I use the Air 5 Pro for gym stuff etc, a nicer sound than the CMF, they also have the Air 5 which is a bit cheaper still.
I use the Air 5 Pro for gym stuff etc, a nicer sound than the CMF, they also have the Air 5 which is a bit cheaper still.
I think this sort of thinking is misguided, as per my review of the X9, it sounds great, but other amps and DACs also sound great, you are paying for the whole package with something like the X9 (and now X8) - Something that looks/feels as premium as something that costs a lot more, and the X8/X9 have hardware level features in the menu that those more expensive products don't seem to have until you spend even more on a higher end model etc.But let's be real: are we just paying for the chassis?
I know you guys probably seen it but another thread on blind testing over at r/headphones - Just did a blind volume-matched A/B test. I think we're all hearing with our wallets. A bit like that link the other week.
The OP puts an old Atom Stack up against a Luxsin X9 in blind tests. Which then starts an interesting debate and discussion about the lack of difference in solid state dac/amps. Without being able to blind test different solid state amps I think I can believe it. i.e. there's a certain point where the differences are indistinguishable (not including applying distortion as noted in the thread).
The biggest difference is Headphones, amp then DAC, in that order.
Gotta be careful there because different types of DAC do have a distinct sound signature, R2R vs sigma-delta for example, then there are the variations between brands that carry a house-signature: ESS (analytical), Cirrus Logic (mid range emphasis and soundstage) vs AKM (warm/smooth) vs TI (not really heard anything lately to compare) and so on. Then there is the implementation of the DAC in the product and the components connected to it inside the housing, these can colour the sound too as I experienced with the FiiO K7 (AKM+THX) which I did not like and found cold/harsh, vs all other AKMs heard since then which have been great.
That's the thing though, everyone hears things differently as everyone has different shaped ears, think of them like the wave guides on tweeters, but some things regardless of blind test or not cannot be placebo, soundstage differences can't be easily measured, for example, but are clearly varied between amps and DACs alike. Granted not everyone will hear differences like that, but that too goes back to the first line above about all ears being different, some will, some won't.