The DC-05 also claims “Time Domain Jitter Eliminator and HyperStream III Architecture” to reduce signal noise and distortion, and I did find it to be extremely quiet and hiss-free. Finally, and most critically, it has substantially above-average driving power and pairs much better with planars and lower-efficiency IEMs than its cheaper rivals. It does run warm, but doesn’t seem to be a battery hog.

Said driving power really defines the DC-05’s sonic character—it has a rich, slightly warm tone which deepens the low end and makes drums and percussion sound larger-than-life, all of which has the effect of enlivening poorer recordings and lower-quality files.

High end is a bit smoothed over and some high-level details are missing; on better recordings, the DC-05 can sound a bit blunt, albeit never shrill or peaky.  The dirt-cheap Conexant CX31993 actually sounds more transparent and less colored than the DC-05, but significantly trails the DC-05’s dynamic slam and bass control.

Fairly compared to a price peer like the ($70) Hidisz S-3 (which on its own terms is quite energetic and bassy), the DC-05 sounds deeper, louder and fuller, while the more analog-sounding S-3 is truer-to-source and presents more high-end resolution.  The S-3 also places more air between instruments. I preferred the brawnier DC-05 for rock and the more nuanced S-3 for jazz and acoustic fare.

Moving up the foodchain to the $110 Cozoy Takt-C gives you a more neutral presentation, with much less bass boost and more treble detail, although the DC-05 worked better and sounded less reserved and more impactful with less efficient (>150 Ohm) buds and cans.

Ultimately, I probably wouldn’t be content with the DC-05 as my only dongle, as less adrenalized pieces pair better with certain sources and genres. That said, it is a step up from entry-level and the point at which diminishing returns starts to kick in. Recommended.

Non-disclaimer: bought it myself

Specifications iBasso DC-05

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Even allowing for some recency bias, the Xumee immediately registers as a real find, with a full-bodied, crisp attack, good driving power and notable dynamics and bass impact. It synergized surprisingly well with my new crush, the difficult-to-drive 7Hz Timeless, which sounded louder and more  expansive with the Xumee than they did unamped.

Likewise, the 60 oHm Koss KSC75 took on a palpable physicality with the Xumee, sounding bassier and more like full-sized cans. The Xumee did run out of steam on my 250 ohm Beyer DT 990, which had sufficient volume but sounded wimpy and bloomy at the low end.

On more sensitive (<32 ohm) IEMs, the ($13) Conexant CX31993 sounded more transparent and presented more high end detail, but lacked the energy and low end control of the Xumee, while my current budget fave,  the $23 Meizu Master, matched the Xumee for output power and impact, but sounded a bit coarse in comparison, with a bit of graininess at the high end.  

Moving up the food chain to the $70 Hidisz S3, however, demonstrated the Xumee’s budget roots—while the Xumee played louder and had more low-end presence, the S3 was clearly the more refined, with more lifelike, less artificially bright timbre and a smoother (though still quite detailed) high end. However, the Xumee was a better match for brighter IEMs like the Blon A8 and Whizzer Kylin HD03D than the $75 Audirect Atom 2. So much for price/performace.

While my personal donglequest will undoubtedly continue, I’d venture that among the current flood of barely-distinguishable cheap dacs the Xumee is likely the best.  I’m glad I bought it instead of that fifth of Jim Beam.

On a somewhat related note, I also sampled the surprisingly cheap ($9) Apple USB-C audio adapter, which Jürgen has reviewed favorably here. Simply stated, the Apple does not play well with any Android or Fire devices, producing very low volume and a rolled-off high end.  

The lightning version, OTOH, works perfectly well with my wife’s iPhone, with more than adequate output and a very clean, uncolored presentation. I’m not sure what Apple’s reasoning is here, but if it don’t work it ain’t a bargain.

Non-disclaimer: bought it myself . You find it at amazon.

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Xumee

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Executive Summary

Not all (premium) dongles are equal – and not all are equally useful for the consumer. A real dilemma. This note discusses the applicability of the different kinds for everybody’s unique needs.

Introduction

There have been hot discussions of dongles (battery-less, source-driven DAC/amps) lately. Two principal endmembers exist, the AudioQuest DragonFly type that minimizes current draw, and the Luxury & Precision W2 type, that draws multiple times the DragonFly’s current, but maximizes power output.

