Sometimes there are such devices that, when viewed, constantly have to be tweaked to avoid falling into the enthusiastic style of advertising press releases (although it's hard to stay), one of the most important discoveries of last year for me was DACPort HD from CEntrance.
The CEntrance company has long been well acquainted with connoisseurs of portable audio. Their portable (relatively) DAC / HiFi-M8 amplifier, like its younger brother Mini-M8, has enjoyed steadily high popularity for many years. Also, the company had a more budgetary solution in the face of DACPort, a compact DAC / amplifier. The technology does not stand still, new chips appear to improve the model range, so last year the light saw DACPort HD - a new portable DAC with headphone amplifier, which has a number of very outstanding properties.
To begin with, the smallest case of the device housed the top-end DAC AK4490, which already became a good application for high-quality sound and allowed to support all resolutions up to 384 kHz / 32 bits and even DSD64 / DSD128. Taketsya all this from the generator with jitter in 1 ps. In addition, CEntrance implemented a good amplifier, according to the company, it works in class A and does not use output capacitors. The amp is powered by a stabilized power supply with a span of 18 volts and provides an output power of up to 775 milliwatts. Very good for a high-quality desktop device, but the funniest thing is that it's all housed in a tiny package that is a bit larger than an ordinary lighter. Looking at DACPort HD, it's hard to believe in its power, because it's not larger than the typical "whistles" that are gaining popularity lately, but in reality DACPort HD leaves competitors with very few chances.
The cost of DACPort is $ 200, which is very competitive against the background of other models in a similar form factor.
By the way, in addition to the HD-version, there is also a Slim-model, it has more simple characteristics: power is about 2 times lower (although it's still very much), DSD is not supported, the resolution is lower and slightly worse than the type of distortion and dynamic range . But the price is 2 times lower. DACPort Slim is an exclusive Massdrop and is sold there. In general, if you do not have heavy isodynamic headphones, you can save half the price. I took myself a "full" version, so I'll tell you about it.
Specifications
- DAC: AK4490
- Supported formats: up to 384 kHz / 32 bit, DSD
- Frequency range: 20 Hz - 40 kHz (± 0.2 dB)
- Dynamic range: 112 dB
- Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise: 0.002% (1 kHz)
- Noise level: 7 μV RMS (at high gain)
- Output Impedance: 1Ω
- The maximum signal level: 4.1 VRMS / +14.5 dBu
- Maximum power: 775 mW
- Internal power supply: ± 9 V
- Input: MicroUSB
- Output: 3.5 mm
- Dimensions: 76 mm × 29 mm × 11 mm
Design and management
The packaging of the device is also made in the spirit of total minimalism. A small box of solid black cardboard with a plain white print on it contains a cardboard insert in which DACPort and a USB cable about one meter in length are fixed. Plus, of course, warranty instructions. Of course, at first glance this is not enough, but if you think about it - what else can you add?
The DACPort does not take a long time to describe the appearance. A compact bar made of aluminum, one corner of which is rounded. It is in this corner that the wheel of the volume control is located. By the way, it is very good, there is practically no imbalance of the channels, the adjustment is smooth and noiseless. From one end there is MicroUSB-input, from the other - the output to the headphones. Side still has a gain switch, in order to avoid accidental switching it is recessed into the case, to manipulate it you will need something subtle. One of the sides is decorated with a white company logo, the model name and two fastening screws. In general - the total minimalism of a simple device like an ax.
At the same time this baby is collected qualitatively, there are no creaks, backlashes and other defects, despite the microscopic size, there is a full sense of quality device.
Since DACPort HD is a solution with an enviable power, it does not work with portable sources in the face of smartphones-tablets, there is not enough power supplied via USB OTG. I saw a solution that included an external battery and a USB hub, it allowed the DAC to work with the Android-smartphone, although, of course, its compactness completely offended. I kind of came across a tip that Slim works with Android smartphones without problems, but I did not check it.
Powerful amplifier leads to the fact that the device gets a little warm during operation, it's normal and worry about this not worth it.
The compact size of the device sometimes plays against it, many people can not believe that a very high-quality sound can be placed in such a compact package (often even the people respected in audiosociety are affected by this snobbery). Nevertheless, an unbiased approach and impartial listening clearly show that with the sound everything turned out well.
Sound
The following equipment was used to listen to the device:
- MacBook Pro Retina Late 2013 as a source
- Audirvana Plus as a player
- Headphones ZMF Omni, Oppo PM-3, Titan 3 and Titan 5, Lear LHF-AE1d, Ambient Acoustics AM10, VE Monk and Asura v2, HiFiMan HE-400S
- Entries in lossless format
In DACPort HD, CEntrance continues to promote its signature sound - detail, no gags and excellent resolution, so the DAC sounds easy and airy.
