakers..en better soundquality for my DJ-Controller..?Which one do you advice for me (regardless the price,only best sound-quality is wanted..)?thanx
@@conspickerous Loved it with my HD600's and probably the best pairing ever with the Aeon closed. It's just a fantastic Amp. Think of a mix of warmth and detail. Effortless really, with incredible resolution and Timbre. Really do stand by my impressions of the Amp sound wise. It is going for a bit less than the original $500 price. I will say that it does run warm and can be fairly finicky, but I personally didn't have issues with it after I learned how it worked better. I have never owned one (only demoed), and I can't speak to the issues that others have had. Def want to be transparent about that in the fact that you may have issues with it. But maybe you won't. You may look into getting an xDSD from iFi as well. Check my shootout and let me know what you think: ua-cam.com/video/VBN8kPhfeLs/v-deo.html
Great video bro! I picked up the Fidelio X2HR on the weekend and the sound is great, however the volume is quite low when hooked up to my phone compared my laptop or PS4. I'd like to think the K3 would do the trick because I can then use it with my console, however it wouldn't work so well with my phone. Is there an amp that would work well with both my phone and ps4 and increase the sound (from my phone)? Thanks for your help bro, much appreciated.
Hey man! Okay I just tested out a bunch of things. The K3 actually cannot be used with a PS4 because it has an Optical Out instead of an Optical In. It also does not work straight out of the USB port. The E10K *does* work right out of the USB but the volume wasn't loud enough at all (I've tested it in the past as well). Also tried some diff combos with the DF Red. Upon plugging it in, the lights come on but it's not recognized as a device in the PS4 settings. Then I said well let me try plugging in an auxiliary cable to the DF red into the K3/E10K. This kind of tricked it into being recognized by the PS4, but no volume from either the K3 or E10K. Then I unplugged the aux cable and plugged in the headphones straight into the DF. Sound came through, but it wasn't nearly loud enough (similar to the E10K conundrum). Not ideal at all. Volume was all the way up in settings and you could barely hear the start up music. So my theory is that the PS4 just does not like you plugging things right into the USB ports if you want audio. If you're going to use a separate amp for your audio, it prefers outputting via Optical for best results. The reason there's no volume is likely due to the fact that plugging in via USB has to draw a lot of power from the console directly to your headphones which the PS4 isn't really meant to do. That's why using an amp with optical and a power brick is the ideal method. I thought maybe the DF Red combined with a K3 could be some sort of workaround; you'd have the DF Red for your phone, and then for Gaming you'd just connect them both up to the PS4 and you would have a volume knob and some extra gain. But alas, it's not really possible unfortunately. My recommendation for you would be to buy something for Gaming and something for your phone. The K5 Pro is the perfect set up for my PS4 and the K702's. Here's my review: ua-cam.com/video/h8inWX8cMpo/v-deo.html For your phone the DF Red makes a lot of sense, but you could also go with something like a FiiO Q1 MK II, Topping NX4, or Oppo HA-2. The only thing with the HA-2 is that it's discontinued. There are still plenty of units floating around but don't pay over $350. That's a fantastic unit actually. I wish I still had mine to be honest. Hopefully that helps! Let me know your thoughts.
Thanks for the very thorough reply Stuart. I'm a complete novice to the audiophile scene, so I appreciate all the help and advice. It looks I'll have to go through the two amp route. 2 further questions... 1. Which in your opinion is better out of the FiiO A3 (E11K) or the FiiO Q1ii? My phone also has a type C connection, so am I OK with either one of these? 2. In regards to my PS4 setup I'm about 3-4 metres away from my console, would a long male to male lead cause any lag between the picture I'm seeing on my TV and the sound coming into my headphones? Thanks in advance.
@@SikhLion Hey man! The A3 is going to be more neutral/clinical/clean sounding vs. the Q1's warmer tilt. Which you go with depends on preference. Do you like your music more laid back sounding or very clean? The Q1 *is* geared towards Apple users but does come with an auxiliary cable which I used with my Android. I've personally never had much luck with Android and micro cable connections with DACs. Haven't had much experience with Type-C (in regards to phones). I love the 3.5mm to 3.5mm because it always works and there's never any headache. IF you went the A3 route, you'd be using your phone's internal DAC. Does your phone have a decent one? Mine actually did and the A3 sounded fantastic (I was also using a 3.5mm interconnect). You'd be fine with either one. As far as lag, I haven't had any issues with it, but what did you mean as far as male to male lead?
Hi Stuart, once again thank you for the detailed reply. I think I prefer the warmer more fun sound, it's what the Fidelio are known for so I think the Q1 will pair nicely with them. The internal DAC on my phone is terrible, I can hardly get any decent volume on it compared to my laptop. In order to pair my android type C connection would I need an additional equipment? Apologies if you've already covered this. Male to male leads are also 3.5mm to 3.5mm Jack leads in the UK.
@@SikhLion Gosh man I'm sorry about the no reply I don't get notifications and I've tried everything to keep them on but it just gets auto shut off and I have no idea why. Anyways.. update me on your situation!!
@@dubdriver84 Hey man! I'm listening to the 4XX now out of the Bravo Ocean (and DF Red as DAC) and it sounds really good. I'm assuming you're specifically looking for a portable option? Also love it with the DF Red exclusively. Let me know if you'll be mostly portable or at a desk some as well.
I am new to headphones I just purchased a dan clarke aeon 2 noir and want to use it as a portable headphone with an iphone 12. After a lot of research I found that they are power hungry. I would like to know if anyone has a suggestion for a mid priced amp dac that will drive them. Thanks in advance for any help and excellent video very informative thumbs up and subscribed.
Thanks man did you see my other comment? I will paste it here for others as well. --- Hey man thank you! My all time favorite combo with Aeon was the Mojo for sure: homestudiobasics.com/the-dan-clark-audio-aeon-flow-will-change-your-life/
Well I ended up getting th mojo poly combo and you are right it will change your life lol..., absolutely beautiful. Also ended up getting a focal clear, drive it with a fiio btr5 as it doesn't need the power of the mojo. It is also very nice however I find it more fatiguing that the aeon and not as enjoyable for long listening sessions.
Can you please do a review on the Monoprice Monolith USB DAC? Another channel is saying it’s as good if not better than the Dragonfly Cobalt and for only a third of the price (or less.) I would be interested in hearing your thoughts if you feel it is a good alternative for someone who isn’t looking to break the bank.
Will def jot that down! Can't promise to get to it but I will keep it in mind my friend. Anything else you had in mind? hip-dac? ua-cam.com/video/w5HLtsXfa-Q/v-deo.html I compared a few of them there. Let me know!
Hello from Greece 🇬🇷 . I really liked your review. You seem to be very honest. Can you help me please choose the right amp/dac for my LG g7 and 1 more quad driver iem 32 ohms ?. I love clean, powerful and crispy sound. I 've got the feeling that I need more power /loudness and crispy /clear sound. Can you give me some options please for this pair? Thank you in advance.
Hey Thanos! I'm Greek as well! What part of Greece are you at? My family and I visited in 2010 and it was an unforgettable experience. For you, an A3 would fit the bill quite perfectly. Lots of power, super clean, very low output impedance. homestudiobasics.com/fiio-a3-amp-review-shootout-e10k-q1/
@@HomeStudioBasicsStu you have Greek roots???. This is great. I am from Thessaloniki. I like A3 but I'm so fond of (almost in love haha) with ifi hip dac. Do you think it's a good idea??. I'm thinking about buying a 4.4mm to 3.5 mm pentacon adapter for better sound quality and power. I'm looking forward for your opinion. I still don't believe that in your veins is running Greek blood. Awesome. Best wishes for a great year. Greetings from beautiful Thessaloniki.
Haha yeah man! I'm about a 1/4 greek and 1/4 italian, with some german and English thrown in for good measure LOL. hip-dac is great! On the warmer side while the A3 is almost completely dead neutral. Love both. Still think it depends on whether you prefer warm vs. neutral.
@@HomeStudioBasicsit's in the mix my friend 😂. Thanks a lot for your help and our discussion Stu. I really enjoy it. I'd like to meet you if you ever come to my city. I hope you have a good year, full of love and joy. I let you know for my impressions after I get it.
Hi Stu, how are you?. There are a few days that I got in my hands ifi hip dac and I want to tell you my first impressions. It's a great product, well built with clear and powerful sound(for €165). You were right about the warmness but I really like it. It gave life to my iem 1 more quad driver and I am very happy listening to your advice. I purchased tidal masters with USB audio player pro and mqa add on and really blow my mind (and my pocket but, what the hell, we only live once). Mqa sound is unbelievable. The battery doesn't last as long as ifı says (you were right too) but I have no complaints. Although I am new at audiophile side the quality sound worm started teasing me. Do you think it's a good idea to purchase a 4.4mm pentacon to 3.5 mm jack adapter and ifi's otg cable?. Will I gain more on sound quality?. Finally in a few months, this summer I hope, I am thinking of purchasing a pair of good over /in ear headphones (€300-400) can you propose me something?. Are you still fond of Hd600 or 660s?.
Hey man! Absolutely! What's funny is that I actually found the Q1 MK II to be just fine unbalanced with the HD600. It sounds great! Just goes to show that power output specs sometimes don't tell the whole story. On paper, the Q1 can't drive and HD600. But in practice, I found it to be an excellent pair. So yeah, balanced you should be totally fine! I haven't had experience with the M7 unfortunately. Were you leaning towards the 600 or 650?
@@HomeStudioBasics well I ordered the 600s but if I don’t like I’ll try the 650s thanks for answering my question hey do you think that the dragon fly red would be a better combo? Thanks again
Hey man! It's just a bit of a different sound. The HD600 with the DF Red is more open, airy, and crisp, while the Q1 is on the warmer side. Did you see my shootout? homestudiobasics.com/the-ultimate-guide-fiio-q1-vs-e10k-vs-dragonfly-red/
@@HomeStudioBasics yea I did it was great 👍 thanks for all your help really appreciate it ill be doing some testing and listing to find my best combo ill try not to over think it lol 🤣
A question, if I am using a portable DAC between my headphones and my 3.5mm jack MP3 output, is it better to use the balanced output jack instead or it does not matter since I am using DAC?
Hey man do you mean balanced when listening? If so, the entire setup has to be balanced for that to work. I hope I'm understanding your question correctly.
Great videos dude! I recently got evicted from my home desk as the wife is working from home too. I'm on the laptop and need a 'portable amp/dac'. I have an old creative e5 to power the hd660s. Would the ifi micro bl be a good choice? I'll mostly be using it with my laptop. Is it not included in this video because its not 'portable'?
Hey man thank you! Lmao wow. Is that what marriage is like? XD As for the Black Label, it's a bit bulky for portable if you're just sitting on the couch or something so yeah. Love it on desktop though. I would probably go with a DragonFly Red to make it as easy as possible, or something like an NX4. Do you like your music warmer or more crisp/neutral?
@@HomeStudioBasics I'm working on the laptop so I guess warmer is suitable for long listening. Actually I have got the unit already. Sounds great on my android and laptop, however it has this crackling sound when the laptop is plugged into charging on a razer stealth... Its very obvious. Works OK with other laptops. Overall I like the unit, the size is OK for me, I won't be using it outdoor. Its still one cable and it also charges when it's used on the laptop,thays great. My reason for not getting the mojo is that it has a seperate data and charging port...at least that's what I understand. And I was worried the dragonfly red isn't powerful enough, might get it too if u think its a good amo/dac. Good work on the channel and thanks for replying. Bravo! Ps... Honestly, when I'm working on the laptop, most of the time I don't even realise what song is playing...so there goes the dynamic, soundstage.... and how the treble 'rolls off'. Makes me question my audio investment. Haha.
Hey man! Haven't heard that one but my friend Antoine P likes it. You can find him on most of my videos in the comments. Reach out to him about it! He really likes it. Keep me posted! My current console rig is the K5 Pro. Check out my comparison to the K3 here: ua-cam.com/video/h8inWX8cMpo/v-deo.html
Hey thank you man! You'll notice the DF Red has more air around the instruments and sounds breezier if that makes sense. It's slightly more open than the K3 but the sound quality is very good on both. I just did a back and forth demo again to make sure my impressions were about the same. I did a G6 review and compared that dac to like 6 others including both the Red and K3. Check it out here: ua-cam.com/video/nMQIiLRhV9g/v-deo.html There are time stamps as well :) Let me know your thoughts!