All dongles have their small form factor in common, which is aiming for portable use. Computer applications are not considered in this article (there are additional choices), neither are sound qualities of the individual models, and we focus on the more upscale models.

Technical Aspects

I had already discussed the limitations of low-current-draw dongles in detail in this article.

Co-blogger Alberto Pittaluga writes: price aside, it technically boils down to…little power/current draw = limited output power & quality. 

So pick your poison:

a) If low power/battery preservation is your top priority (i.e.: don’t want to buy a different phone, want minuscule size, etc. —> you have to accept sound and/or pairing compromises)

b) If output power/quality is your top priority (“need” to drive cans, low sensitivity IEMs, planars, etc.) you need phones with bigger batteries.

Both together is *not* (technically) possible, whatever marketing says. And – let’s face it, any device that is limited by its small form factor and without a battery can only be a compromise.

Little current draw/power = limited output power/quality but longer battery life

Which User Type are You?

The participants in the discussion come from three principal groups and therefore from different angles: Android users, iPhone users, and DAP users. All phone users use dongles to improve their device’s sound quality and/or to run iems/headphones not driven by the integrated audio circuits or the basic stock dongles.

iPhone Users

These have the least choice as iPhones throttle current consumption to 100 mA. They are limited to low-current dongles of the DragonFly type. They are also restricted in their pairings but get lots of use between charges.

Android Users

These phones have typically no current-draw limitations and host large batteries as big as 5000 mAh. They can therefore operate the W2-type dongles, too. And whereas these W2-types are the most powerful dongles, they still do not drive power-hungry headphones perfectly well, according to Headphonesty. The price to pay is much higher battery consumption.

DAP Users (downgrading to phone)

Whereas dongles are upgrades for all phone users, they are damage limitation for the sonically indulged DAP crowd. Some people sold their DAPs to go with the powerful W2-type dongle which comes sonically closest to their DAP.

Concluding Remarks

Since no dongle does everything we want, it comes down to need of what it should do for us, depending on our perspective. And all the points of the different user groups are valid. But what works for the goose may not work for the gander in this case, for technical reasons.

The consumer has choices: some want small and powerful, some small and low current, others don’t mind strapping an internally powered monster to their phone, and the rest wants DAPs. Before buying, we may want to define our requirements in order to get full enjoyment out of our new device.

Until next time…keep on listening!

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Disclaimer

This article is a summary of discussions with co-bloggers Kazi Muhbab Mutakabbir, Alberto Pittaluga, and members of our marvellous Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/audioreviews.

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You find an INDEX of our most relevant technical articles HERE.

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What Is…

“Dongle” is the casual term for a tiny portable USB DAC/amp that is sourced by its host device (phone/tablet, dap, computer). It is derived from software keys of this kind of shape.

Early Steps

The idea of a small, portable DAC/amp in the shape of a USB “thumb drive” goes back to a conversation between some industry reps and consulting audio engineer Gordon Rankin at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2010. Gordon had been designing DACs since the early 2000s and had lots of experience with asynchronous code, needed to minimize timing errors (“jitter”) that compromise an USB-audio signal. You find details of the dongle inception in my AudioQuest Dragonfly Red review.

The device was designed for larger headphones and with iPhone portability in mind – but iPhone limits the current draw to 100 mA to protect battery life. One of the challenges was therefore to minimize current draw, which, unfortunately, limits performance as we will see below.

In 2015, Apogee released their famous “Groove“, a very powerful and large device that draws 340 mA, and it has an output impedance of 20 Ω. This is not a dongle sensu stricto as it only works with computers and mainly with high-impedance headphones (with some exceptions).

It took until 2016 until the first USB devices had a current draw small enough to work with iPhone: AudioQuest’s DragonFly Black v.1.5 and DragonFly Red. Timing was right as Apple removed the headphone jack in the same year, as of iPhone 7. And most Android phones followed suit.

Apple offers a decent low-priced dongle of their own that is good value but is limited in power. My review of the “Apple Audio Adapter” is one of the evergreens of our blog.

The DragonFlys have an output impedance of <1 Ω, which makes them work well with headphones and iems alike. They do not have any physical controls and are operated through their host devices.

DragonFlys Black and Red still lead the pack in terms of low-current drain (if exempting the Apple Audio Adapter). You find drain comparisons between some models here.

