Personal Audio

ChrisSU posted:

glevethan posted:

No problem with iPhone memory- mine is 256 gig so plenty of room. 

RE AK - offline downloading from TIDAL is mandatory for me. I think I would rather remain with my iPhone as it is for casual listening when away from my big system. 

I can't see why the AK wouldn't be able to store offline Tidal music? My Sony can, and of course the iPhone can. Perhaps it would be nice if Naim players could too, I would have thought it would be feasible for the new Unitis. 

AK Junior unfortunately has no wifi and can't use Tidal offline or otherwise.

Wilko posted:

After saying my positive piece about Pono, I was overtaken by a moment of CC lunacy and bought a Sony NW-WM1A. This very expensive gizmo does nothing but play music files, has no wifi capability. Does have Bluetooth for pairing with phones. While I'd prefer to be recommending a bargain I have to say the sound quality is astonishing and puts the Pono way into the shade. It's also a beautiful piece of industrial design, fits nicely in the hand with all controls accessible, and with excellent software design. It's heavier than the Pono though, about half a pound which doesn't sound much but for a small device feels a bit of a brick. I have a US version without EC volume limiting and I have read some criticism of the limited version when it comes to difficult-to-drive phones. Now I'm waiting for a balanced connector to arrive, but meanwhile I'm blown away by the sound with Shure IEMs, and Fostex TH900s. If your ambition is best sound quality and you don't need streaming, you can't do better.

You have gone for the "cheap" version. You can also spent almost triple the price to get the NW-WM1Z.......which much have a very very good sound quality.......

I have the earlier version the NW-ZX2 and I love it...., perhaps I might at some point in time be convinced to to take the real expensive beast...

Just bought a ak300 this week an must say been impressed with SQ, can do Bluetooth apt X hd, wireless and tidal support as a result now in process of upgrading my headphones (my excuse was needed them for hols......) decided to go with sennhiser ie800s iems for portability 

Sounds interesting as there is Wi-Fi and Tidal support. 

Has anyone done a comparison using a AK player (any model) vs. an iPhone 7 into a Chord Mojo?

It will obviously boil down to an all in one transport/Dac/amplifier (AK) vs an iPhone transport paired with an external DAC/amplifier (Mojo). 

In simple terms which is better- the AK or Mojo?

AK 100 Mk11 through a Mojo driving Cardas cabled HD650s here.  I'm pretty impressed, although the Mojo battery life isn't great. 

Doesn't the AK have an internal DAC and amplifier?  What does the Mojo do in that case?

With my iPhone 7 the lightning port outputs a purely digital signal. The Mojo then acts as both DAC and amplifier. 

Wilko posted:

After saying my positive piece about Pono, I was overtaken by a moment of CC lunacy and bought a Sony NW-WM1A. This very expensive gizmo does nothing but play music files, has no wifi capability. Does have Bluetooth for pairing with phones. While I'd prefer to be recommending a bargain I have to say the sound quality is astonishing and puts the Pono way into the shade. It's also a beautiful piece of industrial design, fits nicely in the hand with all controls accessible, and with excellent software design. It's heavier than the Pono though, about half a pound which doesn't sound much but for a small device feels a bit of a brick. I have a US version without EC volume limiting and I have read some criticism of the limited version when it comes to difficult-to-drive phones. Now I'm waiting for a balanced connector to arrive, but meanwhile I'm blown away by the sound with Shure IEMs, and Fostex TH900s. If your ambition is best sound quality and you don't need streaming, you can't do better.

There is always the gold z version to do it better at a cost for me zx2 is the best, i use tidal downloads only for my mobile hifi use

i still can not believe how new sony came out without streaming!

It does just one thing supremely well. As with many high end audio components, it does not compromise on sound quality for features. Listen and you'll believe why... But the gold is a step too far.

Wilko posted:

It does just one thing supremely well. As with many high end audio components, it does not compromise on sound quality for features. Listen and you'll believe why... But the gold is a step too far.

