THE ORRONOCO AUDIO DIY

Building a good pair of RCA cable is not cheap. If you have build your own cables for your audio system, then you know how much you spent for a set of RCA plugs. Like me, I often using CMC RCA plug that cost me more than US$20 for plugs only without counting the cables yet. So, I wish there is an audio manufacturer can offer good quality RCA cable and of course at affordable price, and my wish granted. Here it is, the US$20 PYST RCA cable from Schiit. Early disclaimer, I am not sponsored with anyone or the manufacture it self, so this is purely what I am thinking about the product and I think it is worth to share.

We are, who grow up in 90's probably know that the car audio at that time is full of great stuff. One of the most admirable car audio amplifier, at least for myself, is comes from Soundstream. The Soundstream Class A series built in very early 1991 and it is the high end car amplifier you can buy and put inside you car stereo system. I can tell you that this still the great sounding car amplifier until now.  Then why it is still great? Because it runs in Class A bias to achieve the best sounding amplifier. In audio world, the class A bias is well known as the highest rank in sound quality. The design that makes it great and the careful components chosen is what makes it run stable. I used to installed and playing this amplifier on my car ten years ago, but not this unit, it is a different type. At that time is the Soundstream Class A 100 II, dual channel 50 watt x 2 pure class A amplifier. This one in this review is the smaller version, the Soundstream Class A 50 II that only run 2...

I wish you have read my LG Hifi Plus B&O Play first impression reviewed  here  and the Audioquest Dragonfly Black  here  compares to the LG V20. The purchase decision when buying the LG Hifi Plus is because of the B&O Play label on it. As you know the B&O is a hi-end audio manufacture that aim for lifestyle entertainment system and it is very true indeed. I personally impress on how good the LG Hifi Plus product is. But for the sound quality, I should takes more time to have audition with it. Currently I am using the Audioquest Dragonfly Black as my portable audio set-up. It is very practical for me to take this small USB thumb stick style DAC everywhere. Specification wise, both Dragonfly and LG Hifi Plus using ESS Sabre DAC chip. ES9010 for the Dragonfly and ES9028 for the LG Hifi Plus. The different is lay on the amplifier side which Dragonfly using the Texas Instrument TPA6130 and for LG Hifi Plus using Sabre9602.

Since I already had the LG B&O Play earphones  here , I guess it is not complete without adding the DAC from the same company as well. This LG DAC is special because it is still on collaboration with famous audio manufacture B&O. This is the LG Hi-fi Plus, the 32 bit DAC B&O Play launching on 2016. Actually this DAC is the additional accessories for LG G5 smartphone to improve the internal smartphone sound quality. But the good news is this DAC can be pair not only with the intended LG G5 smartphone, but it can be attach to any external device as a stand alone DAC & headphones amplifier with USB-C connector. Nice! I bought it about US$50, not cheap for outdated product, but I get it in brand new condition, so why not to spent.

Continue from my previous review for the budget earphones, the AKG  here  makes me want to add another budget earphones collection. But of course it is also from the bundling smartphone as well. My choice down to this B&O Play earphones. It is came from the launching package of LG G7+ smartphone. If you already know that LG has been collaborate with B&O brand for their sound tuning since the G5 and V10 smartphone upwards series. Until about last year I believe, they break the relationship with B&O and starting with Meridian. So here it is, the B&O Play earphones I got on my hand, bought for about US$25. I am very curious how does it sound compare to the AKG.

Before you started reading this post, I suggest you also read my previous post about when I bought this original Apple AV cable  here  and also my first attempt to modify it  here . Still until today, for myself it is a nostalgic moment to stacking the iPod with the portable amplifier. It is a tempting effort and of course the great way to have a hi end affordable portable music player. But the most difficulty now days is to get the 30 pin Apple compatible adapter. This adapter function is to get the true audio line out from the inside iPod DAC directly, uncolored sound and direct audio line without passing path on digital volume control or amplifier inside the iPod itself. The result for this is the sound more dynamic, crisp, detail though out your ears. In this project, I want the original Apple 30 pin dock, then modify it to have the true audio line out. So here it is.

This AKG earphones from Samsung S10+ bundling smartphone is very popular. When I searching for it, it is quite funny that many online re-seller claims that they sells this kind earphones as a loose pack for less than US$20. As the information based on the seller, they taken directly from the Samsung smartphones bundling box. Will it this much quantity? I think this is too good to be true. Moreover, I've read the buyers comment and for sure they are not got the original AKG. It is a good copy indeed. So, why this AKG earphones bundled with the smartphones S10+ so popular? Is the sound quality good? That is why right now, on my hand, I got the original Samsung S10+ AKG earphones directly from brand new S10+ smartphones. I got it from my sister. She know what inside the smartphones she bought, but she is not using the wired earphones anymore . I am quite lucky to get it from her for free:)