Does the entry of TWS models into the market mean that there is no point in using wired headphones? on the contrary!
Which headphones are the best today? Well, most of you probably think that in such a situation, the best devices for listening to music would be the best TWS headphones from the largest companies, such as Apple’s AirPods Pro, or products of recognized premium brands, such as Audio Technika, B&W and others.
However, when it comes to Bluetooth headphones, they will always have one major drawback, which is the Bluetooth technology itself. A lot has changed on this topic over the years (and Qualcomm recently promised lossless data transfer). Thanks to the latest codecs), but many audiophiles still rely on proven solutions in this aspect, namely high-quality wired headphones.
However, we also face a number of problems here. If we do not have a dedicated MP3 player, there is a high probability that our smartphone does not currently have a jack. However, if this is the case, we are often talking about a cheaper smartphone model whose DAC (digital-to-analog converter) is of fairly budget quality. This makes it unable to drive good quality high impedance headphones. What to do in this case?
The solution is an external DAC. Small device with big power
The removal of the jack socket and the popularization of wireless headphones, although many people opposed it, did something good for sound – it removed poor-quality wired headphones from the market, and today even budget TWS headphones can sound better. At the same time, if we want to listen to high-quality music from our phone, we do not need a super audio model like the Moondrop MIAD 01, because in this case the data output via USB-C will be identical for all models.
What we need in this case is a tool that helps convert the digital signal to analog with the highest possible quality. This USB-C DAC is usually a very useful adapter, and its price ranges from several zlotys for the cheapest models to several hundred for a DAC such as the FiiO KA2. What is the difference between more expensive models and budget models?
Well, the more expensive ones are designed primarily for high-impedance headphones. These, in turn, are chosen because higher impedance means less sound distortion, but they require special headphone amplifiers to function properly. In addition, more expensive models have a higher signal-to-noise ratio, support very high sampling rates and are usually capable of transmitting audio compatible with the Hi-Res Audio standard.
At the same time, in this case we can choose a device based on the processor that drives the conversion and how the choice of particular equipment affects the sound (because yes, a DAC, like any other amplifier, has its own characteristics). If we pair this set with the right headphones, we can get truly elegant sound wherever we are. At the same time, you should remember that if you want to listen to MP3 quality files at 320 kbps on such a set, purchasing it will be a waste of money.
If we decide to make such a purchase, we must remember that for anything to be worth it, we must provide it with the appropriate source. Many DACs support multiple encoding methods (such as MQA), so it pays to choose the right streaming service. The alternative, of course, would be to use your own library of high-quality stock files, which is becoming more and more affordable, because a phone with 512GB of memory today is no longer special in any way.
Do you use an external DAC on a daily basis?
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