NDS does Tidal and streaming as well..... it is one of the best. 

So i dont believe that having wifi/Tidal is a compromise on sound quality, you can just download your tracks and shut it down. 

I think it is just marketing gimmick " pure DAP " and a bad move, i was going to but another DAP as well was my SONY ZX2 but not Sony anymore. 

They could have done the gold one as a pure player or offer a choice. 

You have to pay me a lot for me to buy the gold by the way, it is way too expensive without offering anything substantial on A model, again it is just overcharging with marketing... 

The NDS has a lot more real estate to play with. A small portable player does not have this luxury . I have no interest in streaming services so if i was looking for a no compromise solution then something that's designed for the sole purpose of playing music from memory (internal and cards) would do for me. 

Emre posted:

Wilko posted:

It does just one thing supremely well. As with many high end audio components, it does not compromise on sound quality for features. Listen and you'll believe why... But the gold is a step too far.

NDS does Tidal and streaming as well..... it is one of the best. 

So i dont believe that having wifi/Tidal is a compromise on sound quality, you can just download your tracks and shut it down. 

I think it is just marketing gimmick " pure DAP " and a bad move, i was going to but another DAP as well was my SONY ZX2 but not Sony anymore. 

They could have done the gold one as a pure player or offer a choice. 

You have to pay me a lot for me to buy the gold by the way, it is way too expensive without offering anything substantial on A model, again it is just overcharging with marketing... 

I assume none of us have heard the gold. The sound quality might be so good that we would be ok with not having wifi. I do understand that wifi is out due to interference........, it's most pure...

I would be interested by the way if somebody on the forum has experience with the Shure KSE1500 as the ultimate earphones for mobile use. Would be very interested in a real user report.

Bert Schurink posted:

I would be interested by the way if somebody on the forum has experience with the Shure KSE1500 as the ultimate earphones for mobile use. Would be very interested in a real user report.

noooooooo  i must admit that i have not listen them but a non EU ZX2 ( or a fine DAP or mojo+dap)+Audio noble K10 would be my preference....  

K10 is an excellent piece of kit when you talk about universals and world opens up to million choices when you talk about customs.

For that kind of money i would go for a good custom as a end game ciem and look for a suitable dap between sony/AK/Pioneer and many others, or mojo with new add on which i dont know much about it, but mojo is a gem of kit. 

Just bought the Dragonfly Black to use with the iPhone 6S and so far it is pretty awesome, with either my Bose noise cancelling in ear phones (with noise cancelling switched off for better SQ) or with the AKG Y50. Perfect for the commute or just walking and listening. 

Just on the gold Sony ... there are extensive reviews and comparisons on-line, and none finds the gold a significant improvement on the black. I agree that it's crazy to be wringing the last fraction of sound quality out of a DAP to be used largely in noisy environments, but I don't feel like a victim of marketing, more of my own audiophile craziness. The sound is terrific, I have 380G of files with a 200G card added, and the battery lasts forever (well, 33 hours). I couldn't be happier.

Wilko posted:

Just on the gold Sony ... there are extensive reviews and comparisons on-line, and none finds the gold a significant improvement on the black. I agree that it's crazy to be wringing the last fraction of sound quality out of a DAP to be used largely in noisy environments, but I don't feel like a victim of marketing, more of my own audiophile craziness. The sound is terrific, I have 380G of files with a 200G card added, and the battery lasts forever (well, 33 hours). I couldn't be happier.

I am sure it sounds very good, no doubt there.

i will go and buy one if money was no object and i can change the color  i am not gold material, so enjoy it, dont mind the old envious guys like me

we all pay 3 times the price for last percentile so dont fell guilty! 

For me tidal and double sd slot are two things i am looking for in a new dap if i replace my zx2!

2 slots might give you 500gb and i can download all tidal! new fiio looks interesting x5

Apologies if I am missing something but is it possible to use wireless headphones, such as B&W P7 wireless, with an Audioquest Dragonfly  connected to an iPhone 7?

