EQUIPMENT & PLAYLIST

These equipment determines the sound impressions that I described in my Dongle reviews and ranking. Different type of equipment may sound different to others from the same Dongle. Almost all of my IEMs/HPs are natively neutral and natural with high level of technical competencies

Test Equipment 2022

Headphones:

FOSTEX T40RP MK3 (Magnetic Planar, 50 Ohm, 91db Sensitivity)
Beyerdynamic DT880 (Dynamic Drivers, 600 Ohm, 96db Sensitivity)

IEMs:

Etymotic ER4SR (Single BA, 45 Ohm, 96db Sensitivity)
TRN VX Pro (8 BA + 1DD Hybrid, 22 Ohm, 106db Sensitivity)
TIN HiFi T3+ (Single DD, 32 Ohm, 105db Sensitivity)
Kinera Idun Golden (3BA, 32 Ohm, 112 Sensitivity)
Shure KSE1500 (Single Electrostatic 200V, KSA1200 Energizer)

Cables:

VE Standard DI Copper 6N OCC
VE SDIC Lite OCC
Kinera Leyding OFC
TACables Amber Litz OCC

Earbuds:

VE Asura 3.0 FE (Single DD, 155 Ohm)
VE ZEN 2.0 SLQ (Single DD, 320 Ohm)

Sources:

Windows 10, Foobar 2000 (USB 3.0 Power)
LG V50 ThinQ (UAPP USB Exclusive Mode, Bitperfect)
Sony Xperia X Compact (UAPP USB Exclusive Mode, Bitperfect)
Tidal Masters (via UAPP)

Comparative Reference DAC/Amp:

iFi ZEN DAC V2 + ZEN CAN Stack (15.1 Vrms)

Test Equipment 2021

Headphones:

FOSTEX T40RP MK3 (Magnetic Planar, 50 Ohm, 91db Sensitivity)
Beyerdynamic DT990 (Dynamic Drivers, 250 Ohm, 96db Sensitivity)
Monolith M565c (Magnetic Planar, 24 Ohm, 95db Sensitivity)

IEMs:

Etymotic ER4SR (Single BA, 45 Ohm, 96db Sensitivity)
Etymotic ER2XR (Single BA, 24 Ohm, 96db Sensitivity)
HZSOUND Heart Mirror (Single DD, 32 Ohm)
Moondrop Aria (Single DD, 32 Ohm)
TForce Yuan Li (Single DD, 32 Ohm)
VE Duke MK1 (Single DD, 16 Ohm)
7Hz Timeless (Magnetic Planar)
TIN HiFi P1 (Magnetic Planar)
SeeAudio Bravery (4 BA, 32 Ohm)
Shure KSE1500 (Single Electrostatic 200V, KSA1200 Energizer)

Cables:

VE Standard DI Copper 6N OCC
VE SDIC Lite OCC
Kinera Leyding OFC
TACables Amber Litz OCC

Earbuds:

VE Asura 2.0 (Single DD, 155 Ohm)
VE ZEN 2.0 SLQ (Single DD, 320 Ohm)
VE Monk SM (Single DD, 33 Ohm)
VE Monk GO (Single DD, 64 Ohm)

Sources:

Windows 10, Foobar 2000 (USB 3.0 Power)
LG V35 ThinQ (UAPP USB Exclusive Mode, Bitperfect)
iPhone 8
iPhone 7
Sony Xperia Z5 Compact (UAPP USB Exclusive Mode, Bitperfect)
Tidal Masters (via UAPP)
Deezer App

Comparative Reference DAC/Amp:

Cayin N6ii E02 (ES9038Q2M Dual Discrete)
Cayin N3 Pro (AK4493EQ Dual Discrete)
Topping D10s + A50s

Test Songs Playlist

Lossless FLAC, Used on both my laptop and phones

USB CONSIDERATIONS

This is IMPORTANT!, the type of USB the Dongles plugs into have great influence to the sound quality.

USB 2.0 is more common on 70% of the Android phones
Apple iOS Lightning runs on USB 2.0 power delivery
USB 3.0, 3.1 and 3.2 offers higher power output (Watt)
Older Micro USB uses USB 2.0 but audibly “softer” power

Some of the bigger Dongles audibly perform better when plugged to USB 3.0 because the higher wattage ensures that the Amp stage receive maximum power feed. The smaller dongles may still benefit from the extra power but may also be exposed to higher risk of floor noise especially if they are poorly designed and implemented.

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