Did the o-ring thing with all my go to’s but meh from me lol
Rip, that fit is definitely the biggest problem with them.
I guess one bonus for us IEM guys is we don’t need super high end Dac/Amps?
At most an iFi Micro or Chord Hugo2 where as our HP buddies spend possibly more on there source kit 
Yeah definitely. Fiio m11, ibasso dx160 tier stuff is the highest level without having to spend a liver for more improvement.
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I mean you can go to something like a cayin n6ii and get pretty solid improvements, I agree with @Ohmboy that you don’t really need to go as high as you do for headphones or speakers
Well I meant more like, instead of spending so much money on the source it is better to put it towards the iems instead. Much bigger improvement that way (assuming you arent using a trash source like a smartphone lol).
Would agree, but once you reach the 1-2k range imo it makes sense to spend similar on your source gear.
But for most of the more budget stuff, the solid midrange daps or dac/amps will do them justice for sure
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Hey, I resemble that remark!?!?!? Lol my V20 is very good(along with ES100), and when I want I can always listen at my desk with my 788, but I am looking at a dx160 at some point, dont want to give fiio all the money LOL
Hahaha no offense to you (I also have the lg g7 used it before I got the fiio M11 and now the iBasso dx160)
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I usually use my desktop stuff, SMSL SU-8 DAC & THX AAA 789. I have the Fiio Q5s with THX amp for @ work “USB” and when I need to go wireless “bluetooth”, but my sources are all usually FLAC from my computers. I’ve never thought about really investing in a DAP. If I’m listening to music while excercizing, I’d never use one of these audiophile IEMs. I have wireless Apple ear pods for that.
For me, having a dap is really usefull both outside and at home.
I use it over my desktop setup when I am using iems. Mainly because It is more convenient for me to have a dap closer to me so the cables dont go over my keyboard and because it is much faster for me to switch iems when I am doing comparisons. (I also prefer the sound from the Ibasso DX160 over my desktop setup.)
(Topping E30 + JDS Ol Switch + JDS Atom is my desktop setup)
EDIT: I always remember the Topping E30 as the E10…F me
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I primarily run my iems out of a btr5. The small form factor is really convenient
Is the DX160 a warmer amp, I know the atom is supposed to be very clean and AAA like so just checking. It is on ky radar along with the little bear tube hybrid portable amp
It really is a warm device, way more than Fiio at least…
I don’t think it is overly warm but yes it’s warmer than the fiio offerings i’ve tried and sounds more musical imo
Don’t know if this is the right thread for this, but two quick questions.
Has anyone had a chance to break in and try the kzs1 wireless buds?
And is it okay to use an IEM (wireless or wired) for hours in a 0 degree freezer (I have 8hour shifts) any recommendations if so?
Used t4s and blon 03 in large freezer for long periods of time, still work fine
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I use an ES100 and my brother uses a BTR5. Now that I’ve experienced the freedom from bluetooth I can never go back to being tethered to a device like my computer or phone.
The freedom of just being able to walk away from the computer without taking my IEMs out is just so nice. It’s even more convenient when I pull my phone out in the subway and I don’t have a big ass cable sticking out the top of my phone that has gotten caught onto people’s stuff when crowded.
But the best convenience out of them all?
I don’t have to be stuck buying LG phones (even though the new Velvet line no longer feature their quad dac) and I can just focus on other features even if the phone doesn’t have a headphone jack.
The advertised battery life on this new Topping DAP seems extremely promising. The BTR5 has a 550mAh battery while the ES100 has only 350mAh. An 800mAh battery at a cheaper price point than both the BTR5 and ES100 alone might make this worth getting. I just hope Topping releases a decent mobile app for controlling the device.
Edit: I don’t see any advertisement for a compatible mobile app… I am absolutely in love with the precise volume control the ES100 has in its app and that feature makes it better than the BTR5 IMO. Volume control on most phones are pretty bad… Either one click too loud or one too quiet. No compromise in between.
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The Atom is very similar to the Fiio M11 in sound. Both on the analytical and brighter sound. The DX160 is on the opposite, being more musical and warmer. I prefer the DX160 more.
I also have a Hybrid amp and that is not recommended if you are planning to use iems with it. Hisses a lot and only the Tin Hifi P1 and the Final Audio E5000 works for it without hiss.
You should forget about the Little bear tube in my opinion. ( I got the Little Dot 1+, from my research back when I decided it seems to be better than the bear.)
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The BTR5 is actually quite powerful so I would consider that a pretty good source for iems (it wont handle harder to drive stuff like the Tin P1 and Final E5k though)
Particularly its balanced output power at 240mw, its more powerful than a DAP like the Shanling M2X 