Most dongles need a Windows driver, but all of them are plug’n’play with phones , tablets, and Apple computers.

From Thumb Drive to Dongle

The very first external iPhone DAC/amp, the Apple Audio Adapter, was physically a true dongle, and a seamless headphone/earphone cable extension.

The first non-Apple devices (the AudioQuest DragonFlys) had/have a USB-A plug and resemble a thumb drive. The USB-A pug works seamlessly with the Apple camera adapter and any computer. Android phones had no preference with developers as they had no standardized socket at the time and still do not produce music bit perfect (they resample a 44.1 kHz signal to 48 kHz).

Most of the Android devices had micro-USB ports until the USB-C port (finalized in 2014) was slowly spreading starting in 2015. Today, there are more than 100 dongles on the market, most of them featuring a USB-C port. And so do the latest Macs.

DAC/amp and music/power source are connected by a short USB-C to USB-C cable, most of them coming with an additional USB-A adapter. None of these has a USB-C plug, probably for the purpose of stability (the USB-C plug could break off easily). But the need for this additional cable turned the original thumb-drive into a true “dongle”.

Some devices have a fixed USB-C cable, and iPhone users are horrified by the snakes they produce when connected to the Apple camera adapter. Third-party USB-C to lightning cables may come in handy, but their MFI chip draws “healthy” additional current.

Technology – What makes a Dongle’s Sound?

There are many variables that contribute to the sound, such as the dac implementation which includes software coding and filtering, the analog output stage, and the amp design and implementation.

Therefore, same dac chip does not mean same sound in different devices. In my case, The Khadas Tone2 Pro, EarMen TR-amp, Hizids S9 Pro, Shanling UA2, and DragonFly Cobalt feature the ESS ES9038Q2M dac chip – and they do not sound even remotely close.

So it does not surprise that some high-end dacs and some budget dongles have the same dac chip, which are a relatively cheap ingredient. Some high-end manufacturers therefore do not disclose the dac-chip used in their specifications.

Characteristic Chip Sound?

Since buyers cannot audition dongles in most cases, many buying decisions are based on chip brand and model. Descriptions of characteristic sonic signatures based on chips by certain manufacturers echo through the blogosphere. Co-audioreviewer KopiOkaya summarizes them for us:

1. ESS Sabre (US/China) – neutral to neutral-cool, analytical, detailed, fast punchy bass, great dynamics, impressive soundstage and separation. Modern sound. “ESS glare”.

2. AKM (Japan) – neutral to neutral-warm, vocal-centric, laid-back/mellow, bodied. Can sound forward on some models. Some dislike the “AKM Velvet Sound” claiming that it sounds flat and lifeless. Modern sound with a classic twist.

3. Burr Brown/Texas Instruments (US): Natural tone with very good music texture. Generally sound neutral to neutral-warm. Their earlier multibit models (for example: PCM1704UK, PCM63P, etc.) sound extremely musical and dynamic at the same time. Can sound forward with average soundstage on some models. Traditional analog “solid-state” sound.

4. Cirrus-Logic/Wolfson (US/India/UK) – A staple of Apple products since their first generation iPod. Natural tone with warmth and body. Vocal-centric with good dynamics and music texture. Earlier Wolfson DACs can sound wooly and lacks resolution. Traditional analog “tube” sound.

As KopiOkaya points out to me, this does not consider the jitter-reduction and error-correction clock, LPF/IV stages, and power supply.

DragonFly creator (and therefore “dongle inventor”) Gordon Rankin told me that these four points are “totally off“, and “you could not classify these brands that way. There is too many factors to pigeon hole a sound for any DAC: power, filters, analog design, digital design, software etc.”. And that’s what I experienced with my devices featuring the ESS ES9038Q2M dac chip.

According to Gordon, “the difference [for example] between DragonFly Red and Cobalt is more than the dac chip. Power, filtering and new controller make up a big part of the difference in sound. More so than the dac chip itself“.

So, maybe the four points above apply to poorly implement dac chips?

Technical Limitations and Realistic Expectations

The dongle DAC/amps are limited by their (portable) source – and by Ohm’s law. Transducers are moved by current. Such devices that are optimized for low current drain/little battery consumption do not work well with low impedance/low sensitivity iems/headphones, as such require a lot of current.

Dongles optimized for low-current draw lack certain features: for example high-speed USB and balanced circuits that would add to the current draw.

