EarMen Eagle Mobile DAC - Can it beat the Dragonfly Red?
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Күн бұрынA review of the #EarMen Eagle USB #DAC including #audiocomparisons vs the DragonFly Red. More info here: earmen-shop.com/products/eagle
00:00 Introduction
01:18 Glamour video
01:48 Accessories & connectivity
02:10 Who are EarMen?
02:38 Design and specs
05:21 Sound quality
06:06 vs Dragonfly Red
08:46 Testing multiple headphones
10:28 Volume levels by headphone
11:55 Final conclusions
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PASSION FOR SOUND GEAR LIST
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Desktop Sources Playback software: Roon roonlabs.com/r/St5em2YsbUqGXc...
Primary DAC: Chord Hugo TT2 tinyurl.com/y4vys4zq
with Chord M-Scaler tinyurl.com/y6hcm3kw
Secondary DAC: Schiit Bifrost 2 www.schiit.com/products/bifro...
USB cables: Curious Evolved curiouscables.com/
and AudioQuest Coffee amzn.to/3059qiA
Active Speakers: Bang & Olufsen BeoLab 3 Speakers
Amps
Bottlehead Mainline DIY kit tube amplifier bottlehead.com/product/mainli...
Topping A90 tinyurl.com/AposA90
Burson Soloist 3XP www.bursonaudio.com/products/...
Topping L30 headphone amp and pre-amp tinyurl.com/AposL30
Burson Audio FUN: www.bursonaudio.com/products/... with Sparkos Labs SS3601 op-amps: sparkoslabs.com/product/singl...
Headphones (that I regularly use)
Open: Meze Audio Empyrean tinyurl.com/y6gfyquz
Open: Focal Clear amzn.to/37Ihgky
Open: Sennheiser HD800S amzn.to/3oFtUdC
Open: HiFiMan Sundara tinyurl.com/AposSundara
Semi-open: Beyerdynamic DT880 Premium LE massdrop.7eer.net/L6633
or amzn.to/3bBg7xs
Closed: AudioQuest NightOwl Carbon (these may have been discontinued)
Portable
Phone: Samsung Galaxy S10+ amzn.to/37MzTUA
DAC for phone: Audioquest Dragonfly Cobalt amzn.to/36AzpAB
Digital audio player: Astell & Kern AK240 Stainless Steel (no longer available) - other A&K players are available here: tinyurl.com/yy9ypfm7
Earphones
Audiofly AF1120 Mk2: amzn.to/2ZoTuHZ
Noble Kaiser 10 custom IEM (discontinued) - universal version available via Drop massdrop.7eer.net/vkaWy
Shozy Form 1.4 amzn.to/3cIL0Az
Tin HiFi T2 Plus amzn.to/3fqCbxu
Bluetooth Headphones / Earphones
Nuraphone amzn.to/2N7G2Tu
AudioFly AFT2 amzn.to/3e8goKx
Nuraloop amzn.to/2HKVZzi
Reviews filmed using:
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@markcarrington8565 3 жыл бұрын
Big thanks for your review on the TempoTec Sonata HD Pro before Christmas. I bought one from AliExpress in December and it arrived before Christmas. I've paired it up with BeyerDynamic Soul Byrd IEMs and my portable listening via my iPhone has been a revelation. I also saved £30 on the Apple camera adaptor as the Sonata comes with two leads thrown in. So, a new world of portable listening, including IEMs, cable and DAC for £110. Ridiculous value! I only bought them to listen to the radio on dog walks but I'm so chuffed I've also subscribed to Tidal to make the most of them.
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
That's awesome, Mark! Glad I could help and thanks for sharing!
@jonathanr2830 2 жыл бұрын
This is a follow up and word of sincere thanks. You really helped me hit a home run! I just bought an Earmen Eagle, based heavily on your review here. I have a pair of 300 ohm Sennheiser HD 600's and a new Motorola "Moto G Stylus 5G (2022)" with 3.5 mm headphone jack, USB C charging/data port, and a very good 5000 mWh lithium battery. I am also currently waiting on delivery of a recently purchased pair of 62 ohm AKG K702 open-back headphones to nicely compliment my HD 600's with their respective niche capabilities. Well, being impatient while waiting for the K702's, and on a crazy whim, I experimented today listening to various genres of familiar music on Pandora via my described "Moto G Stylus 5G (2022)" and using the new Earmen Eagle just received with my favorite HD 600's. I reasoned that if the Eagle could impress me at all with that admittedly borderline to outright mismatch with the higher-impedance HD 600 headphones, I should have some great listening to look forward to with the planned Eagle/newly purchased 62 ohm K702 matchup. As you predicted, the Eagle had to struggle somewhat to drive the 300 ohm HD 600's. To reach my usual very modest and conservative listening volume levels without noticeable distortion etc., I had to put the phone's volume setting all the way up to 12 of 15, with 15 being the Moto's maximum volume setting. Above 12 was just too loud for me. The Eagle/HD 600 combo left some, but very little headroom, as you predicted. You are spot on about the very nice sound characteristics of the Eagle, which in spite of the HD 600's higher impedance, still somehow shone through very well, albeit with my phone volume setting cranked up to 12 out of 15. Bottom line, you definitely steered me in the right direction of the Earmen Eagle with the right precautions about impedance. With the Eagle/HD 600/Moto just sliding safely into home plate with my Moto as the source, I can know that I will now have a fantastic unexpected bonus with the Eagle presenting music beautifully from my surprising Moto to both of my reference headphones with their complimentary sound characteristics. My guess is the Moto may be harboring some kind of secret sauce as a source to help that happen, but credit definitely goes where credit is due. Thank you very much for your keen and reliable reviews.
