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I'm looking for help with finding and selecting a DAC around/under $200... portable or desktop/home size, new/used, to use with my Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and thus Android OS. I use streaming apps and some files on phone.
Broadly speaking, I'm looking for something that will have similar output volume of a CD player so there's not such a huge volume change when I switch between the 2.
I'd prefer a DAC that's sound has more musical, warm, fluid characteristics, if possible in/near budget is also a large, airy, 3D soundstage with solid, detailed instrument presentation within music. But I know you usually don't get everything you want.
Ideally it has own power supply, namely a power cord but a long lasting battery (no idea if any last around 16+ hours of use with couple days+ of standby or not)
Or if possibly a sound enhancing headphone/preamp might be better suited and which of those would fit the bill.
Prefer either USB Input (that works with Android OS and Samsung Galaxy Note 4) with 3.5mm / 1/8" Output. Or RCA F Input with RCA M Output direct hookup to Amps RCA F Input, or RCA F Input with a standard RCA F Output for RCA IC Output to Amp.
Thanks
Follow Ups:
I picked this up recently & am LOVING it on my iPhone. Very good sound (same chip as my Oppo!) and VERY reasonable.
Happy listening...
-B-
Looks like it could be an excellent option for Android users for sure. Thanks for the heads up on it
How about an iFi Nano iDSD DAC:
nt
I need a DAC to decode 5.6-MHz DSD because that is how I now record vinyl records. The ifi Nano iDSD DAC will handle all formats including DSD up to 5.6-MHz. It's battery operated, too.
I know nothing about Dragonfly DACs.
Good luck,
John Elison
nt
The first hurdle that you have is getting any DAC to work with your Samsung Android device. The USB output will not normally pass audio. Even later iterations (I have a Galaxy 7 phone ) require the installation of a special audio player app and the use of a special micro usb/USB A female connector that allows one of the, otherwise unused, USB pins to function (an OTG cable). There is also a question of which Android version you are running. You may also need to allow audio output in the device settings, look in the developer's menu. However I am unsure about your particular model.Look at the Audioquest Dragonfly Red which is terrific and within your budget. However even if you decide on another DAC do read the AQ page in the link which explains the technical needs (see FAQ Android). The issues will largely be common irrespective of the DAC that you choose.
BTW the latest software for the Dragonfly does deal with some of the issues and you may be able to get audio passed via the USB output without a special player ( again subject to the Android version). You will still need the Dragontail for Android though.
Edits: 07/13/17 07/13/17
The Dragonfly Red will output a very low level signal without the use of an app like USB Audio Player Pro (a wonderful app that not only does bit-perfect of files on an attached micro SD card, but will do hires from Asset UPnP runnig on my PC and Tidal including MQA pass-thru to my now-upgraded Dragonfly Red) on my Galaxy Tab A and my Samsung 7 phone. I believe the volume problem has to do with a Android volume control quirk. My Oppo HA-2, however, will play from the music apps like Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal without a problem. It must provide support internally or the more non-interventionist approach by AudioQuest and Chord.
Thanks that looks like the direction I should consider the most since you use similar stuff and it works.
Thanks, sounds like a headphone/preamp that has a solid amount of volume boost to signal and also has over
" also has over"...........?
No, past few early AM days my Internet has gone totally screwy.
Jest is sounds like a sound enhancing headphone/preamp that will boost volume to a CD player output level that has overall sound characteristics mentioned in 1st post might be best option. Hopefully in or under same price range. Do any of those type units up-sample direct analog output that's at MP3 level quality to a CD/vinyl record type level?
Your question have may been easier for me to answer if you had told me what you want to do with the output from your Galaxy Note 4. Are you feeding headphones directly or do you want it to feed into an audio system via a pre-amp or integrated amp?
You are asking two things that are not the same, one is volume output, the other quality output.
Basically the volume output from any digital file, MP3 or CD has a maximum level of 0dBfs ( zero decibels, full scale). What that means in voltage output terms depends upon the DAC. This is conventionally 2V although some DACS provide higher outpus. The importance of this depends upon what you wnat to do with it. If it is 2V ( doesn't matter if it's MP3, CD, hi-rez, DSD) then normally it will need some kind of attenuation as it will be too high for many headphones and power amplifier inputs. That's why there is a volume control on the preamp/integrated amp.
So I gather that your MP3s are too quiet for whatever it is that you do with your Galaxy Note 4. Well, it's a tablet so it may not have the conventional 2V output (I don't know) and may require some kind of external device to raise it if it is to drive e.g low sensitivity/high impedence headphones or a standard line stage input. So, in answer to you first question, virtually all DACS will provide at least a 2V output. DAC/headphone amps like the AQ Dragonfly may not as they are specialised. For example the Dragonfly Black has a lower output than 2V. However the Red version is OK on this aspect.
However it may be that your MP3 files do not have a maximum sound level for some reason of 0dBfs ( everything else being equal). They will therefore sound quieter than an audio file that does. In fact in real life good recordings will have a maximum output level below 0dBfs to avoid clipping. Furthermore recordings with a wide dynamic range will sound quieter on average so that the high peak sound levels can be at or around 0dBfs. Anyway the variations of maximum sound levels of the files should usually be dealt with by the preamp not the DAC. That's what it is for. Yes, some DACS have volume controls and can act as pre-amps. However if for some reason more than 2V is required you normally do need an active pre-amp.
So, on to the second aspect of your question, quality.
Upsampling cannot add information. An MP3 audio file has thrown away some information and it is not possible to get it back. So upsampling will do nothing on this account. All that upsampling does is allow the placing of the digital filter further out of the audio band which minimises some of the audible abberations of the filter e.g. pre-ringing. It does not improve quality per se but can improve the listening experience in some circumstances. If you want CD quality then you need to have files of 16/44.1 without any lossy processing i.e. not MP3s as they cannot be improved in reality. However, as I say, upsampling may improve your experience but I would not rely upon it when using lossy files.
Thanks, alot of good info in there.
Yes they were 2 separate paths if you will. SQ and volume, volume is Secondary mainly but brought it up because I wasn't seeing many good options for Androids related to DAC pr improving sound outside of maybe a tube headphone amp with line out. If I find a DAC that works for my setup I'll switch over to Tidal with their high Res setup. I was hoping to get additional volume as well but isn't a big concern. I don't think the mV output on my note 4 is that great (maybe 2/3 as loud as when CD plays at best), but more than plenty loud for my headphones, just not for diving home system which is what this is in regards to.
So it's for home system, nothing even moderately expensive but dig the sound. Running into an Aux RCA preamp input for analog SS integrated amp. So overall I guess it's which is most pragmatic and likely to work well.... running a tube headphone preamp to enrich and boost volume some or switch to Tidal high resolution and add a DAC that works with USB of Android phones.
Thanks for all the input folks
Also anyone else not getting emails of replies? I got 2 out of what appears to be around 6 or 7
I think this is often lost on many people.
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