@@HomeStudioBasics Hey man. I still can not decide which one to go with my microlab solo 7c speakers and hyperx cloud orbit headset. And with your video i added the creative sound blasterx g6 lol. DF Red with no control buttons, but fiio and soundblaster with more adjustments like bass or gain or volume control. Im in a difficult situation :D
Hey man! As mentioned in the video, the article will house all future updates. I have added a few since the video came out. Check it out! homestudiobasics.com/the-best-portable-headphone-amps-dacs/
Can you give a review on e1da's powerdac v2 or 9038s, it seems they have such good reviews and very high cp value. Some compare them with the dragonfly.
Good Day Sir! Quick question for ya. I have a Sony nwz-zx1 and I am in the market for a amp or dac intended to use for on the go purposes. With your expertise, which one would you recommend for the best sound paired with the NWZ? My budget is between $100-200 Thanks!
I just got the Sony a few days ago but I think it is a DAP though! Im a noobie when it comes to DAP/DAC and headphone amps lingo. Ive yet to get a nice pair of headphones but I find the volume on it is not very loud say compared to the ipod classic i have. . The guy I aquired it from was using a oppo ha 2 amp with it though and I didnt purchase it from him unawaringly so Im kinda stuck what to do and how I should go about it? Should people be buying headphone amps or dac's for a DAP? Im kind of lost Any help or knowledge would be awesome. I dont want to shell out money for something if i dont need it so any advice would be really great! Thanks in advance and I appreciate the quick reply!
Yeah man honestly you don't really need a DAC if you're streaming through a DAP. Kind of overkill to be honest. I don't have much experience with them although I'm about to start demoing a FiiO M3 Pro :) What kind of headphones are you considering? Maybe I can help.
Hey man! Check this hip-dac shootout I did which includes the Q1!! Should really help you out. ua-cam.com/video/w5HLtsXfa-Q/v-deo.html Comment on there too and let me know if you have any questions! Follow up replies are sometimes hard to get to :)
Would headphones like the audio technica m40x benafit from the amps on a samsung s10+? Do these phones need a dac or an amp is just fine? Im new to all this
Hey man! It can benefit, but I mostly wouldn't recommend anything more than something like an E10K for it. It doesn't need any power and your Samsung will likely be more than enough so I would probably just try it with your phone first. What do you think? Also if you're new to DACS, check this video out!! ua-cam.com/video/xjf5Dwyid88/v-deo.html
Refreshingly honest reviews! Would like to see u review portable tube amps....lol...yeah i know....portable and tube amp?...I have the Oriolus BA300s ...designed for use w Sony DAPs i think....some of this would push most users away...yes as a tube amp it gets very warm/hot, expensive, no controls, battery life is a mehhh 4-6hrs 😔😩😢....but as BGGAR recommended...stacked w velcro tethered to the FiiO M11....i know....the stack is weighty to be portable (i honestly don't use it as a portable, could care less ...)...the sound is sublime...plenty of power, only 4.4mm balanced in and outs....It actually gives a bit more bass, punch, smoothness to the Tin Audio P1 planar IEM...clarity, instrument separation, vocals...has become my goto rig..dare i say the blastphemous description... end game rig? Yeah....🔩 the naysayers...this despite the downsides, just SOUNDS good!
Thanks man! Same! I was supposed to get one from AudioQuest but they are back logged I think. I've been meaning to pop into Audio Advice as I think they have a demo unit available, but I haven't been there in a while. I will try and get one this weekend as they do loaner units on Saturdays. It's def one of the most requested comparisons and I've been itching to do it. So def hold tight. Do you need something immediately?
Dude upstairs is looking pretty smart during covid.... but yeah, non-covid time? Get out and run in the streets man! As for the review, Chord Mojo seems like a winner. Thx for video.
Hey Georgia! I will definitely try and get my hands on one!! Coming up is the Zen DAC/Amp, then Creative Aurvana Live, K5 Pro (with K3 comparison), Zen Blue, HIFIMAN TWS600.
Came here looking for help, for a lead to a well of information, a list, a forum of audio enthusiast where I could ask questions, research and learn. I don't know much about being an audiophile but I do have very picky ears and I am not happy with how my devices are playing music lately, how everything is sounding low in volume, not a happy camper, let me explain. For example, back in 2007 when DSLR were a big thing, I used to hate Canon, because their Rebel cameras put out images with a yellow tint that bother my eyes and my psych . So I always bought Nikon camera which yield images with a purple cool tone that was more easy and pleasing to my eyes. Back in the 90's when upgrading the car head unit radio was the thing to do, I used to hate Sony because of it tin foil warm and harsh sound and the Sony base was hard and dry with no cushion. But I love the Pioneer sweet and mellow highs and soft rounded base. I think that harsh dry and hard hitting base destroys speakers, I hurt for the speakers under such abuse. Well today it all has changed, I don't have control of anything. My car comes with a head unit that I don't want to mess with, it is part of the car functionality not just the radio, also, the car now my music originates from Spotify and processed through my phone, but of which add its own flavor to the sound and I don't have control of anything. Now to my surprised, I used to have an old iPhone 6S Plus, that made music sound good in my Harley proprietary sound system as well as in my car proprietary sound system. The base was soft and round with punchy highs that were clean. I decided to sell that phone and upgrade to an iPhone 7 Plus, what a mistake, this iPhone 7 has that Sony sound described above, hard and dry base with tin foil highs, same car, same Harley, just the phone changed and the sound went from perfect to garbage. So here I come to you, it might be that if I can bypass the DAC inside the iPhone 7, I could gain better natural soft sounding music and maybe a bit more of volume? I noticed that if I pair the iPhone 7 via bluetooth to the car the volume is low, but if I connect the iPhone via USB Apple car play, the volume is much higher. So which portable device I could buy, so that I can bypass the DAC of the computer the phone and everything else, and have the 1 and 0 being process through the external portable DAC to get better sound and more volume where ever I am, the bike the car on the computer, etc... So here is where the learning starts, I don't want to get lost in a sea of information, I wish I could just be a snipper, come in and snatch the perfect device and move on with my life.\?
Hey there! Hmm! I'm assuming your iPod has the standard 3.5mm jack right? What kind of headphones do you have? And what kind of price range are you looking to be in?
info adds? And yes I believe the xDSD comes with a USB-A to micro OTG although the demo unit that I got didn't have it in the package IIRC. Does your phone have micro or USB-C? If so get this: www.amazon.com/Adapter-BrexLink-Connector-Resistor-Charging/dp/B074SGQFDJ/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=micro+to+usb+c&qid=1591889475&s=electronics&sr=1-4
@@HomeStudioBasics Sorry I'm talking in my phone it doesn't understand all the time. I have USB type-c on my Galaxy Note 9 I'm going back and forth between the Mojo and ifi xdsd. Can I put it on the back of my phone I hear great things about both DAC amps don't know which one to buy. Heard the Mojo is very finicky about Connections doesn't come with necessary cables in the Box you end up having to buy cables for it. I watched your video and I know you sort of lean towards the Mojo. I guess I want something that's clean good detail slightly warm good bass really good mids and vocals which probably describes both of them how do you choose? Well I know the Mojo has no Bluetooth and the ifi xdsd doesn't support Bluetooth 5.0 it does 4.1 which is a bit old school it doesn't support ldac it's got a lot of good features with some of them are getting dated. No aptx hd if the xdsd have 5.0 and ldac it just be a landslide winner over the Mojo the 2020 update version would be nice.
@@HomeStudioBasics Actually I'm thinking of selling my HD600's. Not really suited for my home. Don't get me wrong, I love them to death but I hardly get to use them. I find myself using my DT 770 pro's more as they are closed back. I'm thinking of buying the Tin T3 in ear monitors as I am a sucker for good dynamic bass in an IEM. I'm leaning towards using IEM's over headphones. I was thinking about getting the dragon fly black 1.5 as they consume less power than the red (phone use) and IEM's don't need allot of power to run.
@@jakeduggan3854 Yeah I mean if you plan on using IEM's from here on out than I have no reservations in recommending the Black. I would personally just get the Red, but then again I use headphones 99% of the time that have greater power requirements. Did you see my Red vs. Cobalt video? ua-cam.com/video/Is_2tCwsuS4/v-deo.html I've tried the T2 and absolutely loved it. Seriously fantastic sound. Keep me posted for sure and let me know if you need some more advice. -Stu
Hey man! Thanks for the love! Yeah I have some new gear K5, Topping NX4, ifi's new Zen amp/dac, the Zen Bluetooth DAC, and... wait for it... THE CAL!! Haha my friend Luke had the Cal's lying around and told me to keep them for as long as I want because he never uses them. :D So Yeah a lot going on plus I've been busy with a new job (that I hate) unfortunately so that's why my uploads have been a bit sporadic. I'm trying to get on a consistent schedule. Still need to record a 1k thank you video, etc.
@@HomeStudioBasics Cool! Sounds like youre becoming a gearhead... Lol, it was about time to get CAL reviewed. I use mine from time to time, not necessarily the most technical performer but they are musical and fun listen. Almost scarily close to D2K and D5K. What do you think about them? It would be interesting to hear about NX4, I considered buying them to use more demanding headphones outside of desktop but because my Huawei had refused to work with some usb-dac/amps in the past I decided to go for Fiio M9 instead.
@@L0nkero Yeah man. On tap is the CAL, ifi Zen DAC/Amp (yo dog i heard you like amp/dacs), Topping NX4, FiiO K5 Pro, HIFIMAN TWS600, and hopefully got the HD800 coming in from a fellow reader/sub. I will wait to unleash my impressions :P Unless you really want me to tell you :D
Hey man! Yeah I reached out to Creative and hopefully they are going to send me one. They responded back so we'll see. I'll let you know! In the meantime, check out my article. I did some updates to it here recently. homestudiobasics.com/the-best-portable-headphone-amps-dacs/
Oh sorry lol Hmm.. Portable Amplifier with Android phone? I would consider strongly something like an NX4, Q1 MK II, or hip-dac. I will time stamp you a video where I do a comparison of them! ua-cam.com/video/w5HLtsXfa-Q/v-deo.html What do you think? Comment on that video or else I may not see a response here. :)
@@HomeStudioBasics q1 mark II doesn't work very well with android phone, i had to send it back, now in few days will arrive the hip dac and i hope it will be my best solution
I was drunk and stepped on my MDR-7510's and sadly they are now broken. I just ordered a pair of 58x from massdrop hoping they are more or less the same as the 660s. But anyhow, whatever now when im in a serious mission to upgrade my headphone listening gears the 58x seems like a bargain even if i need to pay import taxes here in sweden. But buying new headphones makes me wanna buy a dac/amp that is good. My only experience with headphone amp/dacs is a cheap NUForce that besides having a seriously fast base that hits, sounds like crap. Im thinking about buing a chord mojo just because i can stretch my budget to that instead of buying something at half that price i potentially will regret buying. I mostly listen at music at my desktop pc. Can i trust your experience with the mojo is honest? it seems like it is. When you talk about the attack sustain and decay of instruments you really mean that this is what separates it from cheaper stuff, right? Best regards Martin
Hey Martin! Absolutely! All of my sound impressions of the Mojo still stand. That's what really sets it apart in my mind. You will find people that actually don't like that warmth, but I absolutely love it. It makes the music sound incredible and just portrays it all better. I will say that it may not be as reliable a long term investment as I initially thought. People have told me problems they've had with it. Namely it won't hold a charge for that long anymore after about a year or so. I can't remember where that comment came from but it's somewhere on the channel. Mojo does run fairly warm/hot as well, which is claimed to be normal. Don't actually know if that's true or not. Didn't bother me much. It can be a bit finicky and temperamental as well when you're hooking it up, getting it set up, etc. but personally I didn't really have any problems. I wrote a great article on step by step the process. It's pretty simple but does have a somewhat mild learning curve. homestudiobasics.com/chord-mojo-dac-review/ That said, I'm not an owner of one so I can't speak to those sorts of potential problems that come along with actually having one. If you mostly listen at your desktop, there are still other good options. Do you run Tidal? It's harder nowadays to recommend the Mojo outright but I still think it's worth a shot. It's come down in price as well I think, and still has a very solid rating on amazon.