@PassionforSound 2 жыл бұрын
My absolute pleasure! I'm so glad you're enjoying your purchase 🙂🙂
@LencoTB 2 жыл бұрын
It is so inspiring to see how you answer all the comments and answer with helpful comments. Not many KZfaqrs do that. This makes reading comments on your channel a joyful and learning experience. Respect ✊ others could learn from you. I do have a question now that a couple of comments in your other video has revolved around the cable quality used with Earmen Dongle DACs. After watching your videos I plan to buy Earman Eagle and mainly listen to Spotify and Apple Music on an iPhone. Now is the Apple’s Camera Adapter cable a good quality cable that will not make any noise issues with Eagle or is there any other of better quality?
@MMRSean 3 жыл бұрын
I actually recently purchased the Eagle as my portable DAC/amp to use with my iPhone via the Apple CCK. The primary reason that I chose the Eagle over all the other options is that it’s using the ESS9281 chip. To my knowledge, it’s the first dongle (that I’ve seen) on the market to use the 9281 chip, while all the other dongles are currently using the 9218 chip. That paired with the super small form factor made me pick it!
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
It's a great choice, Sean. Enjoy!
@dasninjastix 3 жыл бұрын
I bought the Sparrow on release and it had an issue when used on Android or Windows with a kind of metered clicking noise in the first 30 seconds of playback. Earmen were really responsive with their support; they claimed the issue was with the ESS chip and somehow escaped their QA. I purchased the device from Moon Audio who also reported no issues in their set up. My guess is a majority of the testing was with the Tidal application as my other people experienced the same issue and it was quite easy to replicate. They did release a firmware update about a month after I purchased it and kept me in the know the entire time, so a bit of testimonial regarding the quality of their support. I do love the Sparrow using the balanced output. Phenomenal sound, separation, and resolution. If you have balanced headphones I'd consider it before any other dongle.
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
Hi Das, thanks for sharing your experiences - very helpful! I agree, for balanced headphones and earphones, the Sparrow is amazing!
@soccerfever16 2 жыл бұрын
Hi I have the same issue on my eagle. Lots of clicking noises. Did you find any solution or you got it exchanged?
@dasninjastix 2 жыл бұрын
@@soccerfever16 No, I think the issue with the device is actually the lack of shielding on their OTG cables. I only use the Sparrow from a windows laptop connected via a properly shielded USB cable. That produces no clicks. You can try to find an OTG cable solution but I don't have one I can recommend. Using the Sparrow connected to an Android phone I have to try and keep the cable from touching the phone's body. You can't use any USB-C cable either, the one included with the Sparrow are OTG cables. But if you can find a replacement it should stop the clicks. It's ultimately not a dongle I would recommend for Phones because of this issue. I'd probably go with a Hidizs S9 Pro for less money.
@gaetanocallista 2 жыл бұрын
Hi, I bought this DAC after your review! Now I ask you if I am able to pilot the Hifiman Sundara at best, another product that I think you are quite enthusiastic about also compared to their cost.
@bangaloreschoolofrock 3 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the review. Two questions: 1. If Eagle isn’t a great choice for a headphone with an impedance greater than 80 ohm, does a Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro with a 250 ohm which I have work with Eagle well? Or should I go for Dragon Fly? 2. I have Focusrite 2nd and 3rd gen as the sound card which I use for my studio, how is this DAC compared to the traditional audiophile ones in the market? Thank you!
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
Hi Srikanth, you'll find most of the dongle DACs will struggle a bit with higher impedance headphones, but I've recently completed a review of the NextDrive Spectra X and it is quite good for power so either that or a DragonFly should do well. My Spectra X review goes live this week. As for the Focusrite, I actually use their Scarlett 2i2 3rd gen and it's not particularly good for audiophile purposes. I don't know if it's the DAC or the headphone amp that lets it down (I've never used it with an external amp) so I'd recommend a better device for musical enjoyment. The Focusrite is fine for music recording, etc. just not a great tool for listening to music.