If the required current cannot be provided, the iems/headphones start distorting, which first becomes evident at the low end as it needs the most current. The right pairing is therefore important and I am surprised that some experienced testers ignore this.

It’s the current, stupid (and not the power)!

Such dongles that draw lots of current from the host device may provide more amplification power and less distortion (and balanced outputs etc.), but they will drain your phone’s battery in no time – or don’t work with some phones at all.

Examples of popular powerful dongles are the Shanling UA2 and Hidizs S9 Pro, that consume twice as much battery as the DragonFly Red – which defies the idea of portability. You find a power drain comparison between selected models here.

The real current hogs are limited to operation with a computer, but what is the point of a small form factor for stationary use?

Not every small device is portable!

Decoding Acrobatics

Most dongles decode MQA, which is apparently a useless format. And even the cheaper models manage sample rates up to PCM 32-bit 384 kHz and DSD128 (DoP), as offered by some streaming services.

This may be interesting for $$$$ desktop DAC/amps, but why does anybody need such sample rates in a $50-100 device with limited sound quality to begin with – while forking out that monthly subscription fee? Sounds like a “gimmick” to me.

Most renowned reviewers such as Steve Guttenberg are perfectly happy with CD quality, even on their $$$$ devices. Works for me, too.

Rigour in Dongle Evaluations

Dongles underlie the same standard evaluation criteria as self-powered DAC/amps when it comes to sound quality, but there are some special considerations adherent to their lack of battery. As they were designed to drive headphones from smartphones on the go, portability is the main criterium. And portability is defined by size/weight and synergy with the host device. Not every small device is portable.

There are compromises between:

• small size and performance
• source’s battery consumption and dongle performance

The small form factor limits the size of the logic board and therefore the space for electrical components – which requires shortcuts that take away from performance (but add to the price).

The other compromise comes from the aforementioned current limitation that restricts technical features, amplification power, and headphone pairing.

Such devices that are not designed with energy conservation (and hence portability) in mind do not work well or not at all with phones. They are not (very) portable and essentially restricted to computers.

In this case, their small form factor is pointless and even disadvantageous, as these dongles have to stand comparison with self-powered, larger DAC/amps that offer better performance at similar prices – and therefore better value.

Since dongles have limited power, much of their value lies in the sound quality.

In summary, when evaluating dongles, the analyst must have a good understanding of what these devices are supposed to do and how they achieve it.

Consumer Choices

As elaborated on above, the user has choices: either low-battery drain or high power and additional features – but not both. Many popular powerful dongles with lots of features are rather useless with a phone, and many low-current dongles are problematic with current-hungry transducers.

The choice is yours, but my dongles have to be as portable as possible.

Concluding Remarks

OK, “1001 Facts” may be an exaggeration, but now you probably have a better idea what dongles are about. I personally use a phone with dongle as I do not want to carry a dap, and because the small DAC/amp can be swapped between my current and future devices.

Over time, my dongles may have a higher life expectancy than my phone and also battery-operated DAC-amps such as the hip-dac or ifi Nano BL.

Until next time…keep on listening!

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Disclaimer

My knowledge of these devices benefitted greatly from discussions with the USB-audio pioneer Gordon Rankin of Wavelength Audio Ltd., co-bloggers Alberto Pittaluga & KopiOkaya & Kazi Mahbub Mutakabbir & Biodegraded, and Chiqui Vásquez from hiendportable.com. AudioQuest’s Stephen Mejias provided the historical details. I thank them all.

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You find an INDEX of our most relevant technical articles HERE.

The post 1001 Critical Facts About Dongles (Source-Powered Portable DAC/Amps) appeared first on Audio Reviews.

The dongle itself seems well-made and is quite a purty thing, with silver wire and nicely-engraved connectors. The cx31993 is strictly plug and play (no drivers needed) and its advertised 96/384kHz sampling is legit. It runs cool and doesn’t hog a lot of battery.

The cx31993 presents a lean, neutral-to-slightly-bright tonality without audible coloration or grain; background is very quiet and presentation is open and airy.  Connected to my LG V50, the cx31993 paired well with my more efficient IEMs, noticeably improving the resolution and placing more space between the performers.

Combining it with the $5 KZ EDR1 was sublime. The cx31993 was also a big improvement over the flat, colorless stock soundcards in my Kindle Fire and Dell laptop.  

