Even more USB-C dongles (Balanced Edition) Balanced dongles worth it? Honest Audiophile Impressions
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- Опубліковано 6 жов 2022
- USB-C dongles come in all shapes, sizes, capabilities and prices BUT are the balanced versions worth the price?
Purchase:
$70 - Moondrop Dawn 4.4:
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$100 - Hiby FC4:
store.hiby.com/products/hiby-fc4
$110 - Shanling UA3:
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$120 - Hidizs S9 Pro:
www.hidizs.net/products/hidiz...
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Test Tracks: www.thehonestaudiophile.com/p...
Tingvall Trio “Beat” - piano tonality
Sinne Eeg “We’ve Just Begun” - multiple layer soundstage
Molly Johnson “What a Little Moonlight Can Do” - female vocal tone
Leslie Odom Jr. “Under Pressure” - male vocal tone
Eric Clapton “Change the World” - soundstage, layering and placement
Yo Yo Ma “Ecstasy of Gold” - acoustic instrument timbre
Adam Baldych “Spem in Alium” - acoustic instrument timbre
Pain of Salvation “Stress” - bass and percussion balance
Michael Buble “When I Fall in Love” - orchestral dynamics
Patricia Barber “Code Cool” - sibilance check
Christian Scott “New New Orleans” - shouty upper mids
Tool “Chocolate Chip Trip” - imaging
Hans Zimmer “Why So Serious” - sub bass extension
Marcus Miller “No Limit” - bass control
Dave Holland Quartet “Conference Of The Birds”- bass check
Ilhan Eshkeri “47 Ronin”- orchestra and bass dynamics
Hans Zimmer: “2049” - sub bass extension
Cher: “Believe” - sibilance
Stanley Clarke - “Passenger 57 main title” - percussion, bass, separation and placement
Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra - “The Pine of the Appian Way” - soundstage, imaging, separation, dynamic range
Houston Person - “You are my Sunshine” - tone and timbre
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To clarify, the Hidizs S9 Pro has the ESS9038Q2M DAC. I apologize for the error and confusion.
shannling UA2 plus vs UA3 vs hidizs s9 pro whic his better then other , please specify and reply.
@@SHARANPIYUSH22 I have not heard the UA2 Plus. The UA3 isn't a dongle that I have enjoyed and it will not get reviewed, it has a thin, brittle, cold sound that isn't pleasing to my ears.
I highly recommend the Hidizs S9 Pro, review coming soon.
@@TheHonestAudiophile please review UA2 PLUS also.. my request.
@@TheHonestAudiophileDear Dave, can I play WAV, FLAC or AIFF on the HiBy FC4?
I planned to order them but now I'm unsure...
@@justaemptymall Yes it plays all the usual file types.
I just got the I Basso DC04 pro it rocks. No bells and whistles, does have an app to change gain and filters ( I like the non oversampling) I only use for iems--- it has a 100 step volume which lets you really dial in the volume you want. It sounds like a desk top amp on your phone!.
Cool. Thanks for the impressions.
Hey Dave - as always, very appreciative of your videos. I wanted to check with you to see if you would consider bringing in the Clarus Coda dongle style DAC. I am using it with the Meze Rai Penta and think it is really fantastic. I recently brought in the Schiit Audio Bifrost thinking it would be a huge upgrade, and while MAYBE - MAYBE slightly better, it was so close that I sent the Schiit stack back and I am sticking with the Clarus Coda. Knowing your thoughts on the Meze Rai Penta, I would love for you to hear them with the Clarus Coda to see how you would compare that sound with your many other options . Thanks!!!
Thank you for the suggestion.
Very detailed video, I love balanced connections am using ibasso dco6 usb dac
Great 👍I haven't heard the iBasso DC06.
@@TheHonestAudiophile it sounds very dynamic and balanced
I tried E1DA balanced. The geniality isn't in the hardware itself, which is small and noise-free, but in the TWEAK9038 APP, which makes you understand how DACs work.
Thanks for the comparison mate. It is very helpful. Would you mind elaborating a bit more about FC4 vs UA3. (Soundstage, tonality).
FC4 is more natural and accurate tone and timbre. UA3 is somewhat thin sounding but has a wider stage. The FC4 is more natural sounding.
