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In Reply to: RE: Bluetooth/Apt-X w/ built-in DAC OR Hardwire? Base Metal + Plating? Which Upgrades/Order for Tight Budget? posted by jmunky3 on August 23, 2016 at 03:21:33
Thanks for that very helpful response.
As for the self build ICs and speaker cables I can't offer much advice as it is decades since I built any and much has changed in the cable world since then. Maybe you should post this particular part of your question on the cable forum here? I do use mostly silver cables but ICS only as I do not require speaker cables in my set up.
As for using a Galaxy 7 Note as source then I can offer something on it as I have a Galaxy 7 myself and and am pretty confident that the technology that affects audio play is the same for both models.
The audio quality of the Galaxy 7 was the worst that I have ever heard ( via its hard wire 3.5mm connection). Thin, screechy,distorted and with so little muscle that I could not get it to properly drive any of my headphones or IEMs except for a very expensive pair of low impedence Sony IEMs on loan to me. I even bought a pair of Sennheiser Momentum G IEMs which are specifically intended for Samsung Galaxy products.
So I thought that adding an outboard DAC/Amplifier ( e.g. Audioquest Dragonfly) would help. No good as Samsung have blocked the USB socket for output to such a device ( you can check by running either USB Host Check or USB Host Test apps).
On the good side the Galaxy 7 will play FLAC files ( and other formats) up to 24/192 although I have only tried 16/44.1 so far. Moving audio files to the phone from PC was very straightforward. Player app, BTW, is Poweramp which I recommend. I also have the Samsung player ( not preinstalled ) which doesn't offer the same options for replay e.g. gapless.
So I returned the Sennheisers to the store and got a refund. However before leaving I thought I would try plugging some of the cans on display into the G7 just for luck. No luck, same crap noise. Eventually I found one pair of Sony over ears that actually didn't sound too bad. To double check I went back to the first pair I had tried and -what!- they sounded fine as did all of the others. Put in my own Etymotics which had previously been unlistenable. No problem. Sound is perfectly adequate now for my mobile purposes but not high end (as it were).
I can only guess that I had experienced the most clear example ever of burn in being an issue. Also evidence that burn in can be a step change and not gradual. So if you purchase the G Note 7 and are initially unhappy with the sound I suggest just persevere for a while.
If you like I will try to get my G7 connected through my main rig via Bluetooth and will let you know what the result is. However it will be plain vanilla Bluetooth as it will be via a PC without APT-X.
BTW, love the idea of your EV drivers. Never a brand with much profile here in the UK, I owned a pair of Sentinels in the 1970s (was that the model? A folded bass horn with mid and treble compression drivers) until they were stolen. Greatly missed.
Follow Ups:
Yeah, I had a bit of a wait until the device really broke in. Now has 2,000-2,700 hours of play through the 3.5mm jack. It was dramatic change at 1st, then slowly got a little bit better bit by bit over the next 100-200 hours or so. Was metallic, thin and harsh at 1st for sure.
My EV are from mid to late 1960s I think. One of their earlier models for sure, white frame Alnico 12/25, not dark frame 12/20B. Nice overall sound, rich and organic with a little sparkle to mids and highs... best part though is a kind of ghostly 3D soundstage when paired with right gear. Plan to probably use 1969/70 KLE Model 27... nothing special per say, but is loaded with large/higher wattage Carbon Comp R and is very musical, warm and sweet sound, though doesn't really have low level detail. Mostly to add that little bit of Alnico magic to overall sound characteristics and reinforce the soundstage a bit.
You could still probably find a similar pair of EV, maybe the same model, in the States at 1 of many used HiFi vendors. EV I found is much more in demand and pricey for my fellow guitar players vs HiFi. Mine were given to me by my step uncle, who repairs/rebuilds old Tube Radios from 1920s-1970s that he finds at estate and garage sales typically. Not surprising that any American brand is not big in UK. You have a very large assortment of your own brands from basic to high end. Plus service wouldn't be all that manageable either for most part for US made gear.
Even though it's walnuts to oranges, I always vastly prefered alnico in guitar speakers and pickups. Was also very hesitant to use any type of solder with silver in it as several I tried were extremely harsh. So that aspect of cables and connectors concerns me a bit. But the WBT Silver w lead solder works great without harshness or dullness. Found it to be most musical out of Mundorf, Cardas and Johnson solders.
Sure, if you have spare time with little else better to do, trying out the BT on G7 would be great.
Thanks
" trying out the BT on G7 would be great".
After hours of researching how to do this with Windows 10 I have concluded that it cannot be done. The software that Windows had for Bluetooth up to and including Win 8.1 is not replicated in Win 10 and the streaming from a device function is no longer there ( according to both my findings and according to various online expert sources). I have checked that the installed Bluetooth software for my device is up to date. There is no downloadable fix either.
If anyone can show that this is incorrect and that the facility is there then please let me know and advise me on how to configure it.
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