@ussr1942max 2 жыл бұрын
great review as always, question: how does the dragonfly red as a stand alone dac compare against other desktop grade dacs? I paired my DF red with solid state desktop amp and use in conjunction with hd6xx k7xx. I was wondering how much of an improvement will i get if upgraded to a topping e50? to be more specific, how much improvement on aspects such as timing, realism, and resolution? other suggestions are welcomed, thanks!
@PassionforSound 2 жыл бұрын
Generally, a good desktop DAC will always outperform a dongle because the desktop units have dedicated power (rather than taking it from USB) and also have more space available for more complex circuits and larger components. The E50 will be a huge upgrade in all areas.
@ussr1942max 2 жыл бұрын
@@PassionforSound many thanks!!
@PaulGreeve 3 жыл бұрын
The Dragonflies are capped at 96kHz due to being USB 1.0 audio devices. Though, via MQA they are supposed to be able to overcome that USB limitation because they receive the audio as a (max) 96 kHz data stream and then decompress the final data onboard, before sending it to the DAC.
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
Good point about the MQA ability to bypass the 96kHz limit
@shamelessplace11 6 ай бұрын
Yeah but that's only Jermaine if you're using m QA audio files if you have flak in your collection or even lower resolution just whatever you have then you're stuck I don't think it's a very good offering at USB 1.0 I do not like the fact that it only comes and USB a they should make one USB c to USBC for more portability as it is you've got to hook another dongle to a thing it's just ridiculous
@PassionforSound 6 ай бұрын
It's quite an old design now. I wonder if they'll do an updated version in the future.
@georgiosioannou7240 2 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for the review sir! I have a question on how does the eagle compare to tr-amp. As tr-amp is about double the price, does it have significant sonic advantages? I am particularly interested in vocals and soundstage/instrument seperation. I plan to use the HP-2 se ultras on them with an impedance of just 33 ohm. Looking forward to your thoughts!
@PassionforSound 2 жыл бұрын
I don't have the TR-Amp here anymore to compare, but checkout my review of the TR-Amp because I might have covered your question there I think.
@georgiosioannou7240 2 жыл бұрын
@@PassionforSound thanks man
@maciek221279 3 жыл бұрын
Hi! Thank you for this review and all the others. Very informative and I think your preffered sound signature is similar to mine, so it is even more helpful. I bought the EarMen Eagle, it sounds fantastic with my beloved Final Audio E3000, but when I play a file, let's say, 16/44.1 and the next one is for example 24/96, the Eagle clicks and pops. When playing same resolution files continuosly, nothing bad happens. I tried it with my LG G8X, Fiio M11 (both with USB Audio Player Pro), Hiby R2, Shanling Q1 and Tempotec V1 and all of them exhibit this problem. I even bought the iFi OTG cable to see if the problem lies here, but unfortunately, it's the same. Did you encounter this problem or maybe managed to find the solution? Keep up the great work! Cheers!
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
Hi Maciek, that's not good at all! I didn't experience this when testing or I definitely would have mentioned it, but it's possible that I happened to not switch formats during my testing as I might have chosen one album during one listening session and another during a different session. Let me try it specifically (I bought an Eagle for myself) and let you know...
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
Tried it tonight and couldn't recreate your issue with either Android (UAPP app) or PC using Roon. What are you running the Eagle from, Maciek?
@ranjanasingh1439 Жыл бұрын
Hi ! Recently I lost my bag and my eagle along with it. Please suggest a dac dongle that is an upgrade over the eagle but with a similar sound signature. I am looking at ibasso dc04 pro, fiio ka5, and hiby fc4 as potential options. I listen mainly to classical orchestral music. Feel free to recommend any other dac you have in mind. I like your channel by the way. Thanks!!
@PassionforSound Жыл бұрын
Sorry to hear about your Eagle ☹️ Don't buy the FC4 - it's nowhere near the Eagle. I haven't tried the FiiO or iBasso, but would recommend the Hidisz XO as being a similar sound and well priced.
@PurpleSkywalker 3 жыл бұрын
Would the earman be good for mixing and mastering on a mobile device? (Fl Studio Mobile)
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
It should do well, PS. It's sound is pretty neutral and true to source.
@mcjonner 3 жыл бұрын
Hi, thanks for the review. Do you think you may review the hidizs s9? Looks like a high quality device and would love to see how it compares. Supposed to be more powerful, more balanced and mature sound over the s8/sonata hd pro with a balanced output as well. Or the helm bolt?
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
Hi Jayzeus, I emailed Helm, but have had no response so far. I'll look into the Hidizs and see what I can arrange...
@mcjonner 3 жыл бұрын
@@PassionforSound thanks. I really like your videos and find them informative, easy to understand where products sit amongst comparisons which can be the hardest to grasp when watching reviews. One reviewer also compared the ikko zerda to the cobalt and said the sound signature/power was identical with better build quality for $99 usd.