@@TheHonestAudiophile thank you very much
My pleasure, you're welcome.
Hi Dave. I have backed the tempotec variations V6 DAP via kickstarter. This is my 2nd backing after dauntless. Reviews appear to be great and I hope the product is as good as I think it is. Yet to be delivered.
Is 610 mW 4.4mm balanced 4 vrms power sufficient to meet the desktop level performance for planar IEMs?
Interesting. 610mw is pretty good power for planar IEM, obviously not as good as a desktop setup but pretty solid.
How would you compare them to the Periodic Audio Rhodium for Moondrop Kato ?
Si el hidizs s9 pro está un poco por detrás que dawn y fc4 en detalles¿Cómo se compara con tachjim space?de todos los Dac que mencioné cuál es más timbre realista de instrumentos y densidad de nota?y cuál es más profundo y alto en escena?
Thanks for details in the audio
Could you please let me know which in your opinion is better,FiiO KA 1 or Moondrop Dawn ? Just one word would suffice
Thanks a lot
🙏🙏🙏
Sorry, haven't heard the Fiio KA1.
Go for fiio KA3... Fiio makes great dac /amp..
Please 🙏🏻 why did you ranked the ua3 for the last option? Compared to the Hiby Fc4.
I’m a freaky person who like to listen 🎧 to all kind of music 🎵 which? One should I choose?
And go for on purchase?
UA3 is a bright and brittle sound to my ears. Also it has a clunky user interface and app that can be used. Overall I find the FC4 to sound more natural and accurate and user friendly, plug n play. I listen to all sorts of music as well.
The default audio driver for Android makes everything sound reverberated and it makes symbols sound hissy no matter what. Local music with a player that supports it's own driver is fantastic but if I wanna stream music I'm sol. You're better off getting a decent dap instead.
Tx for your honest review Dave as always, you rule! Actually i am finding myself very comfortable with the Fiio BTR5 2021. I also waiting for a delivery of an LG G8s which i have found on a local second end online shop. A spectacular price that it was impossible not to be tempted to buy just for the Quad DAC alone which is more worthy than the 80€ that I've paid!
Also i consider to attach the BTR5 to the LG and see what happens, just 4 fun! I ll let, you folks, to know how and if the daisy chain worked or was just a fantasy of mine, lol.. About dongle nowadays (Nov 2022) there are even more amazing full capable of Hifi High Res same as desktop dacs amps at a fraction of size. Why purchase a big dac if you can have a pocket size for the sake overall results? Innit? Look at the DD Ddhifi new dac specs! Really outstanding dongle dac and dragonflies and Mojo are going to get reached, fully, soon...
It is true that dongles are advancing quickly and are becoming more competitive to desktop. BUT they still are limited with output stages and opamps and other internal capabilities that desktop offer. Depending on your usage and what you seek sonically a dongle can take you there. In my personal experience, a dongle is just a dongle and is still for portable use; they are still limited in what they offer sonically for me.
@@TheHonestAudiophile I just use iems,only, for practical reason neither, now by LG g8s (no quad DAC, though, i thought it had but nope..) and independent operation Opamps are now available on many new dongle beasts.
Unless the IEM is hard to drive, like planars, a dongle will be plenty for your usage.
@@TheHonestAudiophile change of plans.. Got a Earmen Sparrow with 40% discount at Amazon and with the BTR5 my S12 and Tin P1 Plus i think will be OK.... Or they will require more juice? IT seems so, but don't know any other options with a major powered Dac /amp as far as i modestly know...
Look forward to hearing your impressions
I use my fiio btr 5 as a dongle and it works great for easy to drive Headphones but my favorite Headphones require at least a watt and I'm unlikely to find a dongle to come close to that so there is no upgrade path that makes sense for me
Topping G5 is the answer, brother.
Using Moondrop kato atm, which one would be better to grab Moondrop dawn or Periodic Audio Rhodium?
I like both paired with the Kato but I reach for the Rhodium more often.