@@HomeStudioBasics Thank's for the elaborate answer, i appreciate that a lot. I was thinking that the fiio q10 mk2 might be at least a good starting point at mearly 100$ but then i noticed it only outputs 11mw. After that i was pretty sure that from what i heard about it i would spend 170$ on a hipdac but then someone said it has a muddy mid range and to me what happens in the mid range is important. The mojo now is about 450$ and i could see myself easily spend the extra 280$ on the mojo over the hipdac if it has real hi-fi qualities that this or other cheaper ones do not have. I need intimacy of voices and prefer over all rock'n rolling and rhythm before analytic sound i think. But then it's always very hard to know what you want when you have not had the possibility to try and compare. I live in a small town where there are not many options for a audiophile to visit a physical store for a demo but there is one store where i think i can go listen to the red or cobalt dragonfly, so i will try that before i order a mojo. And anyways i can buy the mojo online, try it out and return it within two weeks even if that is a bit of a hassle :) What do you think of the hip dac? Yes, i have gotten aware of the mojo battery problem. I think it has to do with the battery always being charged even if you mostly use it as a desktop amp and keep it powered all the time. But it seems the solution to this is to unscrew the casing and pull off the battery cable from the circuit board if you mostly use it at the desktop. A "simple" switch that will take just a few minutes ;) This is really bad design, batteries hate being charging to the max all the time. Also the battery is really easy to replace and if it had been of some standard make and model it would have been cheap, but of course it is some odd custom battery.
@@HomeStudioBasics Sorry for the drunken blabbering in my last answer 6 months ago. I now have owned a mojo for about 5 months. Before buying the mojo i bought a Hip-Dac because most people had good things to say about it. It took me less than two hours to see it was not worth the 200$ i payed for it. I might have done something wrong, installing the wrong drivers on my pc or whatever, but what i heard (from my hd 58x jubilee) was utterly boring, muddy and not worth 200$. That "fantastic" base button made everything even muddier. I sent it back where it came from and my first thought was to buy that drop txh desktop amp and a separate dac . But the mojo was on reduced price with no questions return, so i thought i at least have to try this 5 year old glorified product out before i buying something new and fancy. I can honestly say i now love my mojo in a unhealthy way. It is not a tech item, it is a music playing machine that cares about voices, intimacy and when things start and stop. The mojo has real warmth instead of muddines called warmth by some. It has flaws. It's not exactly portable but that is not a problem for me that use it as a desktop amp. It has a tendency to make even good recordings of -90s heavy metal guitars sound like when you rub a pair of vinyl clothing sheets against each other and also it put the guitars very far back from the singer and that is the opposite from how metal sounds. But what i dislike most about the mojo is that it sounds so completely different depending on input. I'm glad i have a "gaming pc" with a optical output because else i would not have realised how much better it sounds by the optical input. The windows usb driver or usb audio player pro for my phone can not compare to how it sounds via optical.
Definitely 2 because of the message Kojima was trying to convey to players. It's one of the most fascinating social experiments in history. Are you familiar with the backstory?
@@HomeStudioBasics sure, I played two, the AI speech sure was something else, Kojima and the other metal gear writers truly knew what was going to happen after a few years of internet and social media in general
Right? Isn't that wild. It gets more and more relevant with each passing day/year. I loved MGS3 as well, but I'd probably rank them MGS2 > MGS1 > MGS3 > MGS4. I actually bought Phantom Pain in 2015 and still haven't opened it. LMAO. Don't ask me why. xD
Hey man! As mentioned in the video, all updates are in the article. NX4 has since been added! homestudiobasics.com/the-best-portable-headphone-amps-dacs/
I decided im not arsed about bluetooth headphones btw, thanks for your sugestions. I find my smallish cayin dap in my breast pocket suits me for now for portable. I did, however; buy the tin audio T2s and love em with the dap. I do have to ensure I buy clothes that feature breast pockets now though.
My pleasure! I actually just got the Topping NX4 from my friend Luke for demo but: It's all about the breasts Paul. Always about the breasts. Sometimes I put things in my breast pockets to make it look like one of my nipples is hard.
one of very few audio tubers who haven't sold his soul for bucks and views! much respect!!!!
Thank you so much for your continued support Martin!!
Yeah I'm so off youtubers who are always shoving "a word from our sponsors" into a video that I paid to watch in the first place.
@@vessela7484 ua-cam.com/video/T5rbEuCOLkY/v-deo.html
What is a DAC? 0:25 Criteria - 1:04 Entry Level Amp - 3:43 Entry Level Amp/DAC - 4:43 Entry Level Desktop Amp/DAC - 6:57 Step Up Amp - 8:50 Mid Tier Amp/DAC Combo - 10:47 Step Up - 12:12 Portable Headphone Amp/DAC Step Up - 13:51 Best Sound - 15:24 That's Enough Talk - 18:26 Twerking/Rap - 18:58 Outtakes - 19:35
Do you think the xdsd has enough power to drive properly dt1990pro? I don't know why but I didn't notice an huge difference from listening directly from my phone (I paired it with the Beyerdynamic custom studio 80 ohm but I want to make an upgrade..). I am searching for stereo separation and imaging.. Maybe I just have to be more patient an let the xdsd do the burn in for more hours.. Sorry for my English.. And thank you for your answer..
@@alessandrocavo5436 Hey man sorry I never saw this. I just clicked on the video to check something. How are things going?
@@HomeStudioBasics now it's been about 5 month I have the dt1990pro. At the beginnig (as with the old pair of beyers a cannot hear any difference from pairing only with my phone). Today I think the xdsd is great with the dt1990 and also in the late times I hear like the sound is really really improved. It is so powerfull and real. It seems like the cans paired with xdsd are entered in a "God mode" ahahaha and gave me a lot of emotions e sprint. So a the end I am really satisfied with this audio System!
“Helping you make sound decisions” Gold. You just earned yourself a subscriber sir!
Hey man thanks! Yeah actually working on improving that line. It will still have what you quoted in it but will attempt to dive deeper. Stay tuned and thank you so much for your kind words!
Your videos are so well done. It's stuff I already expect from much larger channels yet they don't do it. My OCD gets satisfied with time stamps and stuff haha
Thanks man! Means a lot considering this video is old. I really want to get a new camera and up the production value. Not because other people do it, but because I'm really OCD about quality, a perfectionist, and really actually kind of obsessive about it but try to let some things go. Right now it's killing me that my camera is about to die and not that great. Sometimes I'm tempted to go back and delete videos lol.
@@HomeStudioBasics definitely don't. I love how you organize sections of the video for stuff people wanna know. Long videos (if over 12min) i have a hard time watching. Time is limited, i aint got time for Zeos to ramble on for an hour about a pair of headphones. You make them 10 minutes? You get the watch sir. Especially since you break stuff down like comfort, sound, etc.
Thanks man. I'm currently in the midst of a creative hiatus/crossroads in how I want to make content. I found scripting them works pretty well for retention, but then some people were saying they like the off the cuff natural style. Right now I'm trying to come up with a way to kind of incorporate both while holding people's attention because AIN'T NOBODY GOT TIME TO WASTE, including me. LOL. The camera thing is my biggest obstacle at the moment but I'm piecing together the new setup bit by bit!
@@HomeStudioBasics I say script it but dont force yourself to stick to it. OR make yourself simple bullet points of pointers to follow vs scripting yourself. That way you're not totally bound to a script and can wing it a bit. Just dont do like a FAMILY GUY and go 5 minutes of Conway Twitty i change the channel lol keep the off the cuff stuff short and to the point, i like it too, just dont drag it too long from the main the video point. It refreshing and the analogies are funny and make sense just dont make em too long :)
@@Graciashauf Yeah man I found that I did really well with bullet points for the 58X vid and since it was one page it was super easy to record and went very smoothly. In a vid I just recorded today, I did a little mix of both scripting and off the cuff and found that worked pretty well too. Check out the new video I just uploaded on Top 5 Amps & DACS. I think you'll enjoy the work that went into it!
I rock the Fiio A5 as a daily driver. However, I loved the A3 before I upped the juice to A5.
If you need just a portable amp, the A3 convo in this vid is spot on.
Thanks for the vote of confidence DJ! Love the A3. It was super squeaky clean, even sounded a tad better than the E10K which surprised me. How are you liking the A5? Is it A numbah one!?
Home Studio Basics IMO it performs exactly like the A3 (very clean) w/ just more poooowah! So yeah, it’s numba one in my book!
@@djwats7 Hey where are you located? Would you be willing to send me an A5 for demo or do some sort of trade for a bit? I have the K3, E10K, K5 Pro, and DF Red. My friend is letting me borrow the NX4 as well. Probably can't send that one but just wanted to mention it anyways :P
the best in depth dac amp review on the net. thank you man
Hey man thank you so much! I really appreciate that as a lot went into making the video :) Have you decided on one?
@@HomeStudioBasics I had mojo a year ago and had to resell it to make some money; now that I have less financial problems, I think I'll buy it again. i have a couple of dt1990s and hd560s
Don't feed the troll, love it. Practical and to the point.
Hey man! Thank you so much! I thought you were one of my old work buddies with that beard lol. You look just like him! Corey Shockley. You planning on getting one of these amps?
Ive had a dragonfly cobalt I paid $300 for for a couple years and decided I'd buy a used Mojo for $235 today and I remembered your video saying it's so much better.
I started with the Oppo HA2-SE then got the Mojo and agree with your assessment. I love both but think the Mojo has better separation and depth. I also have the same complaint, terrible battery life! :(
Hey man! Welcome! I loved the HA-2. I'm still really sad it's been discontinued. I actually sold mine because I really needed the money a few months back but it's like pretty much the only thing I sort of miss out of all the stuff I've purged out of my apartment.
The Mojo is definitely the best sound I've heard along with the BHA-1 but it's battery life is fairly atrocious. Either that, or I'm way less tolerant of batteries in general. I'm more of a desktop listening kind of guy so that's probably part of it too. I hate having to charge things lol. My friend Luke gave me his Topping NX4 for demo and I've been having the same sorts of issues with that as well.
great video mate, makes me want to spend some money! love the time index.
Thanks man! That's enough talk. It's time for the final exercise.
Could you recommend, if it exists, a combination tube amplifier/dac around $300-$500. It would be my first tube amplifier, and I would use it with audiophile-quality headphones and no IEM’s. Portability is not necessary. Thanks.
Hey man! Right now I'm demoing to the TA-20 which is a tube hybrid, but I may go with the Bottlehead Crack as a true tube amp. Listened to it at a friends house and love it. May get one for my HD600s at some point.
Have you tried Apple's dongle? I went out and bought one for like $10 because I read that it performs really well for low impedance gear, and I'm pretty satisfied with it. Eliminates all the noise from my phone and laptop, and drives my iems as loud as I need without distortion.
Hey man! Nah haven't tried the dongle, but someone joked about it on this video or another one saying "You forgot the Apple Dongle!" xD
Amazing review and you covered so many units !
I’m lucky to have the mojo and also the now Dan Clark Audio aeon 2 (closed) and omg
Track that did me is Goldfrapp “Drew”, I was physically moved when the orchestra kicked in like - well , have a listen and you’ll know 🙌🏻
Yeah man those 2 together are like a match made in heaven. The Aeon + Mojo = musical bliss. Is there a version 2? Haven't heard of that. Would love to try it out. Thanks for the love my friend!! Stay tuned for more good stuff coming.
🙌🏻 yeah the version 2 launched in November just as I was upgrading - trialled the aeons but ordered aeon 2 and boom 💗. Also have since had a listen with a Hugo 2 with the aeon 2 and it’s completely on the next level , but really opens the door to that diminishing returns scenario. If I wanted the best and didn’t care for cash , Hugo2. But , real world ? Mojo is more than fine .
Also the Hugo2 did reveal so much that some tracks were just uncomfortable to listen to . Maybe that’s just a mental recalibration I need to go through !