@mcjonner 3 жыл бұрын
@@PassionforSound what are your top recommendations for 3.5mm output so far if there's no need for Bluetooth? Cobalt, but it's expensive, the earmen eagle would be top? Are there others up there?
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
I'm keen to check it out, but also sceptical because I heard similar things about the Sonata which turned out to be not as good as the hype. Hopefully the Zerda will be different! Glad my videos are helpful!
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
EarMen Eagle is the clear winner based on my current experiences. For the price it is excellent and the product I've chosen to own personally.
@ankursingha1765 2 жыл бұрын
Hi, I really like the way you review products. I did have a question on the earmen eagle. I bought it a couple of weeks back and use it with my audio technica m50x on my iPhone and MacBook Air with the appropriate adapters. However I haven’t noticed any improvement in sound quality for Apple Music lossless music. I did buy this with a lot of expectation so I am a bit disappointed. Is there anything which I can to do to help matters?
@PassionforSound 2 жыл бұрын
Hi Ankur, I'm not an Apple user so I'm not sure if there are settings required to maximise the output quality. That's the most likely reason that you wouldn't be noticing an improvement
@ankursingha1765 2 жыл бұрын
@@PassionforSound Thanks for your response. Hoping that someone else looking at the comments can help
@LencoTB 2 жыл бұрын
Did you remember to enable Lossless under Settings in iOS?
@ankursingha1765 2 жыл бұрын
@@LencoTB Hi, Yes I did
@manueljenkin95 3 жыл бұрын
These are the type of devices that benefit the most from cable and software player tweaks 😀. In a well isolated device just the digital interface block will be 5-10x as big as the whole dac unit here.
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
Definitely. In fact, the Sparrow (next model up) has a very specific cable issue that I'll discuss in that review...
@iftekharahamad4840 2 жыл бұрын
In between Eagle and Hidizs s9 pro which has better single ended sound output??
@PassionforSound 2 жыл бұрын
I haven't tried the S9 Pro so hopefully someone else can assist with this one
@user-eb5ri3nf9d 2 жыл бұрын
earmen sparrow supports playing music via spotify and dizzer hifi in connection with a mobile device?
@PassionforSound 2 жыл бұрын
Yes it will :)
@paulwoaert 8 ай бұрын
I just did a search: 2 years after your video, the EarMen Eagle Mobile DAC you are talking about now costs around 267 US dollars in 2023 (on the web site of Bigamart). Quite a difference with 120 dollars ! The price should have fallen, but it is increasing. How is it possible ?
@PassionforSound 8 ай бұрын
That's an interesting question. I'm not sure. Perhaps it's been discontinued so it's rarer now?
@giampieroizzi2573 Жыл бұрын
Buongiorno ho comprato il modello Eagle vorrei sapere cortesemente sui formati MP3 di Spotify codifica il segnale in un uscita a 16bit oppure rimane sempre in formato MP3 grazie
@PassionforSound Жыл бұрын
It remains in MP3 format, but that's actually still 16-bit and 44.1kHz. It's just a compressed version of that
@PaulGreeve 3 жыл бұрын
The reason that it appears works with Tidal MQA files is because the App does part of the decoding in software. Seriously, if MQA ultimately fails, it will be because it is far too technical for the average listener to get their heads around. MQA is compressed in three steps (the first two being known as folds). The first fold compresses the raw 24 bit, 176.4kHz audio down to 88.2kHz (or 96kHz for 192kHz raw audio). The second fold compresses the audio down to 44.1kHz. The third and last step uses standard FLAC to compress the audio. The resultant MQA data appears to be a standard 44.1/24 FLAC file and can be played with any MQA unaware audio player. Using an MQA enabled player such as Tidal or USB Player on Android, audio is decompressed to 88.2/24 using software and this can then be played using any DAC (what you are seeing with the Earman). To fully decompress the original audio you need a DAC that is MQA enabled. Now here's a dirty secret Tidal doesn't tell you. Most of the Masters are only 44.1/24 or 96/24 and no MQA DAC is required to decompress them. Further, even though it isn't discussed in polite circles, Neutron can perform full MQA decoding of any MQA compressed audio files it can access.
@PaulGreeve 3 жыл бұрын
Actually, given how few Tidal Masters are actually over 96kHz I think the need for most listeners, MQA certified DACs are not required (though if MQA works as advertised, the resultant audio should be as close as possible to the original Master as possible). And on Android the Tidal App won't decode MQA Masters because of the stupid way Android responds all audio to 48/16.
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
Hi Paul, it makes sense that the player indicates that the MQA unfold is happening in the software, but the purple light on the Eagle would indicate that it's recognising (and potentially decoding/unfolding) the MQA data. Thanks for mentioning Neutron's MQA abilities - I wasn't aware of that!
