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Post by julesd68 on Jun 23, 2020 19:25:53 GMT
Look what postie delivered today! Mmmm ... nice.  I wonder if it was a gift from MartinT ??    |
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Post by MartinT on Jun 23, 2020 19:28:12 GMT
If I had one it would become a gift very quickly |
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Post by julesd68 on Jun 23, 2020 19:30:30 GMT
LOL!!!
I'm sure you would be quickly converted to the joys of the Mini.
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Post by Slinger on Jun 23, 2020 19:45:03 GMT
Oooh, look. An expensive box of apples An expensive box of Apple's.
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Post by julesd68 on Jun 23, 2020 20:16:22 GMT
Nah guvnor.
I wasn't prepared to pay the silly new prices, so found a spec I was happy with second-hand.
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Post by Slinger on Jun 23, 2020 21:40:01 GMT
Isn't replacing the Tinker Board with one of those a bit overkill-ish, Jules? |
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Post by julesd68 on Jun 24, 2020 10:11:19 GMT
Little Tinker and Mac Mini will be best friends Paul!
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Post by Slinger on Jun 24, 2020 14:51:34 GMT
My little "briquette" has just arrived.
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Post by julesd68 on Jun 29, 2020 15:36:06 GMT
Bit more tweaking whilst system is in lockdown resting mode. Now I’m only using the one source I am simplifying my mains with this baby Supra block & lo-rad cable. One filtered, one non-filtered socket. I wouldn’t have paid the rather silly new price but got this from a forumite for a reasonable price.  |
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Post by julesd68 on Jul 9, 2020 2:00:18 GMT
I've been slightly underwhelmed by the sound quality of my new headphone rig. The system is Spotify Premium from my phone via USB to Topping NX4 DAC / Amp to Philips X2HR cans. The Topping and Philips are both very well rated and are a good technical match; I know Jerry wouldn't put me onto some duff cans! Anyways, after a short session tonight I just had an idea to swap out my phone and use the MacMini as source, again via USB. Somehow it is sounding much more satisfactory - more rez, dynamics, air etc I'm no longer thinking of a new DAC amp! How is this possible? Am I imagining it?? |
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Post by MartinT on Jul 9, 2020 5:00:45 GMT
Not all phones have a great digital output, it can be full of jitter and noise.
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Post by julesd68 on Jul 9, 2020 6:16:48 GMT
Ah right, had never considered that as a factor with my phone!
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Post by jandl100 on Jul 9, 2020 8:59:45 GMT
... know Jerry wouldn't put me onto some duff cans! Well, maybe. Tastes differ. Tim bought the Philips on my reccie and didn't like them at all. But of all the cans I've had and have (lots!) it's probably the Philips X2HR that would be the ultimate keepers if I were limited to just to one pair. They aren't the most focused or dynamic or detailed or deepest or tautest, but they are the easiest to listen to and be immersed in, and possibly the cumfiest and the easiest to forget that I'm wearing headphones. YMMV |
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Post by Tim on Jul 9, 2020 9:45:46 GMT
Ah right, had never considered that as a factor with my phone! John Darko did a piece about audio from phones, some are really bad. I can't remember what model it was, but he found a particuler LG phone the best and uses that as a portable headphone system. I'm on my tablet at the moment, so finding it would be tricky, but I'm sure if you went to his website or his YouTube channel you'd find it? |
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Post by MartinT on Jul 9, 2020 10:10:46 GMT
My LG G7 has a very good DAC (32-bit quad DAC) and I must admit it has the best sound of any phone I've yet used with my SoundMAGIC E10.
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digititis
Jul 9, 2020 11:01:35 GMT
via mobile
Post by julesd68 on Jul 9, 2020 11:01:35 GMT
Thanks chaps, it hadn't occurred to me there would be any difference in the sound at all. When at home, unless listening in bedroom, I'll use the Mini as my source in future. Not worthwhile changing phone as I won't be listening much on travels.
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Post by MartinT on Jul 9, 2020 11:04:41 GMT
It just shows that even separating out the digital stream to an external DAC won't completely sort poor noise/jitter performance. You would need a reclocker for your phone!
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digititis
Jul 9, 2020 12:34:18 GMT
via mobile
Post by julesd68 on Jul 9, 2020 12:34:18 GMT
LOL.
Last night the Mac was on WiFi - it's normally a wired connection so interested to see if that makes a difference. I'll also try a fancier USB cable from Mac to DAC just for interest sake.
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Post by Tim on Jul 9, 2020 14:41:27 GMT
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Post by julesd68 on Jul 9, 2020 15:13:02 GMT
How dare you doubt my credentials, Sir!!  I challenge you to a duel at dawn in Regents Park ... pistols or sabres? Actually, it refers to an unbranded Chinese made Remote Volume Control, a passive pre basically. Great little unit which was only around 100 quid or so. |
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