@@Villaboy78 Nah man you're spot on; I actually did a comparison of the 2 awhile back and came to the exact same conclusion. Hugo 2 def not worth all that money. Mojo to me actually sounds a bit better. It has a warmer tilt and doesn't sound so cold. Diminishing Returns is super apparent with those 2 products. Leave me a comment or share! I'm sure the article could help others in deciding. homestudiobasics.com/chord-mojo-vs-hugo-2/
I have NO knowledge on audiophile things whatsoever, but when i saw that Fiio came with 4 rubberbands. That got me
The FiiO Q1 MK II? Yeah that's a great option for your phone. Let me know what headphones you have.
@@HomeStudioBasics ath-ck330is, tin t2 as a spare.. and im planning to get the blon bl03
@@zenithrebel Nice! Yeah Def don't go overboard. I think a Q1 is the way to go. Did you see my reply on your other comment?
@@HomeStudioBasics yup yup thanks so much
I have DT880 250 ohm and looking for a good portable amp/dac to drive them perfectly; any recommendations?
Did you watch the video before commenting?
@@TSVPLIN maybe not 😁, but now I got iDSD Signature!
Thanks for this review. The most in-depth I’ve come across. Just researching before buying my first 250ohm headphones. Going for the Beyerdynamic 770 pro. Looking to do music production and chilling and just listening. Thinking of pairing that with the Fiio e10k ( like the price of this) Which will be hooked up to my Mac laptop. I was wanting something I could connect my iPhone too as well. For when I just wanted to stream music and not have my laptop on. Seems I can’t do that with the e10k. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks
Hey man! Thank you so much! I think the Q1 MK II would be right up your alley if you'd like to pair with iPhone as the Q1 is meant for apple devices! :) I loved it with my Android but it comes with a bunch of stuff in the box. What do you think? The NX4 is also a great option. Check out my comparison. homestudiobasics.com/topping-nx4-vs-fiio-q1-review-comparison/ I think the Q1 would be perfect. It also depends on if you like your music with a bit of warmth or more neutral/crisp. Def let me know that as well!
Home Studio Basics Hey man. Thanks for your reply. Just checked the Q1’s MK II and its looking good. Will they be powerful enough to run the Beyerdynamic 770 at 250ohms? If so - I think we’re onto a winner and will be placing my order for both tonight! After about 48hours of researching. Main use will be producing music on my Mac using Logic and disconnecting from the Mac - and chilling listening to music on my iPhone 8 using Apple Music. Sound wise , it’s more about clarity for me. And I guess a flatter sound will be better for production/audio recording. To be honest - I love the look of the Schiit audio magni and modi combo. But spending less that £200 in total is what it’s about right now. Thanks for your feedback. It’s much appreciated. You’ve got a subscriber and fan on me!
whats best for audio improvement for newer iphones that are using airpods wireless ear buds
Hey man! Do you have a headphone yet?
10:08 Sorry for my car noise. I was drunk and i plugged my xDSD Gryphon to my exhaust pipe the night before.
TTNG is one of.my.absolute Favorit Bands. Saw them live one time. It was so good!
Haha I had to look that up because I completely forgot I had them in this video! Love their music as well! Haven't seen them live. Have you ever heard of Chon? I saw them in 2017 and it was a face melter for sure.
@@HomeStudioBasics of course 💯
I love your videos. The information and humor are on point. I just received my new HD660s, wondering what you would pair them with.
Thank you so much man! Check out this shootout article. homestudiobasics.com/ifi-zen-vs-fiio-k5-pro-vs-jds-atom-vs-bravo-ocean/ I think it will help you. All of those would be fantastic choices. I think either the K5 Pro or iFi Zen would be a great start, but do you need something portable and would you prefer a cleaner more neutral sound or something a bit warmer?
@@HomeStudioBasics Sadly I am not knowledgeable enough to know what is meant by "warmer". I appreciate the link, but I have already watched all of your videos and I went with the Dragonfly Red. I was curious about the Cobalt version, hopefully you can do a review soon. I haven't used my PC in nearly a decade and didnt want to upgrade, and portability is essential. I have been using the headphones for the past few days to get a base level, and the amp should be here Tuesday. I'll keep you updated.
@@HomeStudioBasics I received my Red today, used the USB C adapter I ordered from Amazon into my Samsung Tab A (if I recall correctly), and it actually reduced the volume. The light is Magenta. I even downloaded their $8 recommended app, but that only seems to work with music or movies on the hard drive/SD card. Is the Dragonfly not compatible with UA-cam?
Loved the “A love supreme” vinyl. Subscribed.
It's a fantastic album! Perhaps his best. Thank you for the sub! :)
Hello, I recently bought Shure se425. I am a drummer so I wanted iem with good sound isolation. Also I wanted to use theese as my daily earphones. But I am really disappointed with the sound. Is it possible that the sound will drastically improve when I buy amp/dac? Will the dongle amp/dac work even though I already have 3.5 jack asside USB c? Or are my ears weird and am I not appreciating already great sound?
Sorry for kinda noob questions and thanks for answers :)
Hey Kryštof!! What don't you like about the 425 if you don't mind me asking? Also in many cases yes the sound will be enhanced, but with the 425 you're not really going to want to plug these up to an amp given their super low impedance (22 Ohm), and very high Sensitivity (109dB/mW). Don't know if you're familiar with these terms, but basically the higher the Sensitivity, the more efficient the IEM/Headphone is (meaning it can be driven to loud levels with virtually zero power required). That said, if you really wanted to, the Q1 MKII is probably the only one I'd recommend here. It's a great product and will make for a great pairing.
To be honest, your ears may not be accustomed to the good sound, IF: you haven't heard this type of signature before. It's very balanced/flat, and pretty neutral sounding. So if you were coming from bass heavier stuff, you may not appreciate it right away. Let me know if that helps!
Great video thank you for the comparison.
What would you consider as an upgrade from the chord mojo?
It doesn't have to be a portable solution.
My current daily driver is mojo paired with hd660s , what would you suggest as an upgrade from mojo?
Thanks!
Wow. An upgrade from the Mojo? The sound of the Mojo was almost second to none for me. If you really want my upgrade recommendation that would be the Bryston BHA-1 which would probably be my personal end game at around $2k. I'm still not entirely sure I would spend that much and it's a really tough decision given that the Mojo is a clear cut off as far as price goes for Amps and DACs. It's actually the exception and not the rule as I think diminishing returns starts to set in even lower than $500. But:
The Bryston was absolutely the best I have ever heard, slightly edging the Mojo. It sounded flat out amazing with the 400i and FLAC, to the point of sheer disbelief. Think of the most natural and effortless sound you've ever heard and then add a bit of impact and weight to it for some excitement. It was just sublime. To this day I haven't heard better resolution out of a set up (save for the Mojo + Aeon Flow but like I said: the Bryston slightly edges it).
If you can get one for $1400 I would say it's probably worth it. Even at $2k I may just sell off everything and have it around forever. What do you think? www.moon-audio.com/bryston-bha-1-balanced-headphone-amplifier.html
I'll add to the other 288 comments that this was the best review in the 3+ hours I spent hopping around on UA-cam. Just a fantastic job. I was hoping to find an iPhone to DAC amp to BT Airpod Pros. I looked at the FiiO A5 but my expectations for power and great sound via BT might be over the top. Nothing I saw or read produced more volume to my airpods without a huge sacrifice mostly because BT can't handle that. Am I right, or did I overlook anything? (my cans are the Audeze Sine's) Note: looked also at the BTR5 and wondered, hmmm
Hey man! Thank you so much! Love the Sine. Probably still in my top 5. The only thing I didn't like about that one was comfort. So you're looking for a dac amp for your iPhone into some Airpods? What about the BTR3K? I have it here but haven't opened it yet lol. Just have a lot going on. In all honesty, it may not be worth it to invest in a BT DAC just for the pods though. For the Sines I would def have something, BT or otherwise. The BTR3K is cheap enough to where you could try it out though and see what happens. I'm going to test it out with the TWS600 buds I have here I think.
@@HomeStudioBasics Well, I am all ears when it comes to your reviews. So let's see if there's a perceptible loss in dynamics when flipping to BT. After watching your first Tube here, I went to my Apple TV to catch up on other Tubers and I think you had 3-5 recommended videos for me. YESSSSS!!! Keep up the great work.
Thank you so much man! Stay in touch!
Fantastically helpful information, many thanks. Question - does dragonfly red have enough to drive beyerdynamic DT 880 PRO Headset - 250 OHM?? Thanks
Yeah man! I wouldn't hesitate! Lots of power for such a small DAC. :) I've never had an issue driving anything I've used with it. Thank you for the love my friend. Check this article: homestudiobasics.com/audioquest-dragonfly-red-review/
I know you're big on the Atom, but you should check out some of the new Amps and Dac/Amps on the market. Namely the Ifi Zen, Fiio K 5 Pro and the Loxjie D10. Geshelli's amp and dac are also getting great reviews as well. I know there's an endless amount of these products flooding the market these days, but great time to be a consumer.
Hey man I actually just received a Zen from ifi a few weeks ago so I'm demoing it now! :) Also got a K5 Pro so be on the lookout. On deck: Zen 1st, then Creative Aurvana Live, then Topping NX4, HIFIMAN TWS600, and K5..
@@HomeStudioBasics beast
I will soon get a hd58x what amp/dac do you recommend for me I am new to headphones I will be using hd58x with my one plus 7 pro and my laptop thanks for help.
Hey man! I'd go with the JDS Atom or an iFi Zen Amp/DAC. I'm demoing the Zen as I type this and it's superb. I can't believe it's $129 to be honest. Build is better than the Atom and it is a combo amp/dac so you don't have to worry about pairing it up with a separate dac like you would with the Atom.
Technically you can use your PC's internal DAC via 3.5mm into the Atom though. I love the Atom but the Zen is built like a tank. The Atom has 2 pairs of RCA (1 set of inputs and 1 set of outputs), while the Zen has 1 pair of just outputs. Zen also has a power match button, true bass button, unbalanced 1/4" jack and a balanced 4.4mm on the front. On the back it has a 4.4mm balanced output. You can use that to connect to speakers as well via 4.4mm to dual XLR. The Atom has a gain button which also doubles as the toggle for the output to separate speakers. On the Zen it's the variable/fixed switch on the back. Variable is for speakers. Both of these come it at a similar price point with similar features.
It's close, and I love both, but I'm leaning towards the Zen at the moment. Both are fantastic though and provide a mind blowing sound at this price point. If build and convenience is more important, I'd go with the Zen. If you need the extra set of RCA inputs and don't mind purchasing a separate DAC I'd go with the Atom.
Let me know your thoughts!
Crap I missed the part about your phone. Sorry bud. For all in one phone/desktop I like the Topping NX4 to replace the HA-2 mentioned in this video. HA-2 is discontinued, NX4 sounds amazing and it's less money. The FiiO Q1 MKII is also a good option. For pure desktop I still love the Zen or Atom but for you the NX4 would be a great solution. :)
@@HomeStudioBasics thanks alot
@@30musabboouf61 How's everything going?
good day bro. what dac you recommend for tidal MQA ? now, I'm using dragonflyred. I'm looking to another MQA dac and please not a usb dac. more like hip dac form. price range $150 - 200. thanks. I like neutral to crisp sound.
Hey man! Hmm. So portable I'm assuming? What about xDSD or xCAN. homestudiobasics.com/ifi-audio-xcan-vs-xdsd-vs-chord-mojo/
@@HomeStudioBasics : thanks man... bravo
Any recommendations for portable amp to power mod house Argons mk3 that need power also want to use with my phone
Hey man haven't heard the Argons what's their impedance and Sensitivity?
Sup man thanks for the reply. Impedance: 50 ohms
Sensitivity: 92 dB (at 1 kHz, 1 mW).
Hi, great video. I was wondering what your AMP/DAC recommendation would be for some beyerdynamic DT 1990 pros? I would like it to be just about small enough to fit in a large pocket and would like to be able to use it wired with my android phone and desktop PC without loosing much sound quality. I'd be looking to spend under 200
I run my Motorola z3 play with aux to my 2013 Harley stereo with Harley cvo amp jl audio c2 6 " fronts and jl audio 6x9 in bags. I want to clean up the sound with a DAC. Will an AMP DAC do anything for amplification with this system? What would you recommend?