I need a dongle for the Z12 iem.. I'm undecided between FC4, DC04pro and maybe ka5. Any recommendation? I also need something as simple as possible to use on Android and laptop.. Not much eq and apps. Thanks
I've not heard the Z12, DX04 Pro or KA5, Sorry. The FC4 is one of my go to dongles.
Anyone else have power issues when fc4 connected to iPhone ? If iPhone battery at 50% or lower it stops powering the fc4.
I have this same issue
can you please recommend a dongle with type-c in to my android and the other end has aux as well as type-c both to connect to my 2 microphones?
thanks
Sorry I have no knowledge of such a dongle.
Hey guys should i get Sennheiser hd559 or hd599
I bought all of these to try out myself. The S9 Pro is best, hands down on all headphones. It's so much more powerful than the others and the sound is so clean. Just drop the replay gain down 1 or 2 decibels.
Glad you enjoy the S9 Pro. Thanks for watching and commenting.
periodic audio rhodium or Spectra X or dawn 🤔 with is the best regardless of price difference and my Maine iem is blessing 2
I'd rank them like this:
Rhodium
Dawn
Spectra X
Hi Dave I have a question, the dawn have a 3.5 version does it has less power than 4.4 in other word would it will struggle with planar IEM s
Less power doesn't bode well for driving planar IEM properly.
Everything you had posted, I want to own... Thanks allot
My pleasure, you're welcome.
Thanks 🙏
Moondrop is killing it!
Hope you can also review Cayin's RU6
Thank you for the suggestion. If a RU6 is provided to the channel or the funds become available, I will gladly give it a listen and review.
Btr5 and btr7 are my go to.
Hiby fc3 vs moondrop dawn pro
Which should i get?
Which is better?
Sorry haven't heard the Dawn Pro
Can you just buy balanced mini dac and plug it to normal earphones like you do with other dac's, or you need special earphones or cable or what sir?
In order to use a balanced output you would need a balanced cable.
@@TheHonestAudiophile thank you
My pleasure, you're welcome.
very cool
Does the Moondrop Dawn pair well with the TINHIFI P1 MAX?
I've only heard the Dawn 4.4 and it's a good pairing for a dongle.
Thank you for review.
I just wonder, can Hiby FC4 drive Sennheiser hd600? I am planning to use it with hd600 and Hifiman HE4XX and want to know if that little dude can power them.
I'd run both of those balanced with FC4, not the best option but it can do it. I recommend a desktop amp for those to get best experience.
@@TheHonestAudiophile Thank you for honest reply. I have 4.4mm balanced cables for both of them, and want to get some clean, wide stage when I listening to music on my phone. Now with your reply I think I can get somewhat fair experience with FC4.
@@myolgiden Look forward to hearing your impressions.
@@TheHonestAudiophile I will update and write here my impressions. Thanks again.
My pleasure, you're welcome.
Hi sir. I just ordered earbuds that are 180ohm. Recommendation? Thanks.
Dongles won't power 180ohm earphones well. You're going to need a balanced output dongle like the Hidizs S9 Pro, S9 Pro Plus or Hiby FC4. But you'll get a better performance with a small desktop amp instead.
@@TheHonestAudiophile Thsnk you.
@denislemieux7294 my pleasure, you're welcome
Can the moondrop dawn drive s12 planar iems?
Dawn 4.4 is the only version I've heard and yes it can.
Favorite dongles? Can be an old one of course but I mean which ones say four or five Do you think are the best ones out there now?
Periodic Audio Rhodium
Hiby FC4
Hiby FC4
Hidizs XO
AudioEngine DAC3
Tanchjim Space
Shanling Audio UA1 Plus
@@TheHonestAudiophile thank you. You mentioned one of them twice Did you mean the hiby FC-6 by chance
@ritaauton3006 FC3 and FC4
Haven't heard FC6
@@TheHonestAudiophile oh. Haha. I was guessing because you put the Hiby FC-4 twice
@ritaauton3006 yeah I'd love to to hear the FC6
Correction.......S9 pro using ESS9038Q2M DAC.
Correct, thanks for information and pointing out the error.
Hopefully next time you can review E1DA 9038S Gen 3 as well.
