Audioengine D1 Vs Dragonfly black (DAC only) ESS 9010 Vs. AK4396

[Indigolight]

On 7/11/2018 at 12:57 PM, Phonautograph said:

i asked a user of dragonfly red (9016)  he said it sounded better than the d1 

 

And that is by a wide margin in terms of sounstage and especially instrument separation. Bass is tighter and maybe a tad deeper as well. I compare them both every day. 

 

The reason why I still use my (currently defective - skips on higher bitrates) D1 is because it is a hell of a lot more convenient as a PC soundcard in everyting except a Roon Endpoint over the network or mobile / on the go use on a macbook pro with TB3 ports only. I use my D1 with headphones more than my DF Red. I use the D1 over USB so it is limited to 24/96 just like the DF. You need S/PDIF for 24/192 and that will shut off the USB data signal so you can't hook up 2 sources without switching cables every time. The few Tidal songs that are 24/192 MQA don't bother me. I own only up to 24/96 music and no DSD.

 

I've had a D1 for over 2 years now and I really enjoyed it. I still do. For Youtube, casual background music, even Gaming etc it is great and really enjoyable...  It's not that the D1 is bad and the DF good. The D1 is also really good, but the DF is a bit more revealing, and a bit tighter if you have high res material that contains enough detail in the first place. The D1 is pretty awesome as a preamp. If I had just 200 euro right now, and no DAC, and no perspective to be able to upgrade them in the near future. I would likely buy the D1 again over the DF because it is way more convenient, for a slight hit in SQ, under the condition both are only used in a stationary situation.

 

I am looking for a replacement of both (switching inputs, higher SQ, Digital + Analog volume control, RCA outs and headphone amp) and that is because switching to just the DF Red I have, wouldn't cut it for me... (I use powerd AE A5+'s and a Nightowl Carbon with my DAC's). I did have to increase my budget considerably to get some options.

 

If you would buy the D1, I'm quite sure you would be very happy with it...

 

 

[Indigolight]

1 hour ago, davide256 said:

Its a  bad idea to purchase any  DAC that is powered from a PC or microcomputer. The limitations are multiple.  @Ron Scubadiver  , the suggestion of Nano iDSD is sound, its a USB amp that allows you to choose whether it runs off internal battery or draws power over USB and you can use it as an asynch USB converter to any other DAC coax input. I personally preferred the sound of the iFi Nano to the iFi Micro, less detailed but harmonically more accurate. And because it had its own battery power it could be used with smartphones.

 

You can power a D1 from a different (linear) powersource, if you use the Toslink port for data. 

[Indigolight]

2 hours ago, davide256 said:

Toslink is an old spec, doesn't have the timing advantages of asynch USB. It only sounds good if source and DAC are very high quality... this is entry level gear. And I can't see

anyone banding an Audioengine DAC to their phone or DAP.. iFI DAC's are configured to make that easy.

 

A D1 only gets 24/192 over toslink, USB only goes up to 24/96. 

 

I also use it on USB (+ a jitterbug).