HiFi Subjectivist ¦ Audio Forum ¦ NVA User Group

_D_S_J_R_ wrote: ↑Sun Sep 08, 2019 10:35 am

According to proper tests, the Dragonfly Cobalt is far less good than the red version and looks to be more of a money grabber (latest and more expensive) than any real step forward.

I have read comments from people preferring the Red to the Colbat. This was not the case with the Black and Red. The Red is significantly better through quality head phones. I made the comparison before buying one.

I've had in excess of 10 different dacs connected between my Sonore MicroRendu and my P90SA, with SSP and TIS. Had a slight hum issue with 2 of the dacs - both fixed by running a wire from a spare black phono input socket on the P90 to an earth post on the wall socket (if you don't have a wall socket with an earth post, you can also connect the wire to the earth terminal of a 13 amp plug).

I have not had any issues with SSP or TIS connecting my Qutest DAC to my P90SA and previously P50SA. The SSP now connects my Phono 1 to the P90SA with no hum.

I have the Topping connected with an ancient MIT cable, not NVA.
The hum disappeared once I had the unit with an input internally selected.
Quiet as the night now.

Did have that Issue with a Hegel DAC once - fixed by putting a P50 pre inbetween DAC and power amp.

CN211276 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 08, 2019 11:34 am I have not had any issues with SSP or TIS connecting my Qutest DAC to my P90SA and previously P50SA. The SSP now connects my Phono 1 to the P90SA with no hum.

Fretless wrote: ↑Sun Sep 08, 2019 12:42 pm I have the Topping connected with an ancient MIT cable, not NVA.
The hum disappeared once I had the unit with an input internally selected.
Quiet as the night now.

Did have that Issue with a Hegel DAC once - fixed by putting a P50 pre inbetween DAC and power amp.

This is what I am thinking. The cable is fine when connected to a passive pre but picks up hum from active amps. It's almost a non issue with short lengths (I have to put ear almost to speaker) but longer cause an audible problem (but fortunately not when everything switched on and playing music). However if you are selling cables they need to be more universal in suitability IMO. I'm sure Doc would have told ne to feck off if I suggested this.

Still hoping to spend some quality time with the Topping D30, but it is a little stunner! Being inDOCtrinated in the philosophy of LPSU's for better sound my thoughts immediately went to 'if this thing sounds so good with just a switching wart supply, what could it do on linear?'

Guess what - Topping have started making an LPSU !!



It has both a 15V and 5V USB outputs and can run multiple devices together.
Hey - I can run a Pi together with the DAC!

This for the princely sum of about 100 pounds or so.

I feel another package will be winging its way from China before too long.

This is timely as I'm pondering whether to change the Dragonfly Red. My perception of the Red is that it lacks a bit of meat in the upper bass / lower mids. I believe the Topping D30 is better in this area. There's also another contender out there: the Khadas Tone Board at about the same price point as the D30.

On the Raspberry Pi front, I've tried the Justboom DAC HAT but wasn't too impressed with the top end - a bit bright and 'hifi'. Their Digi HAT with SPDIF output might be worth a look though, with a view to feeding a D30 or something similar. Well, it's either that or replace a 15 year old laptop that's my main music machine, but which is on its last legs, and persist with the Dragonfly Red.

Get a Hifiberry Digi+ PRO.

And the Topping D30

You won't regret it.

I'd always suggest Fretless's approach too. A good S/PDIF output from the Pi, like the Digi+ PRO, gives you the option of thousands of DACs rather than just being tied to one. It makes for a much more flexible upgrade path too.

Thanks chaps. This is pretty much my thinking. The Hifiberry has the benefit of 2 separate oscillators for 44.1 and 48kHz which overcomes one of the main Raspi weaknesses over USB. £35.99 delivered from the Pi Hut. I'm veering towards the Khadas Tone Board over the D30. I've read some reports that there have been some component changes on the D30, but I need to dig further.

Anyway, I've just ordered the Hifiberry Digi+ Pro and will try this in the first instance with a cheap Chinese DAC I also have for emergency TV duties (not dissimilar to the Doc's '£5 DAC').