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
That's correct. You need to use an app like USB Audio Player Pro to bypass the Android audio processing
@LencoTB 2 жыл бұрын
Thx for the explanation. That makes sense when you explain it like that. I am mostly listening to music on Spotify and Apple Music so I can definitely just get the Eagle instead of Sparrow, right?
@siddharthfultariya2004 3 жыл бұрын
i planned to purchase earmen eagle, does it require to run music on usb player pro as you mentioned in video to bypass android dac?
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
Yes. All USB DACs will need an app like that to bypass the Android OS. It's an issue with the Android OS, not the device 🙂
@siddharthfultariya2004 3 жыл бұрын
@@PassionforSound thanks a lot for the reply, right now i am using samsung galaxy s20plus, do i need a dac for good sound quality?
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
The S20+ should be quite good (my S10+ was), but a DAC like the Eagle is a noticeable upgrade still.
@siddharthfultariya2004 3 жыл бұрын
@@PassionforSound thanks....
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
You're welcome
@giampieroizzi2573 10 ай бұрын
Buona sera le volevo chiderle cortesemente sono in possesso del dac earmen eagle ed eccezionale la domanda e questa a senso comprare un cobalt dragonfly per sostituire eagle grazie
@nickster1059 6 ай бұрын
Hello, how is this comparing the ifi go link? Thanks
@PassionforSound 6 ай бұрын
I haven't tried the Go Link so can't say. Sorry.
@jptwentyfour887 2 жыл бұрын
In your opinion what would be the highest quality planner headphones I could use for this DAC and get enough power? I am trying the Hifimen HE400se but some have said I would have trouble driving them. They are only 25 ohms…. Trying to hear 24 bit 192 khz at its best. Thats for your reply.
@PassionforSound 2 жыл бұрын
The Eagle will comfortably drive almost any reasonable planar to normal listening levels. Obviously the Susvara and Abyss 1266 are probably out of the equation, but most of the rest should all be fine. The Eagle is a very good device, but it's not able to reach desktop quality performance so I'd not recommend spending a fortune on headphones to pair with it, but something like the HE400SE is nice. Ideally, a pair of Verum 1s or Sundaras will be even better (Verums are easier to drive)
@jptwentyfour887 2 жыл бұрын
@@PassionforSound thanks so much!
@jptwentyfour887 2 жыл бұрын
@@PassionforSound by the way, 3.5mm to 3.5mm balanced cables would do fine for either HE400se or sundara I assume? The eagle obviously only supports the 3.5 end.
@PassionforSound 2 жыл бұрын
Yes, the 3.5mm to dual 3.5mm will work with pretty much any amp on the market (unless it's a balanced-only amp like the Geshelli E2)
@mindhead1 2 жыл бұрын
I have the 4xx and the Eagle isn’t up to the task of driving them. It can play, but I need to max volume to get an acceptable volume level. This is not the case with my 32ohm dynamic headphones.
@shameermohamed4345 2 жыл бұрын
can u compare eagle vs shanling Ua2?! I already own it's a warm Dac..jus I wanna know is that worth I buy eagle?!
@PassionforSound 2 жыл бұрын
I don't have the UA2 - sorry
@andrewcale6100 3 жыл бұрын
You also going to test the Sparrow?
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
Sure am, Andrew. Notes are written. Recording happening soon...
@deepsgowda 2 жыл бұрын
Can we use this DAC/AMP for Bluetooth speakers like Marshall Killburn 2 and for car audio system thru 3.5 mm audio jack ?
@PassionforSound 2 жыл бұрын
I'm not sure how you mean. The way these devices work is that they take a digital signal from a USB source and output that as an analog signal via 3.5mm output. If that is what you need to connect to the speaker then it's fine, but there's no Bluetooth functionality from dongles like this one
@deepsgowda 2 жыл бұрын
@@PassionforSound Do I see any difference connecting it thru IPhone -> DAC-> 3.5 mm to Bluetooth speaker ? Any changes in sound quality ? I kind of love detailing .. love to here all instruments played .
@PassionforSound 2 жыл бұрын
If your BT speaker has an aux input then you will likely get a nice boost in quality using a wired connection like you've described 🙂
@deepsgowda 2 жыл бұрын
@@PassionforSound Thanku :-)
@chefsteve8381 3 жыл бұрын
With the removal of 3.5 mm jacks on phones now days (which is sad ), the use of these dongles is becoming more and more, the manufacture's of these devices must be rubbing their wallets together would love to know what's inside these dongles, and how little they cost to produce, thanks great informative review as always.
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
Hi Steve, I agree that it's sad to lose the headphone jacks from phones and even more so that audiophile phones like the LG V30 never caught on enough to keep them being produced. Some of these devices are very cheap to make (Tempotec Sonata HD Pro), but you can hear the difference with the Eagle, Sparrow, Dragonflies, etc. and it will come down to the quality of the circuit boards and components (resistors, capacitors, etc.) that are used. It's amazing how much impact these components have on sound quality.
