You might read my previous post about the same content like this here but that is the recommendation I made in 2017 is not for everyone. It is more intended for person like me who already had many CD collection and grew in 90's era which CD is a holy grail for good music. One simple reason for that recommendation is for people who more than happy to listen the music at home, at their lovely chairs, rather having on-the-go music experience. Of course it is also an earphones recommendation that more friendly as an entry point to audiophile world rather than the bulky speakers.
So, here is today, the year 2020 that pass slowly because of the covid-19 pandemic everywhere, I still make this budget audiophile recommendation, which actually I had prepared already since the beginning of this year. This recommendation is likely for everyone but more emphasis to youngster which attached with their smartphones and more mobility.
First things first, I do not count the smartphones price including in this budget audiophile recommendation. Everyone has their own smartphone for sure for their productivity. Mostly, the more variate smartphone type is comes from Android based smartphones. You can have good build quality smartphones as low as US$99 up to the hi-end US$1,200. But sadly the audio quality from Android device is mostly far from good. Except several smartphone from LG with their V series smartphones is sound really good. We will talk about it later.
In this recommendation, I also not put the iPhone and it's iOS as the device recommendation because of their limitation in files storage and the capability to read hi-res audio files. Stick to the top choice of Android based smartphones brands is Samsung and Xiaomi and here is my budget portable audiophile gears:
1. Audioquest Dragonfly Black US$95
2. Sony MH-1C in-ear monitor or in short IEM for US$15
3. USB OTG from USB-C to female USB-A, my recommendation is from Anker brand for US$15
4. Small bag, variate design and model. Mine is China made for US$2
5. USB Audio Player Pro, an apps in Play store for US$9 +US$5 if you want enable the MQA support
So total cost for this budget audiophile recommendation is only about US$141 in total. The price is I consider very affordable and of course the audio quality result is incredibly excellent.
Let's talk about each gear one by one, starting from the IEM Sony MH-1C. This is come as bulk package and Sony has discontinued this product long time ago. I am not worried about the stock is still plenty and easy to get one today. This cheap earphones is considerably the best sounding IEM up to today, far above it's price. The sound signature, in my honest speaking is similar to Sennheiser HD-600 minus the extra bright presentation, narrowed sound-stage and less three dimensional detail that common for earphones. But overall audio performance is great.
One thing that bothering me with this IEM is the ear tips, or the ear plug comes from the original package is uncomfortable at all. Surprisingly I am still have the old Sony MH-1, without the C letter. It is the special edition comes with the green ear tips is more comfortable. The rubber quality is better on the green one compare what comes from this newer version of Sony MH-1C. Feel free to choose whatever ear tips you feel more comfortable. But please make sure the ear tips you are using not changing the sound signature of this earphones anyway.
The next best things I had is this cheap Audioquest Dragonfly Black. This is the DAC and headphones amplifier in one package. This DAC also support DSD and MQA audio files, so quite impressive for this affordable price.
As you know I had the Chord Mojo, it is far more expensive than this one, and of course the sound is better. But think about the portability, this Audioquest Dragonfly Black combine with Sony MH-1C is no brainer to having as portable audiophile equipment.
You can skip buying this Audioquest Dragonfly Black if you are using LG V series smartphones. For example the old LG V20 using the quad DAC is considerably a good DAC and no worth buying this Dragonfly Black again. For some reason I don't think the LG is popular brand in smartphones. At least in my country. So use whatever your Android smartphones you have right now and continue reading.
The next things you might have to consider is the connector between your smartphones to the Dragonfly Black. Maybe it is too over-priced the recommendation for this OTG USB-C to female USB-A using Anker brand for abut US$15. I shall shared my experience using U-green or Vention brand for this OTG cable but they seems easily disconnect. I find the USB-C connector not contact perfectly to the smartphones socket. It is sure distract my listening experience and I guess spending to something better is a good investment.
Jump to the software, you should consider using USB Audio Player Pro apps, in short UAPP while listening your music library stored in your memory card. The reason is simple, it read your music files in bit perfect, without any up-sampling or down-sampling. It deliver pure digital audio signal to the Dragonfly Black and it control the hardware volume control on it. UAPP also disable the smartphones software volume control. The result? Is pure audio experience.
Spending extra US$5 for UAPP MQA support is actually not necessary since MQA music is not yet popular. But I really happy to have it to explore the MQA audio experience.
So, that is all I have to said. Being an audiophile is not always expensive. You can start from this simple recommendation and enjoy great sound through your ears right away.
Disclaimer: Any statement and photos in this article are not allowed to copy or publish without written permission from the writer. Any injury or loss from following tips in this article is not under writer responsibility.
best smartphones Nairobi
ReplyDelete