Portable DAC

[pjdowns]

Hi all,

I've got a new job where I'll be travelling around the country as an IT Consultant and want to get myself a portable system of some description to use when I'm staying over in hotels.

I have thought about an iPod Classic as the source and was wondering if there's a way to connect it to an external portable DAC with a headphone amp to the iPod as on its own is likely to be a bit weak on the sound quality department.

The likelyhood is that'll take the Grado SR125's I have with me so something that would work with them :)

Any advise would me most appreciated.

Paul.

[bobbasrah]

Not sure what you are after paul, a headphone amp or a DAC?
I use the ODAC (Epiphany O2) but with usb input for the DAC from the laptop, and outboard PSU. Tried it several times with analogue audio input on the 3.5mm, and it is more than capable for headphone amplification (Beyers 250ohm) using external source.
There were a number of variants built in Canada and in UK, may be worth looking at...

[Ali Tait]

I have a Graham Slee Voyager I'd part with if you're interested?

[NRG]

There's no digital out from an iPod so it sounds like you just need a headphone amp...

[mr sneff]

If you're travelling with a laptop what about using that as a source with a usb dac? I've been using an Audioengine D1 for a couple of years and have been very pleased with it. USB powered and small enough to take on the road http://www.amazon.co.uk/Audioengine-Premium-Bit-Interface-Connector/dp/B006IPH5H2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398413270&sr=8-1&keywords=audioengine+d1

[orbscure]

I currently use an iPod Classic, connected to an iBasso D2+Hj Boa DAC/headphone amp with a custom made pure silver line out dock (LOD) cable which I purchased from a guy in Turkey via eBay... and this set-up works really well for me when using my Sony MDR-1R or Sennheiser HD 25 II's. Incidentally, I've had various Fiio devices which have always worked well (my fav being the E17) but they just haven't stood up to the rigors of my daily commute. The iBasso D2 is a well built unit and has had almost daily Mon-Fri use since Sept'13 and currently shows no sign of wear and tear...

[pjdowns]

I have a Graham Slee Voyager I'd part with if you're interested?

Interesting Ali, how much are you after?

[pjdowns]

hmm I thought that the iPod had a digital output, similar to the headphone output on an iMac or PowerMac :(

Sounds like I definately want a decent headphone amp then, any further recommendations?

Paul.

[Ali Tait]

Interesting Ali, how much are you after?

How does £100 sound?

That's about half new price, and I doubt it's had 10 hours use. Bought it for the same reason as you, then got a job at home.

[WAD62]

Forget the iPOD, get yourself a decent android phone/tablet with USB host capabilities, a 64Gb sd card, and a FiiO E18 usb DAC/H'Phone amp

OR

A laptop and an rPAC...

Both will play FLAC, and offer USB audioout, unlike some fruit based options...;)

[Yomanze]

I thought iPhone 5 / Lightning input Apple devices onwards had USB host capabilities.

[pjdowns]

How does £100 sound?

That's about half new price, and I doubt it's had 10 hours use. Bought it for the same reason as you, then got a job at home.

I'll check with the wife and let you know :)

[pjdowns]

I'll check with the wife and let you know :)


Sorry Ali, she said no... I'll have to wait a bit :(

[Ali Tait]

No probs :-)

[Ufufu]

What phone do you have? If it's a recent Android phone or an iPhone you can get a small DAC (optionally cheap too, much less than £100) and get away with that.

[starbucksboss]

I just bought the new Sony hi res headphone dac/ amp...it replaced my emiline amp...ITS SUPERB!.

[orbscure]

It might be useful to provide us with the model number Nick ;)

[mikeyb]

Hi,

Get yourself a Fiio X3 or X5 DAP, both are superb audio quality, and can also be used as USB dac's. I have an X3 and it is excellent with my Senn 650's and my HiFiman RE400's, I want to upgrade to the X5 before my holiday later this year, but to be honest at £160 the X3 is superb.

Mike.

[Tony Moore]

For listening with headphones when away from home in hotels I use a Colorfly C3.

http://www.colorfly.eu/product_index_c3.html

The user interface sucks but the sound quality is superb and it plays just about all file formats including FLAC which is why I got it.

[tigger]

Nice avatar pjdowns

Heres what DAC i am using, cheap i know, but sounds ok. http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/digital-to-analogue-audio-converter-a14kf

Here is what is inside it for those interested.
http://s14.postimg.org/l1r4vxq71/Dac.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/l1r4vxq71/)

[Alan D]

When flying and on holiday, I use an ibasso D2 Boa and a pair of AKG K451's. I just listen to MP3's from the phone. Plenty of volume and no sound leakage.
Both were purchased second hand on ebay for a very good price.

[f1eng]

There's no digital out from an iPod so it sounds like you just need a headphone amp...

There is, but it is on the multi connector. Quite a few DAC/Amps work with it, but not all. IME the limiting factor is the amp power in an iPod. It has been specced for battery life rather than high power I fear so it can't do justice to low efficiency 'phones.

I have a Colorfly C4 which sounds fantastic but has irritating quirks. It will drive any phones I know of on its ¼" jack, which has much higher power than the minijack output.
I love the steam punk styling too.

I loath what Android phones do in the background so following owning one for a while I dumped it and will never have another.

[Toby]

Cambrige Audio also make a portable DAC, supposed to be good & very small to travel with.

[steve s]

I bought a Fiio X5 player/DAC a few months back and the sound quality from it is incredible especially through a Graham Slee Nova and a pair of HD600's