@searinoxdk 2 жыл бұрын
I just got shure se846 and the eagle do you think i get the best out of these headphones? I cant hear the difference i think!
@PassionforSound 2 жыл бұрын
The 846 can do better with higher quality gear, but the Eagle is a much better option than a smartphone output
@searinoxdk 2 жыл бұрын
@@PassionforSound okay so if i get the sparrow will they play much better or a little bit better. Is the upgrade worth it or shuld i get the mojo?
@PassionforSound 2 жыл бұрын
Sparrow is a lot better and you will hear great sound if you have a balanced cable for the SE846. The Mojo is even better again and is still the best compact, portable DAC I've heard/owned. (I still own it) Do be aware that both devices can occasionally produce a little bit of noise from wifi / smartphones transmitting data. It's not a deal breaker for me, but it's something to be aware of.
@thefatiguedpalate 3 жыл бұрын
Would be interested to know how these dongles stack up to budget desktop DAC/AMP setups like the budget topping / schiit stacks!
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
Hi Tim, I've done that test in the past (Topping D10S I think) and the desktop units are still better if you don't need portability.
@heavynova 3 жыл бұрын
Im not an advanced audiophile, but for iem i think the Sparrow sounds richer than my stack which is usually a modius with a thx 789. Headphones obviously a stack is better especially if you have hard to drive cans.
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
The tonality might be better from the Sparrow, but you're likely losing soundstage depth and layering (although the THX789 isn't particularly strong in that area either)
@heavynova 3 жыл бұрын
@@PassionforSound yes that is true, and may explain why i dont experience much of a difference at least on IEMs. On a power hungry headphone like my Argons difference is obvious, though thats also expected coming from a dongle DAC.
@heavynova 3 жыл бұрын
@@PassionforSound sorry for now going completely off topic. I never thought about the magnius becuase i already had the thx 789, but do you think that has any benifits for getting the Magnius?
@Ryu.Shooting 8 ай бұрын
Would the Earmen eagle be better than a Qudelix 5k as an usb dac?
@PassionforSound 8 ай бұрын
The 5k is pretty awesome, but I've never directly compared them to know for sure. Given that the 5k can do wired and wireless, it might be the better choice for its versatility.
@TrantaLocked 2 жыл бұрын
I've seen a few people say they prefer the Red but then others say they prefer the Eagle. Zeos really loves the EarMen Sparrow, a cousin to the Eagle which allegedly sounds the same from it's 3.5mm output but a bit better from it's 2.5mm balanced output.
@PassionforSound 2 жыл бұрын
There'll always be a degree of personal preference and also a degree of people defending the one they have so they don't have to face the idea of having the lesser quality device (not that I am saying the Red is necessarily worse). I find the Eagle output a bit better than the Sparrow 3.5mm output, but the Sparrow 2.5mm output is brilliant.
@saussage Жыл бұрын
HELP!!! i got the Eagle.. but no matter what i play the light still green.. is that normal?
@PassionforSound Жыл бұрын
If you're playing a file that you know is a different sample rate (e.g. 96kHz) then it means your software / app isn't sending a direct, bit-perfect output to the DAC. If you're on Android, an app like USB Audio Player Pro can help. I'm not sure on iPhone. From computers, you need to find a setting in your playback software that allows bit-perfect/exclusive output to the device.
@sumertale 2 жыл бұрын
First of all thank you very much for your reviews and your channel is great discovery for me. You are really wonderful rewiever! I got the Eagle, and happy with the sound. But, I already have issues with that usb connection between dac and USB-A to USB c connection. It's enough slightly to touch the dac and sometimes connection dissappears. And also I started to hear light background noise like white noise. If I push the dac and cable it dissappears, but it's very annoying thing. And listening on the go it's almost impossible. Cause all the time I need to do something that sound would be normal? Is there anyone who experience similar issues? And what to do? I think it's really terrible decision to make such type connectivity. Never had issues with ibasso dc 01 or hidizs s2 dac dongle.
@PassionforSound 2 жыл бұрын
Sorry to hear about the problem you're facing. That sounds like a broken cable to me. I'd reach out to EarMen first and tell them your experience. They might be able to help you out with a new cable. Otherwise, I'd see if you can pick up a generic replacement cable online and see if that fixes the issue. So glad you're enjoying the channel!
@LencoTB 2 жыл бұрын
Have you fixed your problem? I am considering to buy the Eagle
@sorcerermax5111 3 жыл бұрын
In our country, Eagle is exactly double the price of Shangling UA1. Is the price increase justified in terms of sound quality?
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
It's always hard to justify price vs value exactly, but I do think it's a significant enough improvement to justify the price increase.
