Tailgate Party – Which Dongle Amp/Dac Works Best With The JVC HA-FDX1 Earphone?
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The popular JVC HA-FDX1 earphone was paired with three different dac/amps (ifi Hip Dac, Earstudio HUD100, Tempotec Sonata HD Pro) in a field experiment to determine the best fit. The outcome is not as clear cut as expected with the ifi Hip Dac having the sonic edge over the competition (valid for the pairing with the JVC HA-FDX1 only) — but there are other factors that should be considered, too.
Disclaimer: this test is NOT of general validity. It only applies to the combinations of the devices used.
THE IDEA
A member of our Facebook group asked me which external dac/amp would pair best with his phone and JVC HA-FDX1 earphones: ifi Hip Dac ($149), Earstudio HUD100 ($119 current sale/$139 regular), or Tempotec Sonata HD Pro ($43). These JVCs are a highly rated single dynamic driver earphone. They are the cheapest A- rated iem on Crinacle’s ranking list. You can read about it and its story in my review.
The three dac/amp contenders are all very good, highly rated products which people appreciate for different reasons:
ifi Hip Dac: a medium-sized British dac/amp with lots of power and a warm signature. Internal battery. Review here.
Earstudio HD100: a Korean miniature dac/amp that can drive headphones even above 250 Ω. Three different sound signatures can be selected. No integrated battery. Review here.
Tempotec Sonata HD PRO: a true Chi-Fi dongle that connects to all possible devices. No integrated battery. Warm signature. Review here.
The JVC HA-FDX1 comes with different filter options. I chose the one with the most neutral signature (diffuse field neutral, not Harman Kardon neutral), which yields the green curve in the frequency response diagram below. This filter creates a very pleasant, realistic bass but also comes with a slightly elevated upper midrange, which can result in shoutiness at higher volumes.
THE TEST
Analysis was performed on the tailgate of my Honda Element in the parking lot of a local Calgary supermarket while my wife was shopping. And since she also visited the garden centre, it was a rather long test. The environment was very quiet on this public holiday. I repeatedly A/B/C-ed the JVC HA-FDX1 with the three dac/amps and my 2016 iPhone SE using two songs over and over again:
- The Blow Monkeys – I Doesn’t Have To Be This Way (from the 1987 album “She Was Only A Grocer’s Daughter”). The transfer onto CD boosted the upper midrange in this suboptimal recording. It tends towards shoutiness/harshness at higher volumes.
- Thin Lizzy – Dancing In The Moonlight (from the 2011 Remaster of “Live And Dangerous”, widely regarded as one of the best live albums ever. This recording has a rather warm and cozy presentation.
THE RESULTS
Sound
ifi Hip Dac: offered the smoothest, fullest/richest, and warmest sound, which is not surprising considering its size (and price). This signature is probably optimal for pairing with a neutral iem such as the JVC HA-FDX1. I could have been caught listening with the Hip Dac’s XBass switched on, which is the equivalent to the ole “loudness” button on your dad’s Hifi amplifier.
Earstudio HUD100: although I used the most analog-sounding “DCT” filter, the clear, clean, and neutral signature of the HUD100, in the combination with the JVC HA-FDX1 and the Blow Monkeys, was rather on the brighter and more aggressive side. This combination lacked the warmth and fullness of the Hip Dac and it came across as sterile. This is not the HUD100’s fault but rather the result of the pairing. A warmer sounding earphone would likely harmonize better with the HUD100 than with the other two contenders.
Tempotec Sonata HD PRO: also shows warmth, similar to the Hip Dac, but does not quite have its sonic richness and beef.
In summary, the main difference in this test lie in the sonic temperature. The Hip Dac has the most analog presentation. Now let’s add some other factors…which are independent of the pairing with the JVC HA-FDX1.
Portability
This one goes clearly to the Tempotec Sonata Pro, which is an inconspicuous extension of the iem’s cable. The Hip Dac is BIG and the HUD100, combined with the Apple camera adapter, is over 20 cm long. When walking around, the Tempotec is clearly the most portable of the three.
Power
This one does not really matter for this particular test, as either of these dac/amps drives the JVC HA-FDX1 well. And while the JVCs don’t take full advantage of the amplification of either amp, we may want to plan ahead for using these with higher-impedance full-sized cans. In this respect, both the Hip Dac and HUD100 beat the Tempotec.
OUTLOOK
My recommended pairing for the JVC HA-FDX1 would be the ifi Hip Dac for pure sound, and the Tempotec Sonata HD Pro for added portability. I would pair the HUD100 with a warmer earphone such as the Shozy Form 1.4 [review], Beyerdynamic Soul Byrd, or the Sennheiser ie40 Pro [review]. Don’t forget, all of the three dac/amps are very good in their own right and I am blessed using them.
After this tailgate test, I retired into the vehicle and listened to the 1985 debut of “Love And Rockets” – and I used the ifi Hip Dac. It took another while until my wife returned with her full cart…but I had much fun.
Until next time…keep on listening!
Frankly, I am not surprised by the outcome. I always have an affinity towards the iFi “house sound”. Many of their products strike a good balance between musicality and technicality. Another reason is also partial due to the fact that my good friend is the sole distributor of iFi products in both Singapore and Malaysia, as such I am given more opportunity to audition their gears. Although, I am leaning more towards iDSD Nano BL (both Jurgen Kraus and Waynne Kwon know this) but the Hip-DAC is as good being a newer product from the company.
My second favourite is the Tempotec Sonata HD Pro. I do own one and I absolutely love it! The dongle is relatively powerful for such a small DAC/Amp combo that is “more than adequate” for my listening habits.
Both of these devices use Burr-Brown (a.k.a. Texas Instruments) and Cirrus-Logic DAC chipsets. Both DAC makers have always been my favorite for many, many years. Besides consumer audio, both DAC chip makers are active in the pro-audio scene for as long as I can remember. I know Waynne Kwon is also into pro-audio.