However, it became readily apparent that the 31993 lacks the output power to effectively drive less efficient buds and cans (such as 150 Ohm Beyerdynamics); it particularly struggled to control the low end on more challenging loads.  

Even the Blon A8 whose 32 Ohm impedance doesn’t seem daunting, seemed to lose composure and sounded somewhat flabby and bass-shy when paired with the 31993.

Unless you’re really budget-impaired, the $23 Meze Master HiFi is the better buy, with more power and overall presence, although I actually thought the cx31993 was a tad cleaner and more transparent (though less energetic) than the $42 Tempotec Sonata HD.

This isn’t the megacheap miracle its proponents claim and probably won’t work as your daily driver. It is, however,  a useful upgrade on to PCs and other devices and ultimately earns a place in my ever-expanding collection of dongles

Non-disclaimer: bought it myself 

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Cons — Midrange attenuation; high battery drain from phone.

Executive Summary

The Shanling UA2 is a slightly off-neutral, rather natural sounding, and very powerful portable DAC/amp with good dynamics that features single-ended and balanced outputs at a budget pice. Compared to some of its much more expensive rivals, the UA2 has a leaner midrange while being competitive in terms of power.

Introduction

Shanling is a Chinese HiFi company established in 1988. They hit the western markets in the early 2000s with premium amplifiers at very competitive prices. At the time, while working in China, I talked to them about getting a 110 V version of one of their famous tube CD-players manufactured. This, unfortunately, failed because of export regulations.

More than half a generation later – Shanling has long established itself as a quality player and brand name around the world – I finally try my first Shanling product, the UA2 Portable USB DAC/Amp. And TL;DR, it is a good one.

Shanling is currently joining an army of companies populating the market with portable dac/amps that turn you phone into a dap. In this ever more crowded field, where the potential buyer cannot try before buying, reviewers like me have to provide the overview. But since it is impossible to test all interesting products, you have to check out a few qualified opinions before pulling the trigger.

Specifications

Physical Things and Usability

In the box are the UA2, a USB-C to USB-C cable, and a USB-C to USB-A adapter. The UA2 body is made of metal and its coating feels smooth and appealing between my fingers.

In contrast to most other dongles does the UA2 offers two different circuits: a single-ended output through a standard 3.5 mm socket and a balanced output through a 2.5 mm socket. Both outputs/sockets work simultaneously. And it is the balanced output that makes the UA2 particularly attractive.

The two headphone sockets are on end, a USB-C port on one the other: the 3.5 mm single-ended socket is reinforced with a thick metal ring in expectation of the higher usage of the two.

There is a little LED light between them indicating sampling rate and connection to a gaming console.

Functionality and Operation

A summary of what it does

• Can be connected to Windows/Mac computers or Android/iOS sources
• Works as a pre-amplifier or dac when connected to a dedicated headphone amplifier
• Features two circuits: 3.5 mm single ended and 2.5 mm balanced
• Drives two earphones/headphones simultaneously through its two outputs
• Drives small loudspeakers through its 3.5 mm output
• Handles even power-hungry headphones well, imo up to 300 Ω

…and of what it does not

• …needs no battery; draws power from source…and lots of it
• …is not driverless: needs a USB driver for Window computer (download)
• …needs an Apple camera adapter or other third-party lightning cable for connecting to an iOS device

The Shanling UA2 has only a single button that serves the purpose of enabling a connected gaming console. It is powered and operated from the source device and decodes Hi Res up to 32 bit/768 kHz and DSD 512.

Shanling are offering their free Eddict player companion app that allows fine tuning the UA2 (and other Shanling products) with Android and iOS devices.

Amplification and Power Management

The Shanling UA2 is powerful. It delivers 125mW @ 32 ohm (single ended) and 195mW @ 32 ohm (balanced) according to the manufacturer. Even the single-ended circuit drives my 300 ohm Sennheiser HD 600 reasonably well.

But the UA2 consumes a lot of battery – twice as much as the AudioQuest DragonFly Black/Red. This makes it less beneficial for mobile use. You certainly need a big battery.