@sorcerermax5111 3 жыл бұрын
@@PassionforSound I appreciate you replying to almost all comments here from people. No other lack luster youtuber does that. Most of them think they have become celebrities here after getting like 1000 subs. Buhahaha. Hope your channel grows. You are good
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
Thanks so much, Max! 🙂
@west4798 2 жыл бұрын
I have mine but I heard from other reviewers that they could get MQA with the magenta led. Has anyone been successful getting MQA natively?
@PassionforSound 2 жыл бұрын
It definitely turns magenta on mine, but I don't know if it's actually decoding the MQA or not. I never took the time to test for sonic changes.
@internetselling 3 жыл бұрын
I’m curious how it compares to Dragonfly Cobalt not Red. Yes, I know the Sparrow is the comparison price wise. But if the Eagle is better or close to the Cobalt. That is a statement…
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
To me, the Cobalt is comfortably better sounding. The Eagle definitely performs well, but not quite to the same level as the Cobalt. I can't give you specifics because I sold the Cobalt and bought a Sparrow (and an Eagle to replace my DF Red), but I remember comparing the Cobalt and Eagle briefly to decide if I should compare them and they were far enough apart that I decided against it
@kjg_95 2 жыл бұрын
Should I buy an Eagle to pair with my Rai Solo or should I buy a cheaper dac?
@PassionforSound 2 жыл бұрын
I'd definitely recommend the Eagle as the best balance between cost and performance.
@johnblack8036 2 жыл бұрын
So this will work on a Samsung Note20U? I was using a pair of Martin Logan Mikros 90 headphones on my old Note9, but the headphone jack is gone.. Is this a better option than getting a good pair of Bluetooth headphones?
@PassionforSound 2 жыл бұрын
I don't specifically know the Note20U, but so long as it support OTG connections, it will work and wired will always beat Bluetooth
@johnblack8036 2 жыл бұрын
@@PassionforSound Okay I got something called the Chronos. It's made by Violetric. Never heard of it, but someone at the local shop recommended it. I don't know how it compares to some of the more popular ones out there, but it blows away anything else I've used with a phone.. The sound is unbelievable. Very impressive.
@PassionforSound 2 жыл бұрын
Violectric make great products so you should be all set. Enjoy!
@johnblack8036 2 жыл бұрын
@@PassionforSound It's amazing. Keep in mind, I was using a pair Audio Technica ANC700BT (not great) headphones on Bluetooth, so anything would have been an improvement; but I wasn't expecting it to be that dramatic. It even madd those sound great. Well through the wire at least. Now I need new headphones. It never ends.
@PassionforSound 2 жыл бұрын
It's a bit like that, John. Glad you're enjoying the upgrade though 🙂
@johnnylandry3226 3 жыл бұрын
Is there any reason not to use this type of device out of the computer or phone into a separate amp?
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
None at all. Just turn up the volume on the source to 100% so you're getting a 2V output. 🙂
@johnnylandry3226 3 жыл бұрын
@@PassionforSound awesome, thanks for the reply. Love your work 🙂
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
My pleasure! Glad you like the reviews 🙂🙂
@markflower8885 3 жыл бұрын
I've had two Audioquest Cobalts but had build quality issues with both when the 3.5mm jack came loose. I eventually changed to the Earmen Sparrow to use with my phone. It has both 3.5 and 2.5 mm balanced outputs and in both cases It sounded way better than the Cobalt. I would highly recommend It.
@furkanerenkahveci7820 3 жыл бұрын
Do you use the dac with your phone or computer? And if with your phone, what your phone's model? I bought cobalt too, but it is not better from mine dac ( cirrus logic cs47L93) which is in the my phone, s10 plus.. as if cobalt and cirrus are even for my hearing..
@markflower8885 3 жыл бұрын
@@furkanerenkahveci7820 I use the Sparrow with my phone only . I use a different dac with my computer. My phone is a Sony Xperia 1ii which actually has a headphone jack and a fairly decent dac for a phone but its nowhere near as good as the sound from the Sparrow. Plus I have some 2.5mm cables with my iem's which the Sparrow supports.
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
I agree. The Sparrow is excellent! The only issue is that it picks up EMI noise fromy phone, but I believe EarMen will be producing (and supplying) new cables to help prevent the issue.
@rango_unchained 3 жыл бұрын
@@PassionforSound Will you be reviewing the Sparrow?
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
Hi Ron, sure will! The notes are all written up - just need time to record now.
@jakaran1 2 жыл бұрын
How does this fare against the Tempotec sonata HD pro??
@PassionforSound 2 жыл бұрын
It's way better than the Sonata HD Pro 🙂
@michaelhazellful 3 жыл бұрын
How does it sound vs lgs quad dac
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
Hi Michael, I didn't compare them directly, but I think the Eagle will be slightly better given that I always felt the DragonFly Red and LG were comparable (different, but equally good). The Eagle beats the Red so I would expect it to be slightly ahead of the LG too
@diegocortes3484 2 жыл бұрын
Earmen sparrow o Dragonfly Cobalt?? Help 🙏
@PassionforSound 2 жыл бұрын
I'd probably choose the Cobalt because the Sparrow still has some noise issues for some people, even with the new cables.