I am currently enjoying my iPhone 6 with a Dragonfly Black and an old pair of Sennheiser HD 565s. I am upgrading to an iPhone 7 soon and am tempted by the convenience of wireless for Tidal listening but cannot see how this works unless the Dragonfly uses Bluetooth 

Bob

i dont think that you can use dragonfly wireless without adding another dongle which won't make sense....

you have to use iPhone or get a bluetooth DAP, i use bluetooth ZX2 with sony noise cancelling headphones, they are not the best in sound but better than airpot / airplane noise. 

Thanks Emre

I use Bose QC25 wired noise cancelling for flying - the sound is a bit compromised but they are great for noisy environments and also good for watching films and catch-up tv on my iPad

I recently bought a Dragonfly Black and it certainly improves my IPhone 6/Sennheiser 565s and also a pair of wired Momentum 2.0 over ear headphones I demoed and I am tempted to buy a pair and ditch the 565s

Bob

Shropshire Hills posted:

Thanks Emre

I use Bose QC25 wired noise cancelling for flying - the sound is a bit compromised but they are great for noisy environments and also good for watching films and catch-up tv on my iPad

I recently bought a Dragonfly Black and it certainly improves my IPhone 6/Sennheiser 565s and also a pair of wired Momentum 2.0 over ear headphones I demoed and I am tempted to buy a pair and ditch the 565s

Bob

you can always add cables to Bose and use Dragonly with i phone/ipad in plane...  

Momentum 2.0 is nice check the Meze also they are very good. 

glevethan posted:

Doesn't the AK have an internal DAC and amplifier?  What does the Mojo do in that case?

With my iPhone 7 the lightning port outputs a purely digital signal. The Mojo then acts as both DAC and amplifier. 

It does.  The DAC and in particular the headphone amp in the Mojo seem to have lifted the performance a notch or two.  I also has an iPhone 7 plus loaded with lots of "offline" music from my Tidal account - ok but not as good as the A&K with 24 bit music.  I've tried my MacBook into the Mojo through my main system - OK especially with the Master Files, but not as good as my NS01.  I'll almost certainly give the Poly a go.  But I still prefer vinyl to the lot.  

Hi Emre

my Bose are the wired version - just replaced under warranty by Bose after 23 months after one earcup failed. The Dragonfly certainly improves the sound but in quiet environments the wired Momentums with Dragonfly were significantly better

I am amused.

At people spending a sensible amount of money on headphones and then plugging them into a phone. The DAC must cost what, $3 ? Yes they will sound better than the supplied earplugs, but, seriously, just get an off board DAC.

I bought 2 months ago a new headphone + Dragonfly Black. I considered the Dragonfly a much bigger step up than replacing my $100 headphone by a $500 one.

Dragonfly: double the quality at least.

Different headphones: maybe 20% better.

Bartman posted:

glevethan posted:

Doesn't the AK have an internal DAC and amplifier?  What does the Mojo do in that case?

With my iPhone 7 the lightning port outputs a purely digital signal. The Mojo then acts as both DAC and amplifier. 

It does.  The DAC and in particular the headphone amp in the Mojo seem to have lifted the performance a notch or two.  I also has an iPhone 7 plus loaded with lots of "offline" music from my Tidal account - ok but not as good as the A&K with 24 bit music.  I've tried my MacBook into the Mojo through my main system - OK especially with the Master Files, but not as good as my NS01.  I'll almost certainly give the Poly a go.  But I still prefer vinyl to the lot.  

Dear glevethan;

This is forum's crowd who uses nds as a transport with a power supply with a ndac and another power supply!

And with a 1k ethernet cable etc

So a good transport makes - can make - a difference,  have to make a difference I don't use mojo with my walkman I use it with a pc or with my tablet by the way but I can see the point of a dap/mojo

Memory, mojo can drive everything an ak can not etc