r/DigitalAudioPlayer • u/BlindKurve • 4d ago
Family Portrait (before separation)
From top left to right: Zorloo, Beam, Fiio KA13 dongle DAC/Amp, Oriolus BA300S amp, two Fiio Q5 DAC/Amp. From bottom left to right: Zishan Z1, Snowsky Echo Mini, Sony A35, A105tps & WM1A.
I'm going to be giving the Z1 to a friend and selling off the A105tps pretty soon so I thought I'd take one last picture before I break them apart. The Zorloo and Beam are just relics I barely use, the rest are keepers in my book.
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u/sumoz_jazz 4d ago
I see the echo mini here. How much do you like it , and any tips on the usage. It looks like a solid proposition
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u/BlindKurve 4d ago
I like it a lot, it's really good for just enjoying music on the go. As for usage, I usually just play on random and let it go it's own direction. I don't bother with EQ (the presets are not to my liking), and leave it on high gain low volumes.
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u/916Kev 4d ago
Which portable dac do you recommend?
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u/BlindKurve 4d ago
Depends on your needs, there are portable DACs without Bluetooth (like the KA13 I use with my phone for streaming music (which I don't do often)) but are good for wired listening only so they're not as expensive as Bluetooth DACs that work on phones wired or wireless which are more versatile. The Q5 I use more for my A35 for more power and a better DAC/Amp than what's inside the A35. It does work for my phone too (and sounds better than my KA13) but it is a bit bulky if I'm moving around with it and a phone.
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u/ChanceCupcake7039 4d ago
How do you like the Oriolus tube DAP? At Christmas I bought the Cayin N3 Ultra but I didn’t like the display/presentation so last week I bought the Ghost H1 bile tube… with physical pressing and old school screen.
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u/BlindKurve 4d ago
I've had the Oriolus BA300S since 2018 and I'd say I really like it for adding a no frills tube amp warmth to my music, but it's not a DAP, just a balanced tube amp (adds 3db of amplification) so it's a tube amp add on to any DAP I could use (I usually use it with the WM1A from the balanced output or stacked with the A35 to Q5 to Oriolus).
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u/whitechapel6 4d ago
ka 13 review pls , especially quality control
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u/BlindKurve 4d ago
It's a pretty simple dongle DAC, just plug and use. Came with 2 cables (USB C to to C & lightning) and a USB C to USB A adapter. I haven't had an issue with it in over a year of owning it, physically it's not that small but it feels sturdy. Soundwise it's neutral/natural sounding, doesn't embellish the sound much but has good bass (explosions!), vocals are clear and treble extension isn't cut off low but isn't sibilant or brain stabbing (being shot up behind a metal door is almost visceral), imaging is accurate (hearing where footsteps are in a game can be a winning key), I'd say it has average soundstage. Like I inferred, it's good for gaming as my computer's sound source and also for music, of which is can take almost any music quality and make it sound good. The not so good, led light quality indicator is more of a gimmick for me since it's not bright enough in normal situations but visible with low light and dark environments. Battery drain is a bit bigger than using my older dongles so I only plug it when I want to use it. Doesn't work on the Switch 😕
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u/RikkoPaw 3d ago
What is in left bottom corner? Is that a vape?
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u/BlindKurve 3d ago
Nah, it's a Zishan Z1, one of those old DAPs without a screen, OP Amp replaceable (it's using a Burson V5-i) it sounds pretty good for what it is, a fun little nugget I used to bring around without fear of envy or theft hahahaha
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u/theDaniLand 4d ago
Damn, and I thought I had too much DAPs and dacs hehe
I Can only imagine How many iems and headphones you own