Bass - good in speed, combined with a considerable margin of power, it is both the dignity and scourge of this device. The fact is that DACPort very much emphasizes substandard low-frequency headphones. If on full-size models this is not audible because of the large size of their membranes, compact gags connected to this baby are opened to the maximum. The slightest problems with the bass will be carefully turned out and presented to you without trying something to smooth and hide. On the other hand - high-quality LF will be played quickly, legibly and texturally. Therefore, for example, with DACPort HD it's almost impossible to listen to the hit of the last months of VE Monk, but VE Asura already sounds pretty good. Fans of powerful low-frequency machines may not be able to use this combine, since it does not try to add anything in this range from itself, it is necessary or to choose darker headphones or a device accentuating the bass. I would also like to have a bit more depth of the bass, but it's hard to expect from so many compact devices.
Medium frequencies are very emotional and dynamic. The DAC is very good at transmitting small nuances of the midrange range and especially great in working with vocals. The voice's emotions are slightly emphasized, which gives an engaging and "delicious" sound. It also helps the device to build an imaginary scene well into the depth, carefully separating the musical foreground from the background. In the depth of the virtual scene, this kid can compete with many expensive stationary devices. The width is slightly less than average and depends heavily on the selected headphone model.
The upper frequencies do not cause so much questions that I do not even know what to write here. To my taste, everything is just as necessary - not a lot, not a little, not abruptly, not blurry. They do not climb to the forefront, they are not lost in the distance, they do not crumble, they are not smeared. Honestly, here are just good and well-designed HF, air and light. DACPort tries to pull out normal HF even their poorly recorded tracks, sometimes it succeeds, sometimes it does not, it's worth considering and not trying to "feed" it with very bad records.
A few comparisons, as without them.
VS HiFi-M8 and Mini-M8. Despite the venerable age, the "senior" M8 remains very relevant device - a huge power reserve, a lot of inputs and outputs, the ability to adjust the sound to your taste. By the sound of the same DACPort is very similar to it, we can say that the hero of today's review is a "probe" of the older model. The resolution of the small, of course, is worse, and the MF also does not reach the senior model, but the supply is similar. The Mini-M8 is worse in power, but even better in terms of speed characteristics, so all that's said can be applied to it.
VS Audioquest Dragonfly. In my hearing - "dragonfly" is absolutely not a competitor to DACPort, a sharper sound with a not quite natural feed (I constantly think that DF has some kind of "improver" sewn), worse power. In general - Dragonfly is not my device.
VS Fiio E17K. In general, it's also not a competitor to DACPort, either in terms of power or sound. 17K, of course, has a built-in battery and therefore works with smartphones, but here is worse control of the bass, more free-flowing high-frequency, in general, everything is simpler.
VS Encore mDAC. By the way, a very good device, inexpensive and with a cool sound, I'll try to do a review on it in the near future. mDAC differs much less power and more "flavor" feed, accentuating the lower midrange, which makes it more "drive" (with the correction for less power).
Compatibility
DACPort - the device is very neutral, so boring headphones for him are not enough, unless, of course, you are not a fan of analytical filing. In addition, I already described above why the selection of headphones-plugs for this device should be approached neatly. Of the mass models in my collection with DACPort HD, I liked Lear LHF-AE1d and Dunu Titan 3. But this combine fully reveals itself on full-size, especially isodynamic ones. Novelty HiFiMan HE-400S with it sounds just fine, creating quite an interesting medium-budget "bundle". The noise of the amplifier is noticeable very weakly, if you do not try to listen to very sensitive headphones at a high volume.
Genre device is quite universal, except for those styles where it is necessary to make an additional emphasis on LF. Critical to the quality of records, I would have estimated somewhere around 7 points out of 10.
By tradition - examples.
Musica Nuda - Libera. On this track in the beginning it is quite possible to hear the movement of the lips of the performer, the mid-range is transmitted in such detail and quality. Usually this kind of detail is the lot of a more expensive hospital, but it is in the mid-range that DACPort is able to compete with them.
Annihilator - Ultra-Motion. A brutal test for most sources and headphones, high-speed downhole trash metal, which is very difficult to win. You can not allow a buzz on the bass, you need to pass all the necessary aggression MF, HF should not endure the listener's brain ... DACPort is not perfect, but it's good for its price passes this test.
Therion - Kings of Edom. Concentrated ideas of Therion, splashed in one track: orchestral background, good orchestral parts, pathos vocals, unexpected transitions, in general, what you expect from symphonic metal kings. With good headphones DACPort here simply reveals itself to the full, a good study of the composition "in depth" is incredibly good for her.
conclusions
In general, CEntrance once again did it. A tiny DAC, capable at the level of working with tight isodines, is a very useful thing in the economy of any music lover. Given enough adequate price and good sound - I advise you to pay attention to it.
The article is based on materials .
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