jello
extremely active
Posts: 1,569
|
Post by jello on Apr 16, 2016 17:32:10 GMT
My original plan was to buy a desktop DAC but to be honest I'm happy enough with the Mojo. just think I'd end up spending a lot of cash for minimal gains and I'm likely at the point where the weakest link in the chain is my ears.
I just like the Swiss Army knife nature of the Mojo. Aside from a decent DAC I also have a damn good amp for my lower impedance phones (good with more demanding ones too mind) and a degree of portability when required.
|
|
jello
extremely active
Posts: 1,569
|
Post by jello on Apr 17, 2016 9:55:32 GMT
Simon, just a little tip in case you aren't aware. As you may know putting the Mojo into line level mode (by holding down both volume buttons during power up) gives you a fixed output of 3Vrms, which is rather high for a DAC. It is possible to lower it to around 1.9Vrms if needed by doing 4 clicks on the volume down ball after line level mode is engaged. When doing this though Mojo will remember the volume level it was left at prior to power off so be careful when you turn it back on if plugging headphones in! I always put the volume right down before each power off just to be safe. -- I also mentioned getting some noise with my previous Mojo and not being sure if it was a symptom of the regulator issue or not. My new Mojo also makes a slight electrical whining noise (really only heard with my ear next to the unit) during charging but is dead silent when powered on. I believe this is normal having seen it mentioned in a review and also reading the following from John at Chord: Although one guy reported that his Mojo was louder than his fridge and he could hear it humming away even when he had closed back 'phones on and music playing! It was agreed that his might be faulty
|
|
oldson
extremely active
Posts: 1,678
|
Post by oldson on Apr 17, 2016 12:44:52 GMT
i did read on hf about dropping the voltage to 1.9v, thanks Mark. i have done this and the unit memorises it,as it should, which suits me as i will not be plugging headphones in.
i have read somewhere that some people think this unit when used as a dac is double amping, though. as its not a true line-out. (?)
|
|
jello
extremely active
Posts: 1,569
|
Post by jello on Apr 17, 2016 16:47:44 GMT
As I understand it the Mojo's design is radically different from other DAC / amps resulting in a far lower noise floor. Whilst technically double amping may occur when using the Mojo as a DAC I believe the output is so clean that it's a bit of a moot point.
There is some info about this in post #3 of the HF Mojo thread which might be of interest (see the section 'Regarding Mojos output stage').
Personally I just go with my ears and don't worry about the technical stuff too much.
|
|
oldson
extremely active
Posts: 1,678
|
Post by oldson on Apr 17, 2016 18:51:07 GMT
my ears are tuned in to the mojo in my system now. i think from memory, it sounds a tad warmer than micro. it will be difficult to decide which one to keep. mojo is much easier to see at a glance re sample frequency, but unlike the micro , you cant tell what level of dsd is playing. mojo also charges quicker and while in use, which is a plus for me. damn good bit of kit, this. AND I HAVE NOT GOT BEER EARS ON TONIGHT!!
|
|
jello
extremely active
Posts: 1,569
|
Post by jello on Apr 22, 2016 10:26:15 GMT
Just received a Fiio L19 cable (lightning digital out) for the Mojo this morning. Works great with the ipod touch 6th gen and much neater than using the CCK. Unlike my Android phone this thing just works. Don't need to use special apps to get the correct bitrates or find that everything gets upscaled. This just switches between bitrates as it should and with the Qobuz app I get CD quality on the streamed tracks and 24/96 or 24/192 on my hi-res purchases. The packaging is a bit of a joke though and Fiio aren't exactly doing their environmental credentials much good. Does a 10cm cable really need to come in a 2 part phablet sized (7" x 3.5") hard plastic case?? Well that's my portable set up for the summer hols organised
|
|
Rabbit
Administrator
Posts: 7,091
|
Post by Rabbit on Apr 22, 2016 12:47:09 GMT
Better call Saul about that cable....
|
|
jello
extremely active
Posts: 1,569
|
Post by jello on Apr 22, 2016 13:01:39 GMT
I may well do Ian. I tripped over it earlier and nearly broke my neck...shoddy design on Fiio's part. I'm hoping Saul will be able to get me a cool million in compensation --- The L19 cable is quite hard to come by and not exactly cheap (£20-25) but seems well built and a lot less clunky than using Apple's own CCK. It's very short but there is sufficient bend in it to let you stack the Mojo behind an ipod/iphone which is much more practical for pocket use. Alternatively you can use it flat like shown in my pic and because the lightning cable can be plugged in either way round you have some choice over placement. The only minor negative is that the angled micro usb connector means it's not possible to charge the Mojo whilst the L19 is connected. Probably the right decision on Fiio's part though because if they'd angled it the other way the connector would have blocked the optical input (upsetting A&K owners who want to use their expensive DAPs as a transport) and a straight cable is just too inelegant and fragile an option for pocket use.
|
|
oldson
extremely active
Posts: 1,678
|
Post by oldson on Apr 22, 2016 15:40:00 GMT
just ordered an ipurifier2 for my mojo. hopefully this will get rid of the last bit of noise i can hear.
|
|
oldson
extremely active
Posts: 1,678
|
Post by oldson on Apr 23, 2016 16:49:52 GMT
just ordered an ipurifier2 for my mojo. hopefully this will get rid of the last bit of noise i can hear. wish i hadnt bothered. mojo does not seem to like upscaled files on jriver. no probs with the micro! the mojo may well be for sale very soon. unless, of course i decide i am not hearing much improvement with upscaling. the jury is still out on that.
|
|
Rabbit
Administrator
Posts: 7,091
|
Post by Rabbit on Apr 23, 2016 17:12:14 GMT
I'm presuming that upscaling is converting a lower bit rate to a higher bit rate on the fly?
If that is the case, it won't be any different.
I hope I'm wrong though, in what upscaling actually is.
|
|
oldson
extremely active
Posts: 1,678
|
Post by oldson on Apr 23, 2016 17:22:40 GMT
I'm presuming that upscaling is converting a lower bit rate to a higher bit rate on the fly? If that is the case, it won't be any different. I hope I'm wrong though, in what upscaling actually is. what do you mean by "it wont be any different", Ian?
|
|
Rabbit
Administrator
Posts: 7,091
|
Post by Rabbit on Apr 23, 2016 18:29:40 GMT
Converting anything from a lower bit rate to a higher one wouldn't change anything except make the file bigger with (in effect) low resolution sound.
No data is added to the original unless the pc is 'guessing' what to add.
A bit like getting a low resolution photo and then copying it by taking a picture with a high resolution camera. There will be no difference.
That's why I'm wondering exactly what upscaling actually is.
|
|
oldson
extremely active
Posts: 1,678
|
Post by oldson on Apr 23, 2016 18:32:24 GMT
Converting anything from a lower bit rate to a higher one wouldn't change anything except make the file bigger with (in effect) low resolution sound. No data is added to the original unless the pc is 'guessing' what to add. A bit like getting a low resolution photo and then copying it by taking a picture with a high resolution camera. There will be no difference. That's why I'm wondering exactly what upscaling actually is. so am i now!
|
|
oldson
extremely active
Posts: 1,678
|
Post by oldson on Apr 23, 2016 18:40:34 GMT
i think what it is.... some dac chips do dsd better than pcm and vice versa. so if you have one that performs better with dsd and you only have pcm files, you can upscale to get better performance out of your dac.
that was my understanding and i am sure someone will be along soon to put me straight!
|
|