I used a higher end balanced Sony DAP and also LGv30 phone
good results with these devices, experimentation required
Anybody Using a Portable Audio Player (DAP) As a Streamer?
Hi! I just ordered a Hiby R6 Pro II DAP which has a digital output. I plan to use it on the go (as it is intended), but also at home as my streamer, by using its USB port to connect to my Denafrips Ares II DAC (bypass the internal DAC), and hoping to use the Hiby Cast app to control the DAP from my listening position. I plan to listen to DSD files loaded to a micro SD card on the DAP as well as streaming Apple Lossless by installing the native Apple Music app onto the DAP.
Is anyone else using such a setup instead of buying a standard desktop streamer (such as a Fiio R7/R9 or Eversolo DMP-A6/8)? If so, how's it working out for you? I see Hiby even makes a special dock for their DAPs to facilitate such a usage (the Hiby CR06 dock, which isn't cheap). Does it output bitperfect high-resolution audio to your external DAC without issues?
-Ed
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It’s been a while since I started this thread. I recently gave in and made the transition from Apple Music to Qobuz (by way of Soundiiz playlist transfer) and that opened up my options for streamers. I ended up going with the WiiM Ultra, which allows me to high-pass filter my loudspeaker signal digitally to my Topping D90 III Discrete DAC while low-passing my bass to my subwoofer via the LFE output, and then utilizing a UMIC-1 microphone to apply room correction from 20-500Hz and the sound has reached an absolutely sublime place. I had also upgraded away from the Class-D Fosi amps to a pair of Topping’s Class-B B100 monoblocs which are fed by the 1-bit DAC. Loudspeakers are still LS50 Metas and subwoofer is still SB-3000. Finally I’ve been putting a lot more focus into optimizing speaker placement (prior to applying room correction and tuning my bass management). -Ed |
I recently started using my ibasso 320 X as a streamer to my Peachtree Decco 125 Sky. The Decco amp has built in WiFi, so an external streamer isn’t required or needed. However, the ibasso connected via usb-C to usb-B perceived better. I tried LO to RCA. It sounded weak, low volume & laughable. I’ve tried coaxial to coaxial via an old external TEAC DAC as well. Perception was better, but not as transparent & open as the ibasso to amp connection. The TEAC configuration also allows me to power or keep the DAP charged up while streaming music. I’m going to try coaxial to optical next via a coaxial to optical cable. Again as a signal input + battery charger workaround due to my amps lack of a coaxial input. |
@fuzztone Looks like the problem is when using the invert or vertical flip option on the screen. Once I disabled that and returned it to normal orientation, it worked again. -Ed |
My R6 Pro II came in on Monday, along with my Gustard H16. The H16 replaced an SMSL SP400 as my preamp. I installed an SD card preloaded with some DSD recordings as well as installed Apple Music for all of my lossless/high-res lossless playlists from the cloud. The latest firmware update from HiBy occurred on late Monday night for version 1.3 of the firmware which added system-wide fully customizable parametric EQ. Long story short, I was able to successfully remove the DBX 31-band graphic equalizer unit from my chain which I had been using for room correction thanks to the firmware update/global parametric EQ. Furthermore, I found the performance of using the balanced analog output/integrated AKM4499EX/4191EQ DAC of the DAP itself to be quite good, 90-95% of the performance of using the separate Denafrips Ares II when comparing the most like filter settings (OS/slow on Ares II vs extra slow roll-off on the DAP), so I have decided to sell the Ares II to my dad and just run the DAP directly to my Gustard preamp--in other words, my experience is not too far off the mark from @mulveling . Changing my subwoofer connection from the sub outs of my Fosi ZA3 monoblocs to the single ended output of my new H16 also sounds way better, with significantly improved resolution as well as control from my SVS SB-3000 sub. One thing I noticed was a massive change in sound quality by making sure to set Gain to High and volume to 100 on the DAP to ensure the full 4V is fed from the balanced line out to the preamp. Much better dynamics, much more punch, than Gain set to Low (comparing with volume matched at the preamp between settings). @ghdprentice I am wondering if this might have been part of the issue for you comparing the DAP to a desktop streamer for you. @fuzztone I had no issues getting HiByCast to work on my iPhone or my iPad for controlling the R6 Pro II prior to the 1.3 firmware update. It was also working fine immediately after the firmware update. Last night I had only 5 minutes or so to play with it, but for some reason it was not working right all of a sudden, but I will try again later today when I get back home again (work from the office on Wednesdays) to fix it. Hoping it can be resolved by resetting or rebooting this or that. Overall, I am extremely pleased with the result. The DAP has exceeded my expectations for performance in the role of network streamer for my chain. As long as I can fix this (hopefully temporary) issue with HiByCast, I couldn’t be happier. Being able to remove two other components from my chain is the icing on the cake! -Ed |
OP,
I tried both. If I have a chance in the next day or two, I’ll do the comparison again.
@fuzztone …”I have an A&K and it sounds flat …”
+1 |
@ghdprentice were you using the internal DAC to compare or were you using an external DAC? -Ed |
I have a A&K S3000 DAP. This was the flagship of arguably one of two two best DAP companies. I think the cost was around $3K. It does not remotely compete with the lowest level last generation Aurender and probably many lessor streamers. How well it will work in your system will depend what you are comparing it to. But in general, I would expect a pretty big compromise in sound quality. |
@fuzztone Which version of HiBy Cast were you trying to use that failed, the Android version, or the iOS/iPadOS version? I have a Lenovo android-based tablet as well as iPhone and iPad at my disposal, so fingers crossed that SOMETHING works out! 😂 @mulveling I am hoping to get just as lucky, so I can sell my Denafrips Ares II to my dad (at an extremely substantial discount, don’t worry—I’m not that kind of son!), who is currently using a, “mere,” SMSL DO100 in his chain. -Ed
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I've been playing with an iBasso DX220 MAX in that capacity. The "problem" is its balanced line-out sounds so good, there may be no rational use of its digital (coax) out. Fed right from line-out into a very nice VAC Master preamp and Statement 450S amp - it absolutely trashes the NAD M12 (streamer/DAC) and Node 2i streamer I have around here. Pretty sure I like its sound better than the two Schiit Yggdrasils I had in past. Might be comparable or better to my Phison DAC (haven't directly compared those yet). But the poor M12 - my god, it sounds completely broken next to the iBasso. Really enjoyable sound, even with a high end analog rig in here. No issues with high-res when you use line out! |