Hey man how do you connect the phone with the stereo? Your set up is a bit confusing to me. Let me know!!
Thanks for the info and hilarious edit
Hah no problem man! My pleasure :) Have you decided on anything?
Nice video, cool breakdown for the common man.
Thanks Frank! Always great to see you around and awesome since this is an older one :)
Hi, will the AQ Dragonfly Cobalt work well with the 70ohm Audeze LCD-2 Fazers? Thanks
Hey man yeah you'll be fine :) I haven't actually listened to that combo but it will probably make the LCD-2 sound a bit crisper and somewhat more neutral. LCD-2 is rather warm and fairly dark but not quite as dark as LCD-4.
I'm looking for a good portable dac for better sound on my laptop and mobile .. i rather have a direct type C connection , with a small form factor like a dongle/cable sort of thing .. any suggestions ? I would buy the dragonfly but they are not type C
Hey man I don't normally recommend the Cobalt but I think it does come with a Dragon Tail USB-C adapter for phones IIRC. Other than that, I don't have much experience with dongles to be honest with you as I *mostly* listen to music at my desk. The one portable option that I really love nowadays is the FiiO BTR3K. It's Bluetooth though. Still worth a look: homestudiobasics.com/fiio-btr3k-vs-btr5-vs-dragonfly-red/
Hi, what is the best amp/dac for listening to music with headphones beyerdynamic dt990pro 250 ohm that also supports Android mobile phone(jack 3.5 mm)?What do you think about the creative sound blaster x7 amplifier?
Hey man here's where you want to go for some great portable options: homestudiobasics.com/ifi-hip-dac-amp-review/ I'm leaning NX4 but hip-dac is real good too and tends to help with brighter cans like the 990.
How does Q1 compares to fiio m5 dap when it comes to portability and sound?
Hey man I haven't heard the M5 but ask around I wanna say Markus (who frequents my channel) may have experience with it but I'm not 100% on that. Keep me posted!
Mate, btr5 dac amp and hd600, what's your opinion, cheers Dave
LOVE YOUR VIDS
Hey mate thank you!! Decided on an amp/dac??
Hey, love your videos! I have a question, In terms of audio quality of the DAC's, would you recommend the Fiio k3 or the Dragonfly Red?
Wich one is better man?
Hey man thank you! I'm demoing them now for you. They actually sound very similar. DF Red slightly more open. Not a huge difference though. Audio quality excellent on both.
I've always said this that the ESS sabre chip in the DF red does tend to outperform other chips and thus why I recommend it a lot. That said, if you need some extra features the K3 is a great product. :)
@@HomeStudioBasics thanks for your reply man, I really aprecciated, love you.
Hi there, where do you fit the NX4? And the last ones: Ifi Hip Dac, Xduoo XD05/XP2 Pro, Monolith THX, Earmen TR-Amp.. and those new chinese dongles (like the lastest Hibizs and Shanling) that are even better than the Dragonflies.. After almost mmm 2 years, how would be your choice, your rank (probably a top 10) updated? What do you think about it?
Hey man yeah I need to do a video update but really enjoyed the NX4. Crisp, neutral, clean. Great for most headphones but I probably wouldn't pair anything too bright with it. I don't listen much to dongles.
2 years later my choice is still mostly DragonFly Red/K3/E10K. DACS are incredibly overrated but you can check out my page here: homestudiobasics.com/amps-dacs-and-audio-interfaces/
@@HomeStudioBasics Great!, it helps to know it, I'll check it out, cheers
@@HomeStudioBasics So complete your webpage, provides orientation and helpful advise, well done, keep it on!
I have the ifi DSD Nano black and listened to the mojo the same day. Not a lot in it except price...
So you A/B'd them and liked the Nano better? How much is that running for? I haven't gotten a chance to try it. Lawrance from ifi is sending me the new Zen so I'm really looking forward to that.
@@HomeStudioBasics The Zen does look nice. I did A/B and sure there were differences, especially in soundstage (the ifi is good but not as good as the mojo) but here in New zealand the mojo is $1000 but the nano is $300 on sale
@@RobNotANumber Holy smokes Batman! $500 for the Mojo maybe. $1000? Wow that's a bit excessive. The xCAN and xDSD come close to Mojo's sound. I love ifi products. What headphones are you rockin'?
@@HomeStudioBasics when I did my test I was in a store and using HD800s' but at home I use the HD660s.
@@HomeStudioBasics We get shafted here in NZ for all electronics on price being a small market and high taxes (even buying via Amazon gets us taxed these days)
Have you touched the up4 or fiio btr5 at all? I'm looking to upgrade from my up4
Hey man what's up4? I need to get a BTR5 here to do an in-depth A/B of the 3k vs. 5 but the 5 does have the ESS sabre chip which is my favorite out of all of them. Crisp, cool, open, and airy sound. You can def tell a difference between that chip and the others.
Please I need an advice whats better to buy NX3s or NX4? Anyway, I use Blon 03 and also planning to buy Final E5000.
Also I’m thinking about the Fiio BTR5. Actually I want to use the PHA/DAC for my phone and pc.
Well I haven't heard the NX3S but loved the NX4. Check my article I update the post from time to time: homestudiobasics.com/the-best-portable-headphone-amps-dacs/
Hi man. I read your review about fiio e10k dac on your site and at certain point you said is not good for ps5? There is no volume? I wanted this dac because is uac1 . Uac2 is not compatible with ps5.
Hi. You mentioned that the Chord Mojo was the best. Can I ask which headphone would you pair it with? Thanks.
Hey man! Basically anything lol. HD600/650, Sundara, 400i, Aeon Flow Closed. The Mojo is quite an amazing sound (still one of the 2 best I've personally heard) - the other being Bryston BHA-1. Check the review to learn more about it. I think you'll be convinced! homestudiobasics.com/chord-mojo-dac-review/
@@HomeStudioBasics Thank you so much! 😊
My pleasure! Which headphone are you looking at most man?
+Home Studio Basics How do you think the NextDrive Spectra X compares?
Hey man! Haven't heard that one unfortunately.
@@HomeStudioBasics it just arrived, sounds good but doesnt do that much as far as boosting volume..
Any solutions to using in ears with in line mic with a dac amp? Basically I got an rha ma750 with mic and I need to use it for conference calls. I want good audio but I also want to use the in-line mic possible, if not... What are my options?
Hey man! Hmm. What about a Creative G6? Check out my article/video: homestudiobasics.com/creative-soundblasterx-g6-amp-dac-review/ Please let me know if you have further questions and keep me posted!
@@HomeStudioBasics do you think a 3.5mm splitter to mic/audio work(female to 2male)? Send the mic straight into the mic port on laptop and send the audio part to the dac/amp. (Trying to avoid being tied to a wall as I take my laptop and work on location)
No dac at home for me to try, if it works... I'll pick up a dragonfly asapppp.
Also, love your channel and your realness of it. You consider real world usage and compare the right products. Keep doing your thing. Feel free to come check out my kef r700's sometime if you fancy it ha
Hey man! Hmm. Haven't tried that, but don't see why not. Unfortunately I don't have something I can test on hand. :( And thank you so much for your kind words. I really do try to keep in genuine and candid here. :)
Thanks a lot for the review. It actually helped me decide.
My pleasure! What did you go with?
Hey man nice vids,
I have shure se846 which have very low 9 ohm impedance.
It is advised to pair them with a very low output impedance to get the sound right.
What do you suggest as a smartphone dac amp with some options to tinker with the sound like 3d or bass boost
Hey thanks man! You may try the NX4, Q1, or hip-dac. Check out this video it goes into great depth: ua-cam.com/video/w5HLtsXfa-Q/v-deo.html Let me know what you think!
Thanks for helping me out man.
Keep rocking.
Any thoughts on the AEON Closed with either the Fii0 Q3 vs iFi Hip-dac or hip-dac 2? Trying to figure out which of the three would get the most out those cans.
Hey man hip + Aeon may be a tad too warm. Haven't heard Q3 or hip-dac 2.
@@HomeStudioBasics Hey, thanks for getting back to me! I actually got a really good Black Friday deal on the hip-day 2, so I just went with it. It's not bad. Not exactly blow away with it, but considering what it is - a portable dac + amp - it performs decently. It'll do for my traveling needs for the next few months ... like you said, audio is bread, and this is akin to orange cake: not delicious, but it works nicely with some tea.
What is a dsd connection? And also what can i use the balanced port for ?
Hey man! DSD is just an overrated file format that samples the information in a different way from a standard PCM file, but the kicker is that it doesn't matter because 1. You can't hear anything over 20kHz, and 2. DSD file formats can be reproduced by formats that aren't DSD, i.e. a 24/176kHz PCM file. It's mostly snake oil but I suppose it's nice to see the colors change on the DAC when you're listening to higher sample rates LOL. The balanced port is simply used for balanced cables with headphones, usually in 2.5mm or 4.4mm (which iFi uses). Which amp/dac were you interested in and what headphones do you currently have?
Home Studio Basics thanks for taking the time to break that down .. I appreciate that . I purchased the hd 600’s with the q1 mark2.. and I also have another amp that should be coming in today for the desktop... the bravo audio ocean mini valve tube amp.. it’s a small amp that I hear works good the hd 600’s. That’s another question of mine ... I have an Apollo twin interface.. does it make sense to combine the headphone amp with my interface or just plug it directly into my computer? Also somebody recently told me that using the balanced port on q1 for the hd600s would benefit them.. is there any truth in that?
Yeah man my pleasure! The Bravo Ocean is a fantastic choice! I had been using that a lot and did a shootout actually: ua-cam.com/video/ZeKYnErN_6U/v-deo.html I was using the Ocean mostly with like a DF Red/K3/E10K combo which you could also do. I think the E10K would be more than enough to use as the DAC into the Amp. If you don't want to spend that $75, You could technically use the line out from your PC into the Ocean via 3.5mm.
This did work pretty well for me, but keep in mind I have a Lenovo X1 Extreme so the dac is a lot better I guess than my old T510. What kind of PC do you have? I think whether or not your purchase the E10K to go with the Ocean depends on the quality of your computers internal dac/soundcard. I assume you received the Ocean in the mail? You could just get a 3.5mm interconnect and try it with your PC first to see how you like it! Let me know.
What kind of ins and outs do you have on the Apollo? I haven't really used balanced to be honest. I'm itching to do a video on unbal vs. bal to see if there's an actual difference or fi its just a power increase lol.
@@HomeStudioBasics I didn't get the ocean over the weekend . hopefully it comes today.. i Have a macbook pro from 2013 that i did some upgrades to. Ill definitely let you know how i like the ocean.. on a another i freaking love this fioo q1 and how its sounding with hd 600s.. Maybe its cuz im a newbie lol but from movies to music production, it sounds awesome. I have quarter inch and xls ports on the apollo. the only reason i didn't get the e10k was because it wasn't portable and i wanted portable amp/dac.. ill get back to you to let you know how i like the ocean mini.. peace n love bro and thanks for putting the knowledge out!
Home Studio Basics and also , yes! Please do a vid on balanced vs unbalanced ! Lol like what they actually mean and how to use them.. id tune in lol does it make sense to to hook the ocean amp up directly to my speakers or to my audio interface ?
Hi guys. Should I get the Fiio e10k or the Fiio k3 for my pair of Sennheiser hd559 headphones?
Hey man replied on your other comment :)
Where is the iFi micro iDSD Black Label in here? Is it a good pair with the Sennheiser HD660S?
Hey man! I guess I would consider the Black Label more of a desktop staple. I have it in my other article: homestudiobasics.com/the-best-desktop-headphone-amplifiers/ Yeah it's a great pair with the 600 series. Keep in mind I haven't heard a 660S but they are all very similar (600/650/6XX/58X/660S). I loved the Black Label with an HD600. Do you plan on using one with your phone?
@@HomeStudioBasics I thought the black label was supposed to be a 'transportable' amp/dac that's why it came with 2 rubber bands to bundle your phone or DAP with. I would mostly use it with my kann cube although I understand the cube already comes with enough power to run almost any cans I throw at it. I also wanted the option to use my HD660S with my smartphone so I was looking into a portable amp/dac. Regarding desktop amp/dac's, I just don't see the point of it especially when you consider that portable ones already perform identically.
