Can you also explain how the E30 is better than the K5 even though they have the same chip
So imo it’s not really about the chip itself, it’s about the implementation about that chip, and the other components surrounding it that make the difference imo. The k5 pro dac implementation is more leaning on the brighter neutral side, and also somewhat lean. The e30 is a bit more w shaped sounding (but still relatively neutral), and a bit more natural sounding with a bit better detail and technicalities. Also a more powerful sound. This is because imo topping knows how to better implement this chip, and also put more care into the output stage of this chip giving it the superior sonic qualities
Is their a better DAC I could go with other than the E30? In my price range BTW LOL
Well, yes but you would be spending a bit more on that. I think something like the el dac ii is pretty sweet imo, very solid.
In your budget I really do like the e30 for the sound. I think the earmen donald dac is pretty sweet, but that would be a bit more neutral of a dac than the bit more fun sounding e30. The d10 is brighter and doesn’t seem up your alley. The smsl stuff is also good as well but alternately pretty similar
Holy shit, If I was going to get the EL DAC II for $300 I would just get the Element II instead
Pretty much yeah, I wouldn’t spend more than the 120 mark on a dac for your setup
There is also the asgard 3 with multibit which sounds up your alley for an all in one
But the E30 is $130 
Close enough lol
Yeah, so in other words wait a few days, see if I get used to the K5 and if not return it and get the E30 and Spark. I should have lived by that other guys words of to always trust M0N so I wouldn’t have to go through this again.
FiiO K5 Pro Positives and negatives as of so far
Pro’s - Clean Slam, Crisp, Can go louder than you would ever want, looks nice, big ass dial, has great spatial recreation
Con’s - Lacks Bass, ear piercing treble, Can go louder than you would ever want
Pretty sure the bass and treble issue can easily be fixed with a different headphone
what do you recommend?
You have a sundara right?
no, I got the Hifiman Edition XX
Ah then you would want something smoother with a bit more bass how do you feel about a dynamic driver?
I already have dynamic driver headphones that give me exactly what I look for, I have a heavily modified SHP 9500 and highly modified Fidelio X2R along with monoprice retros with their own DAC and Tube AMP setup. The point of going with the planar was so I don’t have to switch out headphones and I get everything I wan’t in a single pair of headphones. Plus the bass slam of planars can’t be reproduced by any dynamic I have ever heard.
I mean that would work too, I just think that grabbing the ls+e30 would fix the issue, as it was fine off the k3 I think
I mean something else he really would prefer is the lcd 2 classic, darker, warmer, bassier, but I don’t think that was initially in his budget, and I think the xx is still pretty dang solid
Eventually I want to get the LCD-2C or the LCD-GX but I didn’t know if they had the sound signature I would prefer. But now you just told me it’s warmer and bassier. What does “darker” mean?
Edit: Found this Dark refers to a prominent bass with recessed treble.
Warm refers to a prominent bass with usually neutral treble.
Not necessarily prefer over the xx, just saying something you would like as well (but who knows). Dark means reduced treble, so some find that they lack treble energy for them. I also personally don’t think the gx would be up your alley, you prefer the lcd 2 classic.
what’s wrong with the GX? I though it was a gaming tuned LCD-2C basically. Also the LCD-2C and the XX sound about the same? Like would it be worth upgrading from the XX to the LCD-2C?