General Headphone Audio

Rroff · 16 Jul 2025 at 20:00

mrk said:
enough to fool anyone into thinking it was a dongle DAC or something if listening blind.

At a guess it probably has a PCM2900 series chip or similar in there which is basically a USB dongle DAC IC and do have acceptable enough audio quality albeit without much headphone driving power.

EDIT: Unfortunately the only teardown image I can find is of the version without the audio part present - from a superficial look seems to be a small add-in board.

mrk · 16 Jul 2025 at 20:08

Possibly, can't see that chip on the PCB though unless it's a different size/model.

f666 · 16 Jul 2025 at 21:48

Raymond Lin said:
Does it HAVE to have a ISO Enter key?

No

will have a search though and move to a keyboard thread thanks

Raymond Lin · 16 Jul 2025 at 21:50

f666 said:
No will have a search though and move to a keyboard thread thanks

Then you have endless choices with ANSI.

Timber · 16 Jul 2025 at 23:40

mrk said:
Who knew...

The delay is interesting. When I did all that research into the PS5 USB audio, latency on USB DAC plugged into a PS5 is c. 19-23ms. Using a Dualsense is similar. And the input latency for a Dualsense Wireless is 8ms. So even adding up HDMI, USB latency, Optical (if using that from the TV) it shouldn't be noticeable when playing games. I'd imagine similar results with a Xbox Series X|S. This is where I don't know enough about using Xbox controllers on PC, but Microsoft wireless protocol should behave similarly I'd have thought. I've only tended to notice audio latency with the Switch via Bluetooth, or Dolby Digital on Creative's products as they use processing to add 5.1 encoding etc.

Interestingly I did see a thread over at ASR on the XBOX ONE controller as a USB DAC... WHAAAAATTTT? - which is kinda related to all this.

mrk · 16 Jul 2025 at 23:57

As a wired USB controller it would be perfectly fine as a USB DAC lol with no delay in audio sync of course, this is solely using the 2.4GHz dongle which is outside of the OEM prop wireless used by XBOX/PS5 consoles. It's in that 2.4G ecosystem where the latency comes into play for AV sync, even though the controller itself is polling at 1000Hz and achieving 1ms:

Going by that ASR thread, this sounds like a proper dongle DAC vs the XONE controller does, makes sense as this is much more modern

Timber · 17 Jul 2025 at 00:33

mrk said:
As a wired USB controller it would be perfectly fine as a USB DAC lol with no delay in audio sync of course, this is solely using the 2.4GHz dongle which is outside of the OEM prop wireless used by XBOX/PS5 consoles. It's in that 2.4G ecosystem where the latency comes into play for AV sync, even though the controller itself is polling at 1000Hz and achieving 1ms:

Going by that ASR thread, this sounds like a proper dongle DAC vs the XONE controller does, makes sense as this is much more modern

True - is probably their 2.4g wireless implementation.

I've just found your video on the controller! Very good. It does seem like the 'cheap' Pro controller space doesn't stop progressing. I haven't looked at PC controllers since I bought the GuliKit KK3 last year. I did see the new 8bitdo Pro 3 announcement the other day and tempted to get one to replace my old Pro 2 as I quite like them for 2D games.

Raymond Lin · 17 Jul 2025 at 01:00

Ooh I love the GC colour one of the new 8bitdo pro3.

Will wait until it is in stock on Amazon before ordering though. I have plenty of controllers in the meantime.

mrk · 17 Jul 2025 at 06:57

If the Pro 3 supports remapping the extra bumper buttons to keyboard mapping then I will be getting one, especially if it also has a shift layer like the Gamesir G7 Pro does, such a useful feature. I like the NED colour theme version lol.

Specs and design look perfect and should replace the Tarantula Pro, although max polling rate is only 250Hz so potentially has a couple of ms latency by default.

mrk · 17 Jul 2025 at 11:59

Looks like some are getting their Fosi i5 early, I'm away next week so almost certainly my luck that they arrive when I'm away...

Raymond Lin · 17 Jul 2025 at 15:57

mrk said:
Looks like some are getting their Fosi i5 early, I'm away next week so almost certainly my luck that they arrive when I'm away...

Which forum? I wonder what their backer number is.

mrk · 17 Jul 2025 at 15:58

On reddit

Edit* I meant as in was posted on reddit this morning as I was mooching about on work lol. Positive feedback too it seems.

Raymond Lin · 17 Jul 2025 at 21:31

It seems a few redesign of Hifiman range just got announced, that explains the price of the XS

mrk · 17 Jul 2025 at 22:12

Non-pivoting headband though, back to the basic bands but now with the suspension strap added.

Raymond Lin · 17 Jul 2025 at 22:17

mrk said:
Non-pivoting headband though, back to the basic bands but now with the suspension strap added.

Baddddd. I take the pivoting headband over a suspended strap.

mrk · 17 Jul 2025 at 22:33

yup having had the fixed headband from the Sundara and Ananda, never again.

Ayahuasca · 17 Jul 2025 at 22:53

HE600 is interesting, the original HE6 are a fantastic headphone.

mrk · 17 Jul 2025 at 23:46

FiiO’s QX13 is a €210 dongle DAC with ‘desktop’ performance | Darko.Audio

Up to 900mW into 32 Ohms.

darko.audio

Hmm that looks rather cool actually, even if for the gadget factor.

Raymond Lin · 17 Jul 2025 at 23:55

£200 though....I mean if can have only 1 and only 1 Dac then sure but I don't think I would be spending that much money on a "dongle" that isn't a dongle, more like a DAP player.

Timber · 18 Jul 2025 at 12:31

QX13 looks nice, albeit I don't personally have a need for one.

I have seen some of the CanJam London stuff this weekend and a little bit jealous of those able to go. The Fiio stand alone is going to be interesting, although I don't know how busy these events can get. So queuing up for hours could get old very quickly.