@@mariodelaurie1142 I guess I would personally consider a Black Label too bulky for phone use, but that's just me. I look at it as a DAC I'd mostly have on my desktop, and likely wouldn't use it much with my phone. For me, a desktop amp is something that I wouldn't really consider lugging around town. If you want something with your phone, the xCAN or xDSD would be my recommendation. Let me know your thoughts though!
kindly asking i just bought Astell & Kern AK Jr is it worth it to buy Fiio Q1 MKII ? Or something other? thanks in advance
Hey man haven't heard that one! Do you like the sound coming out of it? It may be worth a shot getting a Q1 MK II. What's the sound profile like on the one you have? Warmer or cooler? What headphones do you have?
@@HomeStudioBasics i could like to recommend me something, i'm listening mostly 80s rocks disco like that kind with a bass sound.... im expecting to come the player i don't have yet in my hand. thanks
Gm question I would like to pair an amp dac with a Bluetooth speaker do you recommend a portable amp dac
Hey man which BT speaker?
Yo I know this video is a year old now but I'm hoping I can consult you and your wisdom. I've got a pair of final audio E400 IEMs and have been keeping an ear out for a complimentary ampdac. I listen to a lot of music while walking so would definitely prefer something portable with decent battery life. ANYWAY, thanks for the vid and take it easy man
Thanks man! What kind of phone do you have? I haven't heard those but check out the article as I updated it from time to time. What about a BTR3k? Perfect solution for you: homestudiobasics.com/the-best-portable-headphone-amps-dacs/
@@HomeStudioBasics hey thanks for the response! I ended up getting a BTR5, absolutely love it. It even drives my HD560S no problems. Cheers!
Daaaaamn
That first intro rap was amazing
Hey man are you talking about the intro beat?
@@HomeStudioBasics 00:51
@@TimeGrowing XD lol thanks. I guess when you said "rap" it threw me off since I didn't actually rap it. Or maybe I did. Haha.
I want a DAC for better music-quality via my laptop to my speakers..en better soundquality for my DJ-Controller..?Which one do you advice for me (regardless the price,only best sound-quality is wanted..)?thanx
Hey there! Have you looked into the ATOM or Zen? Check this video out: ua-cam.com/video/ZeKYnErN_6U/v-deo.html
Lol 6:15 fiio q1 baywatch Edition volume 1. When is volume 2 coming out?
Haha idk man. Maybe soon! I don't have the Q1 anymore but I could do it for the K3 or E10K LOL
LG V series already have a DAC so why need to add another DAC?
True. If you're phone has a good dac, you may not even need a separate one. It all depends on the phone, really.
Yeah while I'm watching and replying this comments on my LG V50 with moondrop aria!
xduoo xd-05 plus or chord mojo, able to get same price in the used market. abt usd155
Nice!
Hi mate...have you tried the Fiio Q5 or Q5s and how do they compare with the Mojo?
Hey man have not tried either of those. Are you looking into getting a Mojo?
Home Studio Basics yeah. I’ll be using it for the HD600, SE535, & DT1990.
@@conspickerous Loved it with my HD600's and probably the best pairing ever with the Aeon closed. It's just a fantastic Amp. Think of a mix of warmth and detail. Effortless really, with incredible resolution and Timbre. Really do stand by my impressions of the Amp sound wise. It is going for a bit less than the original $500 price.
I will say that it does run warm and can be fairly finicky, but I personally didn't have issues with it after I learned how it worked better. I have never owned one (only demoed), and I can't speak to the issues that others have had. Def want to be transparent about that in the fact that you may have issues with it. But maybe you won't. You may look into getting an xDSD from iFi as well. Check my shootout and let me know what you think: ua-cam.com/video/VBN8kPhfeLs/v-deo.html
@@HomeStudioBasics will do...thanks!!!
Great video bro! I picked up the Fidelio X2HR on the weekend and the sound is great, however the volume is quite low when hooked up to my phone compared my laptop or PS4.
I'd like to think the K3 would do the trick because I can then use it with my console, however it wouldn't work so well with my phone. Is there an amp that would work well with both my phone and ps4 and increase the sound (from my phone)?
Thanks for your help bro, much appreciated.
Hey man! Okay I just tested out a bunch of things. The K3 actually cannot be used with a PS4 because it has an Optical Out instead of an Optical In. It also does not work straight out of the USB port. The E10K *does* work right out of the USB but the volume wasn't loud enough at all (I've tested it in the past as well).
Also tried some diff combos with the DF Red. Upon plugging it in, the lights come on but it's not recognized as a device in the PS4 settings. Then I said well let me try plugging in an auxiliary cable to the DF red into the K3/E10K. This kind of tricked it into being recognized by the PS4, but no volume from either the K3 or E10K. Then I unplugged the aux cable and plugged in the headphones straight into the DF. Sound came through, but it wasn't nearly loud enough (similar to the E10K conundrum). Not ideal at all. Volume was all the way up in settings and you could barely hear the start up music.
So my theory is that the PS4 just does not like you plugging things right into the USB ports if you want audio. If you're going to use a separate amp for your audio, it prefers outputting via Optical for best results. The reason there's no volume is likely due to the fact that plugging in via USB has to draw a lot of power from the console directly to your headphones which the PS4 isn't really meant to do. That's why using an amp with optical and a power brick is the ideal method.
I thought maybe the DF Red combined with a K3 could be some sort of workaround; you'd have the DF Red for your phone, and then for Gaming you'd just connect them both up to the PS4 and you would have a volume knob and some extra gain. But alas, it's not really possible unfortunately.
My recommendation for you would be to buy something for Gaming and something for your phone. The K5 Pro is the perfect set up for my PS4 and the K702's. Here's my review: ua-cam.com/video/h8inWX8cMpo/v-deo.html For your phone the DF Red makes a lot of sense, but you could also go with something like a FiiO Q1 MK II, Topping NX4, or Oppo HA-2. The only thing with the HA-2 is that it's discontinued. There are still plenty of units floating around but don't pay over $350. That's a fantastic unit actually. I wish I still had mine to be honest.
Hopefully that helps! Let me know your thoughts.
Thanks for the very thorough reply Stuart. I'm a complete novice to the audiophile scene, so I appreciate all the help and advice. It looks I'll have to go through the two amp route.
2 further questions...
1. Which in your opinion is better out of the FiiO A3 (E11K) or the FiiO Q1ii? My phone also has a type C connection, so am I OK with either one of these?
2. In regards to my PS4 setup I'm about 3-4 metres away from my console, would a long male to male lead cause any lag between the picture I'm seeing on my TV and the sound coming into my headphones?
Thanks in advance.
@@SikhLion Hey man! The A3 is going to be more neutral/clinical/clean sounding vs. the Q1's warmer tilt. Which you go with depends on preference. Do you like your music more laid back sounding or very clean?
The Q1 *is* geared towards Apple users but does come with an auxiliary cable which I used with my Android. I've personally never had much luck with Android and micro cable connections with DACs. Haven't had much experience with Type-C (in regards to phones). I love the 3.5mm to 3.5mm because it always works and there's never any headache.
IF you went the A3 route, you'd be using your phone's internal DAC. Does your phone have a decent one? Mine actually did and the A3 sounded fantastic (I was also using a 3.5mm interconnect).
You'd be fine with either one.
As far as lag, I haven't had any issues with it, but what did you mean as far as male to male lead?
Hi Stuart, once again thank you for the detailed reply.
I think I prefer the warmer more fun sound, it's what the Fidelio are known for so I think the Q1 will pair nicely with them. The internal DAC on my phone is terrible, I can hardly get any decent volume on it compared to my laptop.
In order to pair my android type C connection would I need an additional equipment? Apologies if you've already covered this.
Male to male leads are also 3.5mm to 3.5mm Jack leads in the UK.
@@SikhLion Gosh man I'm sorry about the no reply I don't get notifications and I've tried everything to keep them on but it just gets auto shut off and I have no idea why. Anyways.. update me on your situation!!
Any experience with the Fiio E18 kunlun? I have this product but don't really have anything to compare it to. I've used it with my m50x's and HD598's.
Hey man! Nah unfortunately not. Any others on this list you were considering?
@@HomeStudioBasics I was asking because I was considering purchasing the HE4XX and was curious if the Fiio E18 would be a good pairing.
@@dubdriver84 Hey man! I'm listening to the 4XX now out of the Bravo Ocean (and DF Red as DAC) and it sounds really good. I'm assuming you're specifically looking for a portable option? Also love it with the DF Red exclusively. Let me know if you'll be mostly portable or at a desk some as well.
@@HomeStudioBasics I'm usually using my phone to listen to music through the DAC amp by FIIO.
@@dubdriver84 Hmm. Not sure if the DF Red would be any sort of upgrade but it does sound great. Do you run Tidal?
I am new to headphones I just purchased a dan clarke aeon 2 noir and want to use it as a portable headphone with an iphone 12. After a lot of research I found that they are power hungry. I would like to know if anyone has a suggestion for a mid priced amp dac that will drive them. Thanks in advance for any help and excellent video very informative thumbs up and subscribed.
Thanks man did you see my other comment? I will paste it here for others as well.
---
Hey man thank you! My all time favorite combo with Aeon was the Mojo for sure: homestudiobasics.com/the-dan-clark-audio-aeon-flow-will-change-your-life/
Well I ended up getting th mojo poly combo and you are right it will change your life lol..., absolutely beautiful. Also ended up getting a focal clear, drive it with a fiio btr5 as it doesn't need the power of the mojo. It is also very nice however I find it more fatiguing that the aeon and not as enjoyable for long listening sessions.
Can you please do a review on the Monoprice Monolith USB DAC? Another channel is saying it’s as good if not better than the Dragonfly Cobalt and for only a third of the price (or less.) I would be interested in hearing your thoughts if you feel it is a good alternative for someone who isn’t looking to break the bank.
Will def jot that down! Can't promise to get to it but I will keep it in mind my friend. Anything else you had in mind? hip-dac? ua-cam.com/video/w5HLtsXfa-Q/v-deo.html I compared a few of them there. Let me know!
Hello! Is the audio quality of a DAC-amp like the Fiio q1 II or Fiio K3 comparable to that of the Fiio m6 player? Thank you!
Hey man haven't heard the M6!! I do have an M3 Pro that I'm going to be demoing here soon though so stay tuned!
Hello from Greece 🇬🇷 . I really liked your review. You seem to be very honest. Can you help me please choose the right amp/dac for my LG g7 and 1 more quad driver iem 32 ohms ?. I love clean, powerful and crispy sound. I 've got the feeling that I need more power /loudness and crispy /clear sound. Can you give me some options please for this pair? Thank you in advance.
Hey Thanos! I'm Greek as well! What part of Greece are you at? My family and I visited in 2010 and it was an unforgettable experience. For you, an A3 would fit the bill quite perfectly. Lots of power, super clean, very low output impedance. homestudiobasics.com/fiio-a3-amp-review-shootout-e10k-q1/
@@HomeStudioBasicsStu you have Greek roots???. This is great. I am from Thessaloniki. I like A3 but I'm so fond of (almost in love haha) with ifi hip dac. Do you think it's a good idea??. I'm thinking about buying a 4.4mm to 3.5 mm pentacon adapter for better sound quality and power. I'm looking forward for your opinion. I still don't believe that in your veins is running Greek blood. Awesome. Best wishes for a great year. Greetings from beautiful Thessaloniki.
Haha yeah man! I'm about a 1/4 greek and 1/4 italian, with some german and English thrown in for good measure LOL. hip-dac is great! On the warmer side while the A3 is almost completely dead neutral. Love both. Still think it depends on whether you prefer warm vs. neutral.
@@HomeStudioBasicsit's in the mix my friend 😂. Thanks a lot for your help and our discussion Stu. I really enjoy it. I'd like to meet you if you ever come to my city. I hope you have a good year, full of love and joy. I let you know for my impressions after I get it.