Power Consumption Test: Parameters and Results

I tested the power consumption of several portable headphone amps connected to my iPhone 5S. The conditions were as identical as possible: 3 h test, volume calibrated to 85 dB  ± 0.5 dB white noise with Dayton microphone, no sim card, BT off, no other apps open; network on, 32 ohm Blon BL-03 iem, Genesis’s Supper’s Ready (from the Seconds Out album) played in an endless loop.

The iPhone’s battery was fully charged at the start of the test and the remaining charge was measured thereafter. The result is shown in the table below. Since the tests were performed at different times and considering the ongoing battery deterioration, the results have to be seen with a grain of salt.

[collapse]

But hold the horses. This is not as bad as you think. Co-blogger Alberto Pittaluga actually likes this drain. But why? For him it is a matter of choices. The Shanling UA2 pushes more current than its competition, which drives low-impedance and low-sensitivity headphones and iems better. After all, transducers are moved by current.

Sound

Equipment used: Macbook Air/iPhone SE first generation; Sennheiser HD 600 / HD 25, Shozy Form 1.4, Meze RAI Solo, BQEYZ Summer.

The Shanling UA2 offers a relatively natural, well rounded, dynamic, appealing sound, but could deserve a richer midrange.

Its sound is slightly off linear and off neutral by a slight bass boost that improves the sound of anemic earphones/headphones, keeps the sound away from sterile, and it adds depth. But, in some earphones, it can also narrow the soundstage and smear into the lower midrange/vocals, which adversely affects separation. The bass rumble becomes weaker under higher impedance loads.

What distinguishes the UA2 from its more expensive competition is not its amplification power…it is its attenuated, recessed, thin and occasionally sharp midrange (in comparison) that is evident in both single-ended and balanced circuits.

Vocals are set back in the UA2 but they are also a bit lean and pointy, they could be smoother, richer, and more intimate. This attenuation may exacerbate shoutiness in some earphones and moves the bass into focus.

But this is very-high level criticism with perfection as reference. The overall sound is dynamic with a good punch, it is not edgy at the upper end and comes off as pleasant during normal recreational listening (I was listening “analytically” for this review).

I assign good musicality and liveliness to the Shanling UA2, it is not technical, sterile, or boring sounding. Overall, the UA2 is more homogenous and natural sounding than the $40 Tempotec Sonata HD PRO or the $70 Tempotec BHD.

The UA2’s balanced circuit does not only deliver more power than the single-ended one, but also a marginally wider and deeper soundstage, improved dynamics and separation, and more intimacy. But it is still affected by the lean midrange.

When comparing the UA2 – I only had more expensive models available – they all rank sonically according to their price. The $120 Earstudio HUD 100 was more linear and cleaner at the bottom end with a wider stage and a headroom similar to the UA2’s balanced circuit’s. This also applied to the $199 EarMen Sparrow (balanced circuit) and $199 Audioquest DragonFly Red but with improved resolution added. The DragonFly Red reproduced voices richer, cleaner, and more intimate.

None of the higher-priced models with single-ended outputs has less headroom than the UA2’s balanced circuit – but also not necessarily more power. This also applies to the AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt, the smoothest and most natural of them all. More in this video:

Concluding Remarks

To pack my testing results in a single sentence: the $85 Shanling UA2 is a $200 dongle with a thinner midrange. No it does not quite rival, let’s say, the more homogenous DragonFly Red or the EarMen Sparrow sonically, but it offers better value while still sounding very good.

I heard it. Can’t get anything better for $85. Larry Fulton, co-blogger.

Considering the current uber offer of portable DAC/amps in the $100 category, I surely will be asked how the UA2 compares to X, Y, and Z at a similar price. While I cannot answer this question, I speculate its sound quality is hard to beat in its class, and claim that the UA2 is a great choice.

It feels good, is well accessorized, sounds organic, it has two powerful circuits – and also works with portable gaming consoles. And it is a brand-name product with R&D behind it. Is it the new $100 one to beat? Time will tell.

Until next time…keep on listening!

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Disclaimer

The UA2 was provided by Shanling and I think them for that. Shanling also kindly included a third-party USB-C to lightning adapter.

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You find an INDEX of our most relevant technical articles HERE.

The post Shanling UA2 Portable USB DAC/Amp Review – Crazy For You appeared first on Audio Reviews.

Cons — 2.5 mm balanced only/USB-C only limits connectivity on either end.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Tempotec Sonata BHD is a neutral, sleek, crisp, and transparent sounding 2.5 mm balanced dac/amp that offers a substantial sonic update over phone/computer dacs/amps when used with iems. One of my favourite products in 2021. A personal favourite.

