Powerful Amp/Dac dongles with mic in?

michty_me

michty_me

michty_me

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As mentioned in another thread, I'm looking for a powerful USB-C AMP/DAC with mic in to shove in my laptop bag.

I currently have a Soundblaster G3 but feel like it doesn't cut it with harder to drive headphones now.

I've been doing some reading and been recommended the following so any thoughts or recommendations?

SXFI Amp - Currently reduced from £139 to £39
THX Oynx - Seems like an interesting product.
Qudelix 5K - Might be harder to come by in the UK.

Any others?
 
michty_me said:
As mentioned in another thread, I'm looking for a powerful USB-C AMP/DAC with mic in to shove in my laptop bag.

I currently have a Soundblaster G3 but feel like it doesn't cut it with harder to drive headphones now.

I've been doing some reading and been recommended the following so any thoughts or recommendations?

SXFI Amp - Currently reduced from £139 to £39
THX Oynx - Seems like an interesting product.
Qudelix 5K - Might be harder to come by in the UK.

Any others?
Click to expand...
The IFI Go Blu has a built in mic too and bluetooth. If you want an amp with a mic too. I replied to the other thread too. The hip dacs don't have mic in or built in mics if that is really important to you.
 
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Following on from your other reply in the SXFI thread. I think I may give the ifi hipdac2 a shot. Its a pity that it doesn't have mic in or it would be an instant purchase. Perhaps I'll get a Go Blu and a hipdac to compare. Maybe if I'm happy with the sound, I might need to look at another mic solution but ideally with the limited space and items I can take, The smaller more all in one device may be best.
 
michty_me said:
Following on from your other reply in the SXFI thread. I think I may give the ifi hipdac2 a shot. Its a pity that it doesn't have mic in or it would be an instant purchase. Perhaps I'll get a Go Blu and a hipdac to compare. Maybe if I'm happy with the sound, I might need to look at another mic solution but ideally with the limited space and items I can take, The smaller more all in one device may be best.
Click to expand...

Honestly the best way to deal with it, order them try them and return the one you like least, this is basically what I ended up doing till I found the one I wanted to keep. Like I said in the other thread there was only 3 devices out of like 12 or maybe more that I tried that I liked for their sound and value but ended up keeping the gryphon because it had all the connections I use but was it worth £600, yes and no because of the price, but no other portable device does everything it does in one is its main advantage and they know that and can price it as they like.

The only other ones I would have kept were the hip dacs 1 and 2 or the go blu for the bluetooth, I even thought to buy both of them instead of the gryphon as then I get two devices cheaper and they have all the features I needed but then decided rather have one device and the spdif and all the inputs was also important for my needs and gear I use, so ended up just getting the £600 gryphon and well swallowed my pride but when I got it and used it with everything I was really happy with it but think it really should be priced £450-500 max to make it a no brainer buy, £600 and a £40 case for it hurt a little but now after calming down and using it I would only replace it if it died with same one again or with the hip dac for pc/laptop/mobile phone/tablet usb use and for bluetooth the Go Blu.


Order the hip dac 2 first and try it as it has more power than the Go Blu and if that is really loud to you, you may get away then with the Go Blu, or as above order both then you have both there to compare and return one you don't want, that way you can give them a fair test side by side. Amazon returns no brainer and that way you get to try both at home in the environment you listen to.
 
I'll take a look. I don't mind buying open box items from Amazon either as have done this several times in the past. I think I also have a £50 voucher attached to my account that I was given from my work so this will contribute to the costs.

£600 for the Gryphon is a bit rich for my use case but can see where it would benefit others for sure! I do have a Soundblaster G6 I can utilise for now so that will tide me over until I decide which items to buy and test.
 
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