Hi Stu, how are you?. There are a few days that I got in my hands ifi hip dac and I want to tell you my first impressions. It's a great product, well built with clear and powerful sound(for €165). You were right about the warmness but I really like it. It gave life to my iem 1 more quad driver and I am very happy listening to your advice. I purchased tidal masters with USB audio player pro and mqa add on and really blow my mind (and my pocket but, what the hell, we only live once). Mqa sound is unbelievable. The battery doesn't last as long as ifı says (you were right too) but I have no complaints. Although I am new at audiophile side the quality sound worm started teasing me. Do you think it's a good idea to purchase a 4.4mm pentacon to 3.5 mm jack adapter
and ifi's otg cable?. Will I gain more on sound quality?. Finally in a few months, this summer I hope, I am thinking of purchasing
a pair of good over /in ear headphones (€300-400) can you propose me something?. Are you still fond of Hd600 or 660s?.
Great vid question 🙋 for you I have a fiio m7 and a fiio q1 m2 will those pair well with the hd600 or 650 using the balanced port thanks brother
Hey man! Absolutely! What's funny is that I actually found the Q1 MK II to be just fine unbalanced with the HD600. It sounds great! Just goes to show that power output specs sometimes don't tell the whole story. On paper, the Q1 can't drive and HD600. But in practice, I found it to be an excellent pair. So yeah, balanced you should be totally fine! I haven't had experience with the M7 unfortunately. Were you leaning towards the 600 or 650?
@@HomeStudioBasics well I ordered the 600s but if I don’t like I’ll try the 650s thanks for answering my question hey do you think that the dragon fly red would be a better combo? Thanks again
Hey man! It's just a bit of a different sound. The HD600 with the DF Red is more open, airy, and crisp, while the Q1 is on the warmer side. Did you see my shootout? homestudiobasics.com/the-ultimate-guide-fiio-q1-vs-e10k-vs-dragonfly-red/
@@HomeStudioBasics yea I did it was great 👍 thanks for all your help really appreciate it ill be doing some testing and listing to find my best combo ill try not to over think it lol 🤣
DON'T OVERTHINK IT!!! 😂
A question, if I am using a portable DAC between my headphones and my 3.5mm jack MP3 output, is it better to use the balanced output jack instead or it does not matter since I am using DAC?
Hey man do you mean balanced when listening? If so, the entire setup has to be balanced for that to work. I hope I'm understanding your question correctly.
I have two options for my hd598, fiio q1 mark2 or fiio e18k, which one would you suggest?
Great videos and subscribed. 👍
Hey man haven't heard the e18k! The Q1 MK II is on the warmer side. Are you wanting a warmer sound?
@@HomeStudioBasics i will be doing no critical listening. So warmer sound is ok
Hey man can't go wrong with a Q1. Love that thing. What do you think?
@@HomeStudioBasics i will try to purchase q1 then
Check out my article! homestudiobasics.com/fiio-q1-mk-ii-review/ Keep me posted man :)
Great videos dude! I recently got evicted from my home desk as the wife is working from home too. I'm on the laptop and need a 'portable amp/dac'. I have an old creative e5 to power the hd660s. Would the ifi micro bl be a good choice? I'll mostly be using it with my laptop. Is it not included in this video because its not 'portable'?
Hey man thank you! Lmao wow. Is that what marriage is like? XD As for the Black Label, it's a bit bulky for portable if you're just sitting on the couch or something so yeah. Love it on desktop though. I would probably go with a DragonFly Red to make it as easy as possible, or something like an NX4. Do you like your music warmer or more crisp/neutral?
@@HomeStudioBasics I'm working on the laptop so I guess warmer is suitable for long listening. Actually I have got the unit already. Sounds great on my android and laptop, however it has this crackling sound when the laptop is plugged into charging on a razer stealth... Its very obvious. Works OK with other laptops. Overall I like the unit, the size is OK for me, I won't be using it outdoor. Its still one cable and it also charges when it's used on the laptop,thays great. My reason for not getting the mojo is that it has a seperate data and charging port...at least that's what I understand. And I was worried the dragonfly red isn't powerful enough, might get it too if u think its a good amo/dac. Good work on the channel and thanks for replying. Bravo!
Ps... Honestly, when I'm working on the laptop, most of the time I don't even realise what song is playing...so there goes the dynamic, soundstage.... and how the treble 'rolls off'. Makes me question my audio investment. Haha.
which do you think is a good amp dac for ps vita, consoles, electronic, metal music?
Im thinking abour xduoo sd 05 plus but dunno
Thanks
Hey man! Haven't heard that one but my friend Antoine P likes it. You can find him on most of my videos in the comments. Reach out to him about it! He really likes it. Keep me posted!
My current console rig is the K5 Pro. Check out my comparison to the K3 here: ua-cam.com/video/h8inWX8cMpo/v-deo.html
@@HomeStudioBasics thanks, I think your videos are great, regards from China
@@Jubeihong Thanks man! Let me know how it goes
Hey Man great content. Wanna know your opinion. K3 vs dragonfly red? Whats your take on this. Thanks in advance. Btw i have microlab solo 7c
Hey thank you man! You'll notice the DF Red has more air around the instruments and sounds breezier if that makes sense. It's slightly more open than the K3 but the sound quality is very good on both. I just did a back and forth demo again to make sure my impressions were about the same. I did a G6 review and compared that dac to like 6 others including both the Red and K3. Check it out here: ua-cam.com/video/nMQIiLRhV9g/v-deo.html There are time stamps as well :) Let me know your thoughts!
@@HomeStudioBasics I will most definitely check that out!
Keep me posted my friend!
@@HomeStudioBasics Hey man. I still can not decide which one to go with my microlab solo 7c speakers and hyperx cloud orbit headset. And with your video i added the creative sound blasterx g6 lol. DF Red with no control buttons, but fiio and soundblaster with more adjustments like bass or gain or volume control. Im in a difficult situation :D
What about xduoo, topping? Are Kings in this area
Hey man! As mentioned in the video, the article will house all future updates. I have added a few since the video came out. Check it out! homestudiobasics.com/the-best-portable-headphone-amps-dacs/
I liked your presentation
Thanks brother! I'm always aiming to improve. Are you in the market for one of these?
Which potable amp is best for sundara? I want to use amp with android mobile
Hey man I haven't really used the Sundara portable to be honest. My default is always DF Red. Can't go wrong with that one.
Can you give a review on e1da's powerdac v2 or 9038s, it seems they have such good reviews and very high cp value. Some compare them with the dragonfly.
Hey man! I will certainly jot that down for the future!
Good Day Sir!
Quick question for ya. I have a Sony nwz-zx1 and I am in the market for a amp or dac intended to use for on the go purposes.
With your expertise, which one would you recommend for the best sound paired with the NWZ?
My budget is between $100-200
Thanks!
Hey man! Haven't heard that one. It's a DAP right? Any particular reason you want to pair it with something else?
I just got the Sony a few days ago but I think it is a DAP though! Im a noobie when it comes to DAP/DAC and headphone amps lingo. Ive yet to get a nice pair of headphones but I find the volume on it is not very loud say compared to the ipod classic i have. . The guy I aquired it from was using a oppo ha 2 amp with it though and I didnt purchase it from him unawaringly so Im kinda stuck what to do and how I should go about it?
Should people be buying headphone amps or dac's for a DAP? Im kind of lost
Any help or knowledge would be awesome. I dont want to shell out money for something if i dont need it so any advice would be really great!
Thanks in advance and I appreciate the quick reply!
this is the unit I have btw
www.whathifi.com/us/sony/nwz-zx1/review
Yeah man honestly you don't really need a DAC if you're streaming through a DAP. Kind of overkill to be honest. I don't have much experience with them although I'm about to start demoing a FiiO M3 Pro :) What kind of headphones are you considering? Maybe I can help.
Hey man! Check this hip-dac shootout I did which includes the Q1!! Should really help you out. ua-cam.com/video/w5HLtsXfa-Q/v-deo.html Comment on there too and let me know if you have any questions! Follow up replies are sometimes hard to get to :)
Would headphones like the audio technica m40x benafit from the amps on a samsung s10+? Do these phones need a dac or an amp is just fine? Im new to all this
Hey man! It can benefit, but I mostly wouldn't recommend anything more than something like an E10K for it. It doesn't need any power and your Samsung will likely be more than enough so I would probably just try it with your phone first. What do you think? Also if you're new to DACS, check this video out!! ua-cam.com/video/xjf5Dwyid88/v-deo.html
@@HomeStudioBasics thanks for the input Ill try it as is receiving the headphones in 2 days
Keep me posted man!
Refreshingly honest reviews! Would like to see u review portable tube amps....lol...yeah i know....portable and tube amp?...I have the Oriolus BA300s ...designed for use w Sony DAPs i think....some of this would push most users away...yes as a tube amp it gets very warm/hot, expensive, no controls, battery life is a mehhh 4-6hrs 😔😩😢....but as BGGAR recommended...stacked w velcro tethered to the FiiO M11....i know....the stack is weighty to be portable (i honestly don't use it as a portable, could care less ...)...the sound is sublime...plenty of power, only 4.4mm balanced in and outs....It actually gives a bit more bass, punch, smoothness to the Tin Audio P1 planar IEM...clarity, instrument separation, vocals...has become my goto rig..dare i say the blastphemous description... end game rig? Yeah....🔩 the naysayers...this despite the downsides, just SOUNDS good!
Hey David! Sounds interesting! Will def jot that down for the future. Thank you so much for your kind words. :)
I like your reviews. Hopefully you get hold of a dragonfly cobalt. I would like to see your opinion on whether the extra money is worth it.
Thanks man! Same! I was supposed to get one from AudioQuest but they are back logged I think. I've been meaning to pop into Audio Advice as I think they have a demo unit available, but I haven't been there in a while. I will try and get one this weekend as they do loaner units on Saturdays. It's def one of the most requested comparisons and I've been itching to do it. So def hold tight. Do you need something immediately?
@@HomeStudioBasics nope. Debating between a dragonfly red or cobalt or a topping nx4.
Dude upstairs is looking pretty smart during covid.... but yeah, non-covid time? Get out and run in the streets man! As for the review, Chord Mojo seems like a winner. Thx for video.
You're welcome man! I say get outside and walk/run anytime. Our bodies need fresh air :)
Will you make a THX AAA portable review?
Hey Georgia! I will definitely try and get my hands on one!! Coming up is the Zen DAC/Amp, then Creative Aurvana Live, K5 Pro (with K3 comparison), Zen Blue, HIFIMAN TWS600.
@@HomeStudioBasics This and xduoo xd-05 plus, If you get them compare them and If you can, try some other opamps on the plus..
@@jimis3167 Wrote down the AAA portable. The xduoo I already had written and starred. :D
What about Topping DACs?
I thought this video was going to feature the k5 pro? 😔
Hey man! K5 Pro is a desktop homie. That will be in one of the next videos coming. Also going to do a K3 vs. K5 next most likely. Chin up!
Came here looking for help, for a lead to a well of information, a list, a forum of audio enthusiast where I could ask questions, research and learn. I don't know much about being an audiophile but I do have very picky ears and I am not happy with how my devices are playing music lately, how everything is sounding low in volume, not a happy camper, let me explain. For example, back in 2007 when DSLR were a big thing, I used to hate Canon, because their Rebel cameras put out images with a yellow tint that bother my eyes and my psych . So I always bought Nikon camera which yield images with a purple cool tone that was more easy and pleasing to my eyes. Back in the 90's when upgrading the car head unit radio was the thing to do, I used to hate Sony because of it tin foil warm and harsh sound and the Sony base was hard and dry with no cushion. But I love the Pioneer sweet and mellow highs and soft rounded base. I think that harsh dry and hard hitting base destroys speakers, I hurt for the speakers under such abuse. Well today it all has changed, I don't have control of anything. My car comes with a head unit that I don't want to mess with, it is part of the car functionality not just the radio, also, the car now my music originates from Spotify and processed through my phone, but of which add its own flavor to the sound and I don't have control of anything. Now to my surprised, I used to have an old iPhone 6S Plus, that made music sound good in my Harley proprietary sound system as well as in my car proprietary sound system. The base was soft and round with punchy highs that were clean. I decided to sell that phone and upgrade to an iPhone 7 Plus, what a mistake, this iPhone 7 has that Sony sound described above, hard and dry base with tin foil highs, same car, same Harley, just the phone changed and the sound went from perfect to garbage. So here I come to you, it might be that if I can bypass the DAC inside the iPhone 7, I could gain better natural soft sounding music and maybe a bit more of volume? I noticed that if I pair the iPhone 7 via bluetooth to the car the volume is low, but if I connect the iPhone via USB Apple car play, the volume is much higher. So which portable device I could buy, so that I can bypass the DAC of the computer the phone and everything else, and have the 1 and 0 being process through the external portable DAC to get better sound and more volume where ever I am, the bike the car on the computer, etc... So here is where the learning starts, I don't want to get lost in a sea of information, I wish I could just be a snipper, come in and snatch the perfect device and move on with my life.\?