NOTE

I did not test the Sonata BHD with headphones owing to the lack of a balanced cable. Considering its power, the Sonata BHD is much better suited for iems. I also did not test DSD and MQA, as I do not have the required subscriptions. And I think the Sonata BHD is more tailored towards mobile units than towards computers.

INTRODUCTION

Chinese manufacturer Tempotec made quite a dent with their Sonata HD Pro in 2019. At $40, it comes with all possible adapters and you can connect it to essentially everything: Android devices, Apple devices, and computers. Not bad at the price of essentially an Apple lightning adapter. Unsurprisingly, the Sonata HD Pro has been a favourite in terms of audioreviews.org blog views since, made it into my “Gear of the Year 2020“, and remains highly recommended.

The Tempotec Sonata HD Pro features a single-ended output, whereas, in the meantime, companies like Earmen offer two outputs in their Sparrow dongle: 3.5 mm single-ended, and 2.5 mm balanced. And while I thought “balanced” was just another gimmick, it is truly not: everything sounds bigger and clearer with balanced in a direct comparison. But the Earmen Sparrow comes at a price of $200. Tempotec responded to the market’s demand for “balanced” output with their Sonata BHD, a sleek and powerful dongle at $70.

To answer you burning questions right away: does the Sonata BHD sound better than the Sonata HD Pro? Yes, it does. Does it sound as good as the Earmen Sparrow? No, not quite, but it still sounds impressive.

THE IDEA OF BALANCED AUDIO

Balanced audio is a method of connecting audio equipment using balanced lines [Wikipedia]. Such lines reduce susceptibility to external noise caused by electromagnetic interference. This is particularly beneficial for recording studios, which use kilometres of lines. For our purpose of portable audio, reduced interference results in a clearer, cleaner signal. Headphonesty compared “balanced and unbalanced” audio connections in this article.

SPECIFICATIONS

Product Name: Sonata BHD
DAC Chip: Two CS43131
Output Impedance: NA
SNR: 129 dB
HP Out : 120MW/32ohms 20MW/600ohms
Level: 2VRMS
THD+N: -113dB
Crosstalk: greater than 118dB (32 ohms) *
PCM: up to 32bit/384kHz
DSD: to DSD256 (NATIVE) DSD128 (DOP)
Hiby Music APP: Support exclusive
PC: Exclusive ASIO driver
Volume control: independent hardware volume control
Purchase Link: Tempotec Official Store

Tested at: $66

PHYSICAL THINGS AND USABILITY

The Sonata BHD comes with a fixed USB-C cable, a USB-C female to USB-A adapter, and a pleather case. It does not feature the detachable cables of the Tempotec Sonata HD and is aiming to be connected to USB-C and USB-A devices such as Android phones, and Windows and Mac computers. It can be connected to iPhones/iPads using either the Apple camera adapter or the much sleeker ddHifi TC28i adapter. Therefore, adding a third-party adapter makes the Sonata BHD as versatile as the Sonata HD Pro with source devices.

In terms of dimensions, the Sonata BHD is slimmer and higher than most dongles. And like the Sonata HD Pro, the housing is made of metal with rather sharp corners. Tempotec increased the often criticized spacing between the two volume buttons compared to the Sonata HD Pro – what they have not addressed is the volume steps when pushing the buttons (which are identical to the source’s volume buttons). The button mechanism is exquisite and precise – with a great soft rebound – so that is is almost fun pushing them. All connections and connectors work precisely, too.

Internally, the Sonata BHD features the same chip as the Sonata HD Pro, however TWO of them (one for each line), which explains the price difference.

FUNCTIONALITY

The Tempotec Sonata BHD has no internal battery and is driven by the music source. This is great in that there is no planned obsolescence (the device will still work in, let’s say, 10 years), but it drains your mobile source faster. As to the drain rate, I did not explicitly test it – but battery consumption appeared to be within reason.

The Sonata BHD is plug ‘n’ play with phones and tablets, and it requires selecting the device in my Mac’s sound panel (probably similar in Windows).

When playing, the Sonata BHD relies on the source volume. I typically set the computer/phone volume at 80%, although I am not sure whether I can turn it up to 100% without (more) distortion. After removing the Sonata BHD from my phone, it recognizes the volume setting upon reconnecting.