Thanks for the suggestion.
hi dave, just wanna ask something.. have u tried listening apple music or spotify with dongle? is there any differences in term of sounds? cz i feel like im only getting more power instead of sound changing..
in uapp, hiby or tidal i can feel the difference but not spotify or apple music
I am not an apple product user. As for Spotify, I do not use Spotify because in my past experiences with them, they are the lesser quality sounding of streaming services. I use Tidal and Amazon because both of them sound significantly better than Spotify and other services in my humble opinion.
Which Planar IEM's are you referring to when you mention the Dawn not driving them properly. Of all the planar iem reviews seen to date, none mention needing more than 230mw?
All planar IEM that I've reviewed have improved sonically with a desktop setup. As mentioned in the video, the Hiby FC4 is adequate and the best dongle for a planar IEM.
How about the Lotoo Paw S1/S2?
Sorry haven't heard those. Thanks for the suggestion.
How is dawn compared to E44?
Sorry I haven't heard the E44.
👍👍
How does the fc4 ? Playing through the sensitive iems ?
I have had no issues with hissing when using the FC4 with sensitive IEM.
@@TheHonestAudiophile please please could you help ME to hear a DSD FORMAT OF THE DAC/AMP
It’s here with now! It has just arrived to me yesterday …
I’d like to listen 🎧 to MQA file ( magenta> Purple 🟣) as well please help me ?
Which sample rates do I have to choose from my pc/ laptop 💻
Otherwise to 🔥🔥get ⚡️the 💣 max⚡️ out 🧨 of 🔥it 💥 🚀🚀🚀🚀
To listen to MQA on a dongle, you'll need to use the USB Audio Player app.
On PC/laptop you'd need to update your audio settings to replay in the highest capable bit rates. This also will be dependent on your DAC output abilities.
@@TheHonestAudiophile please would you clarify with more details so I can understand how it works properly
what is the cheapest desktop dac you recommend that will outperform the dawn dongle for a planar iem ? thanks
Geshelli Lab J2 and Aune X1s GT are the cheapest DAC or DAC/Amp desktops that I recommend. I recommend you check out my tier list rankings for more insight:
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nRHnsP_4vLg9DlD9kwJ6gQuEQFqhTR0lnrkxXo3AMG8/edit?usp=sharing
Are you sure about AKM chip in Hidisz S9 pro? ESS ES9038Q2M maybe?
YES I had a slip of the tongue. See pinned comment.
Or you use Android and want to not use the Android sound system (whether that matters with the other equipment or your ears is another discussion).
I think Xduoo link 2 bal is underrated 😅. It is a real value for money product interms of audio😎
I have heard the single ended version of the Link 2 and like it a lot. I will look into the Link 2 balanced, thanks for the suggestion.
@@TheHonestAudiophile it's a completely different thing, you will not regret
@@TheHonestAudiophile If ur gonna review 🙌👍. But it is really good for sure👌
Do you know how it compare to Hiby FC4?
I bought moondrop dawn 3.5 and i'm not sure what is your chain but the dawn is clearly too mid/high centric.. Also left-right is not balanced and there is no soundstage width or depth.. kinda fell dupe now.. another bad chinese product in my opinion.. cirrus logic dac chips should be doing better than this
Sounds like you have a broken unit. You should return it if you're not happy with the purchase.
Hello for SEnnheiser HD600 would you get Hiby FC4 or Shanling UA3 or which one please do u think is the best :)))
Dongles don't have enough power to bring the HD600 to it's potential.
@@TheHonestAudiophile so you would reccomend a table amplifier? and please which one? :)
Yes.
Aune X1s GT
JDS Labs Atom Plus DAC and Amp stack
Here's a link to my gear ranking list, please read ranking grade tab first.
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nRHnsP_4vLg9DlD9kwJ6gQuEQFqhTR0lnrkxXo3AMG8/edit?usp=drivesdk
Not all USB-C are the same. I choose only Motorola when it comes to change my phone because of this.
Those phones that have video out from USB-C are able to shill out more current other than speed. And this is good for our dongles.
Motorola is known as well to be the best phone when it comes to signal reception.
Wow, I didn't know Motorola is that capable. Will consider them as my replacement phone next year. Thank you
You mean, USB type C 3.2?
My wife got mad when I started taking about my dongle. 🤔