Hey man I would probably try the DragonFly Red to start.
I'm a Bass Head and I hate sharp tinging sounds which portable would be the perfect fit? for me and my iPod Classic.
Hey there! Hmm! I'm assuming your iPod has the standard 3.5mm jack right? What kind of headphones do you have? And what kind of price range are you looking to be in?
I heard from other reviews the info adds is a mojo killer. Great 👍 Regis really good. Can the ifi xdsd got on the back of a Android phone ?
info adds? And yes I believe the xDSD comes with a USB-A to micro OTG although the demo unit that I got didn't have it in the package IIRC. Does your phone have micro or USB-C? If so get this: www.amazon.com/Adapter-BrexLink-Connector-Resistor-Charging/dp/B074SGQFDJ/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=micro+to+usb+c&qid=1591889475&s=electronics&sr=1-4
@@HomeStudioBasics
Sorry I'm talking in my phone it doesn't understand all the time. I have USB type-c on my Galaxy Note 9 I'm going back and forth between the Mojo and ifi xdsd.
Can I put it on the back of my phone I hear great things about both DAC amps don't know which one to buy. Heard the Mojo is very finicky about Connections doesn't come with necessary cables in the Box you end up having to buy cables for it. I watched your video and I know you sort of lean towards the Mojo. I guess I want something that's clean good detail slightly warm good bass really good mids and vocals which probably describes both of them how do you choose?
Well I know the Mojo has no Bluetooth and the ifi xdsd doesn't support Bluetooth 5.0 it does 4.1 which is a bit old school it doesn't support ldac it's got a lot of good features with some of them are getting dated. No aptx hd if the xdsd have 5.0 and ldac it just be a landslide winner over the Mojo the 2020 update version would be nice.
Will the red dragonfly power HD600 headphones?
Absolutely man! Plenty of power and headroom. Fantastic choice for the 600's. I got both here in studio. You leaning towards the Red?
@@HomeStudioBasics Actually I'm thinking of selling my HD600's. Not really suited for my home. Don't get me wrong, I love them to death but I hardly get to use them. I find myself using my DT 770 pro's more as they are closed back. I'm thinking of buying the Tin T3 in ear monitors as I am a sucker for good dynamic bass in an IEM. I'm leaning towards using IEM's over headphones. I was thinking about getting the dragon fly black 1.5 as they consume less power than the red (phone use) and IEM's don't need allot of power to run.
@@jakeduggan3854 Yeah I mean if you plan on using IEM's from here on out than I have no reservations in recommending the Black. I would personally just get the Red, but then again I use headphones 99% of the time that have greater power requirements. Did you see my Red vs. Cobalt video? ua-cam.com/video/Is_2tCwsuS4/v-deo.html I've tried the T2 and absolutely loved it. Seriously fantastic sound. Keep me posted for sure and let me know if you need some more advice. -Stu
Hey, over 1k subscribers!!! 🥳 Is K5-review coming soon?
Hey man! Thanks for the love! Yeah I have some new gear K5, Topping NX4, ifi's new Zen amp/dac, the Zen Bluetooth DAC, and... wait for it... THE CAL!! Haha my friend Luke had the Cal's lying around and told me to keep them for as long as I want because he never uses them. :D So Yeah a lot going on plus I've been busy with a new job (that I hate) unfortunately so that's why my uploads have been a bit sporadic. I'm trying to get on a consistent schedule. Still need to record a 1k thank you video, etc.
@@HomeStudioBasics Cool! Sounds like youre becoming a gearhead... Lol, it was about time to get CAL reviewed. I use mine from time to time, not necessarily the most technical performer but they are musical and fun listen. Almost scarily close to D2K and D5K. What do you think about them?
It would be interesting to hear about NX4, I considered buying them to use more demanding headphones outside of desktop but because my Huawei had refused to work with some usb-dac/amps in the past I decided to go for Fiio M9 instead.
@@L0nkero Yeah man. On tap is the CAL, ifi Zen DAC/Amp (yo dog i heard you like amp/dacs), Topping NX4, FiiO K5 Pro, HIFIMAN TWS600, and hopefully got the HD800 coming in from a fellow reader/sub. I will wait to unleash my impressions :P Unless you really want me to tell you :D
@@HomeStudioBasics Go on, just tell me.
@@L0nkero Nope sorry. XD :X
Did you check g6? I felt shocked after tried this
Hey man! Yeah I reached out to Creative and hopefully they are going to send me one. They responded back so we'll see. I'll let you know! In the meantime, check out my article. I did some updates to it here recently. homestudiobasics.com/the-best-portable-headphone-amps-dacs/
with an hercules 60ohm hearphone wich apli can i use?
Hey man! Which apli?
@@HomeStudioBasics portable ampli, with Android Phone
Oh sorry lol Hmm.. Portable Amplifier with Android phone? I would consider strongly something like an NX4, Q1 MK II, or hip-dac. I will time stamp you a video where I do a comparison of them! ua-cam.com/video/w5HLtsXfa-Q/v-deo.html What do you think? Comment on that video or else I may not see a response here. :)
@@HomeStudioBasics q1 mark II doesn't work very well with android phone, i had to send it back, now in few days will arrive the hip dac and i hope it will be my best solution
@@nicogiordano1978 Hmm I didn't have any problems with the Q1 and my android when I had it. What happened?
I was drunk and stepped on my MDR-7510's and sadly they are now broken. I just ordered a pair of 58x from massdrop hoping they are more or less the same as the 660s. But anyhow, whatever now when im in a serious mission to upgrade my headphone listening gears the 58x seems like a bargain even if i need to pay import taxes here in sweden. But buying new headphones makes me wanna buy a dac/amp that is good. My only experience with headphone amp/dacs is a cheap NUForce that besides having a seriously fast base that hits, sounds like crap. Im thinking about buing a chord mojo just because i can stretch my budget to that instead of buying something at half that price i potentially will regret buying. I mostly listen at music at my desktop pc. Can i trust your experience with the mojo is honest? it seems like it is. When you talk about the attack sustain and decay of instruments you really mean that this is what separates it from cheaper stuff, right? Best regards Martin
Hey Martin! Absolutely! All of my sound impressions of the Mojo still stand. That's what really sets it apart in my mind. You will find people that actually don't like that warmth, but I absolutely love it. It makes the music sound incredible and just portrays it all better.
I will say that it may not be as reliable a long term investment as I initially thought. People have told me problems they've had with it. Namely it won't hold a charge for that long anymore after about a year or so. I can't remember where that comment came from but it's somewhere on the channel.
Mojo does run fairly warm/hot as well, which is claimed to be normal. Don't actually know if that's true or not. Didn't bother me much. It can be a bit finicky and temperamental as well when you're hooking it up, getting it set up, etc. but personally I didn't really have any problems. I wrote a great article on step by step the process. It's pretty simple but does have a somewhat mild learning curve. homestudiobasics.com/chord-mojo-dac-review/
That said, I'm not an owner of one so I can't speak to those sorts of potential problems that come along with actually having one. If you mostly listen at your desktop, there are still other good options. Do you run Tidal?
It's harder nowadays to recommend the Mojo outright but I still think it's worth a shot. It's come down in price as well I think, and still has a very solid rating on amazon.
@@HomeStudioBasics Thank's for the elaborate answer, i appreciate that a lot. I was thinking that the fiio q10 mk2 might be at least a good starting point at mearly 100$ but then i noticed it only outputs 11mw. After that i was pretty sure that from what i heard about it i would spend 170$ on a hipdac but then someone said it has a muddy mid range and to me what happens in the mid range is important. The mojo now is about 450$ and i could see myself easily spend the extra 280$ on the mojo over the hipdac if it has real hi-fi qualities that this or other cheaper ones do not have. I need intimacy of voices and prefer over all rock'n rolling and rhythm before analytic sound i think. But then it's always very hard to know what you want when you have not had the possibility to try and compare. I live in a small town where there are not many options for a audiophile to visit a physical store for a demo but there is one store where i think i can go listen to the red or cobalt dragonfly, so i will try that before i order a mojo. And anyways i can buy the mojo online, try it out and return it within two weeks even if that is a bit of a hassle :) What do you think of the hip dac? Yes, i have gotten aware of the mojo battery problem. I think it has to do with the battery always being charged even if you mostly use it as a desktop amp and keep it powered all the time. But it seems the solution to this is to unscrew the casing and pull off the battery cable from the circuit board if you mostly use it at the desktop. A "simple" switch that will take just a few minutes ;) This is really bad design, batteries hate being charging to the max all the time. Also the battery is really easy to replace and if it had been of some standard make and model it would have been cheap, but of course it is some odd custom battery.
@@HomeStudioBasics Sorry for the drunken blabbering in my last answer 6 months ago. I now have owned a mojo for about 5 months. Before buying the mojo i bought a Hip-Dac because most people had good things to say about it. It took me less than two hours to see it was not worth the 200$ i payed for it. I might have done something wrong, installing the wrong drivers on my pc or whatever, but what i heard (from my hd 58x jubilee) was utterly boring, muddy and not worth 200$. That "fantastic" base button made everything even muddier. I sent it back where it came from and my first thought was to buy that drop txh desktop amp and a separate dac . But the mojo was on reduced price with no questions return, so i thought i at least have to try this 5 year old glorified product out before i buying something new and fancy. I can honestly say i now love my mojo in a unhealthy way. It is not a tech item, it is a music playing machine that cares about voices, intimacy and when things start and stop. The mojo has real warmth instead of muddines called warmth by some. It has flaws. It's not exactly portable but that is not a problem for me that use it as a desktop amp. It has a tendency to make even good recordings of -90s heavy metal guitars sound like when you rub a pair of vinyl clothing sheets against each other and also it put the guitars very far back from the singer and that is the opposite from how metal sounds. But what i dislike most about the mojo is that it sounds so completely different depending on input. I'm glad i have a "gaming pc" with a optical output because else i would not have realised how much better it sounds by the optical input. The windows usb driver or usb audio player pro for my phone can not compare to how it sounds via optical.
Don't forget the Cyrus Soundkey
👍
The metal gear clip got me
I just subscribed fren
Haha thanks man! What's your favorite Metal Gear?
@@HomeStudioBasics 3, what about you?
Definitely 2 because of the message Kojima was trying to convey to players. It's one of the most fascinating social experiments in history. Are you familiar with the backstory?
@@HomeStudioBasics sure, I played two, the AI speech sure was something else, Kojima and the other metal gear writers truly knew what was going to happen after a few years of internet and social media in general
Right? Isn't that wild. It gets more and more relevant with each passing day/year. I loved MGS3 as well, but I'd probably rank them MGS2 > MGS1 > MGS3 > MGS4. I actually bought Phantom Pain in 2015 and still haven't opened it. LMAO. Don't ask me why. xD
1:42 did a trailer just went by?
Hey man! I think it was a small plane or helicopter :)
No Topping nx4?
Hey man! As mentioned in the video, all updates are in the article. NX4 has since been added! homestudiobasics.com/the-best-portable-headphone-amps-dacs/
I decided im not arsed about bluetooth headphones btw, thanks for your sugestions. I find my smallish cayin dap in my breast pocket suits me for now for portable. I did, however; buy the tin audio T2s and love em with the dap. I do have to ensure I buy clothes that feature breast pockets now though.
My pleasure! I actually just got the Topping NX4 from my friend Luke for demo but: It's all about the breasts Paul. Always about the breasts. Sometimes I put things in my breast pockets to make it look like one of my nipples is hard.