AMPLIFICATION

There is a paradox: a balanced output is typically more powerful than a single-ended output – and iems, on average, require less power than headphones: however balanced cables for headphones are harder to get and more expensive than for earphones. As a rule of thumb, external amplification is needed for headphones/iems with an impedance above 50 Ω. While most headphones exceed this number, most iems run at 32 Ω or lower. Iems above 50 Ω typically feature electrostatic or piezoelectric drivers. I don’t have any balanced-headphone cables but could test the Sonata BHD with power-hungry iems such as the Vision Ears Elysium, Triaudio I3, and NiceHCK NX7 Mk3. And they were all driven very well by the Sonata BHD.

I could not test the Sonata BHD with headphones – I don’t have one with a 2.5 mm cable – but was told it is not that powerful. I would therefore be careful with any headphone above an impedance of 70 Ω.

As to specs, the Sonata BHD delivers 120 mW into 32 Ω (and 20 mW into 600 Ω). This is twice as much as the original Sonata HD Pro offers.

TONALITY AND TECHNICALITIES

My tonal preference and testing practice

My test tracks explained

Equipment used: iPhone SE (1st generation) and MacBook Air; various earphones, mainly the Shozy Form 1.4.

The Tempotec Sonata BHD is a strictly neutral and sleek but never sterile or over-analytical sounding dac/amp that enhances the sound characteristics of the attached earphone/headphone. It is not only useful for running power-hungry earphone/headphones, it also improves the sound of easy-to-drive iems. Let’s take, for example, the excellent sounding, well reviewed Apple Audio Adapter that works well with my 16 Ω Shozy Form 1.4 iems. The Tempotec Sonata BHD simply adds midrange clarity and definition, opens up the soundstage, and increases headroom. And it adds pizaz to the sound…yep, it is rather punchy. These improvements over my phone are quite pronounced – and much bigger than with the Tempotec Sonata HD Pro.

Replacing the Tempotec HD Pro with the Tempotec Sonata BHD is like adding sour cream to your gravy: smoother, better balance, much bigger stage, better three-dimensionality, the sound is simply more appealing. Connecting my >50 Ω earphones added body, cleanliness, and smoothness on top of power.

WHO NEEDS THE SONATA BHD?

IMO, the Sonata BHD serves two specific purposes:

• Play power hungry iems (such with an impedance of > 50 ohm)
• Improve the sound quality of any iem, even at low volumes

First, there should be no problem playing a, let’s say, 70 Ω headphone such as the Sennheiser HD 25 with the Sonata, however it may be cost prohibitive to get a 2.5 mm balanced cable for headphones. Second, the Sonata BHD is not an ornament as so many other dongles. Any earphone sounds better on my iphone with the Sonata BHD compared to the Apple Audio Adapter or the ddHifi TC25i adapter (which is technically and sonically essentially identical with the Apple Audio Adapter). In comparison, the Sonata BHD adds clarity and definition, slims down the sound, and opens up the stage including headroom.

But I doubt that you will be able to drive full-sized 300 Ω cans with the Sonata BHD well.

TEMPOTEC SONATA BHD COMPARED

As said before, the Tempotec Sonata BHD upgrades the sound of the Apple Audio Adapter as well as their own Tempotec Sonata HD single-ended dongle. It does, however, not live up to the balanced circuit of the $200 EarMen Sparrow that excels in its more analog, fuller sound with an even better headroom. Nevertheless do I like both for their merits and one cannot replace the other. Similar to the different models in my earphone collection, both dongles hits different moods of the listener and I really enjoy them both very much.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

The Sonata BHD provides a huge sonic upgrade to your phone and is another winner from Tempotec. Is sounds better and is more powerful than their famous Sonata HD Pro, but is a bit more limited by its ootb connectivity. Adding a second dac chip has increased the price, which benefits the sound greatly. The Sonata BHD is not only good for amplification but also for improved the sound quality of easy-to-drive earphones and headphones. It is not an ornament as so many others. Once again, a superb device and great bang for your buck. As simple as that…I said it before.

Until next time…keep on listening!

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DISCLAIMER

The Tempotec Sonata BHD dac/amp was provided by Tempotec upon my request. Thank you very much. You can buy it at the Tempotec Official Store.

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About my measurements.

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