@THRINATHT 2 жыл бұрын
Can you make a video comparing shanling ua2 vs earman eagle.
@PassionforSound 2 жыл бұрын
It will depend on whether I can get a UA2 to try out, but I'll see what I can do
@THRINATHT 2 жыл бұрын
@@PassionforSound thank you
@iftekharahamad4840 2 жыл бұрын
Eagle is better
@PassionforSound 2 жыл бұрын
I would have expected that - the Eagle is brilliant
@SubhobrataSarkar 3 жыл бұрын
Can this run a sennheiser hd 6xx?
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
It can. You may find that you're using close to full volume of you listen loud and it might not handle extreme EQing, but for safe listening levels it will do fine.
@fernan01978 3 жыл бұрын
Thanks✓∆¶¶
@rvijayteja 2 жыл бұрын
In your opinion, this or FiiO btr 5?
@PassionforSound 2 жыл бұрын
Very different devices, but if you don't need wireless, I'd go with the Eagle.
@rvijayteja 2 жыл бұрын
@@PassionforSound Thank you. I am very new to this. Bought a Sennheiser HD599SE and KZ IEMs recently and thought I would need some portable dac and amp for phone and PC
@PassionforSound 2 жыл бұрын
No problems. If you're not in need of wireless, definitely go with the Eagle. It will do a great job with your gear
@rvijayteja 2 жыл бұрын
@@PassionforSound Appreciate your response. Will be going with Eagle
@c6fifty7 3 жыл бұрын
If you get a chance give the Ikko Zerda a listen. I have the dragonfly red and I think the Zerda sounds better whilst outputting about the same power. It’s about half the price of the DF red and a touch cheaper than the Eagle. Haven’t heard the Eagle so can’t compare.
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
It looks like a great device. Thanks for the suggestion!
@audioaficionado9494 3 жыл бұрын
This looks great for high res music off my phone through IEMs. According to John Darko, Android caps music bitrates lower than lossless. There is an app to bypass this 'feature'.
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
That's right. I personally use USB Audio Player Pro (UAPP)
@audioaficionado9494 3 жыл бұрын
Is it still true you have to make an additional in app purchase to unlock MQA?
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
I believe so, but best to check. I think it's because MQA charge for the licence
@inco6nit0 2 жыл бұрын
Can it drive a DT990 pro?
@PassionforSound 2 жыл бұрын
It should do. It drives my 250 ohm DT880s ok. You'll be getting up towards about 80% volume, but no issues I've ever heard.
@inco6nit0 2 жыл бұрын
@@PassionforSound thanks! :)
@AMWHits 8 ай бұрын
The dragon fly red is not a good test as the Dragon fly cobalt which is the best to test against and the bass response and sound clarity of the cobalt should be the measuring stick in my opinion. The dragon fly red is very similar to the dragon fly black and the sound stage is also similar as well but just with very minimal difference in clarity but still lacked a good bass response.
@PassionforSound 8 ай бұрын
It's also a question of price. Not everyone considering an Eagle can afford a Cobalt.
@teok8855 3 жыл бұрын
Does it beat the Sonata HD Pro?
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
Hi Teo, yes, by a wide margin. Much more refined, better details and space between sounds.
@teok8855 3 жыл бұрын
@@PassionforSound Thanks
@teok8855 3 жыл бұрын
@@PassionforSound thanks, I’ve been looking at Sonata HD Pro and BTR3K. The EarMen isn’t available for me.
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
Where are you located, Teo? I thought EarMen were available pretty much everywhere
@teok8855 3 жыл бұрын
@@PassionforSound Macedonia, and I plan to order from Aliexpress. Also will probably order in a few months.
@nicktan4530 3 жыл бұрын
What about against cobalt?
@heavynova 3 жыл бұрын
Imho it beats cobalt both in sound and build quality. Got this when my cobalt went wonky in the connector after 1 year. Plus Sparrow has a balanced output. I dont know about the eagle though
@nicktan4530 3 жыл бұрын
@@heavynova Beats in sound like how ?
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
I've got the Sparrow review coming up soon which will include comparison with the Cobalt. I can't recall if I specifically compared Eagle and Cobalt, but the Eagle is amazing for the price and will at least come close to Cobalt if not equalling/beating it
@nicktan4530 3 жыл бұрын
@@PassionforSound looking forward. I still can't make my mind. I need help
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
Hi Nick, what will you be using it with in terms of headphones/IEMs and are they wired for balanced out single ended?
@TheRusselmuscle 3 жыл бұрын
Too bad they couldn't use a USB C female connector instead of the USB A male. That would be so nice and compact.
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
True. Not sure why they've made that decision
@muttyhc 3 жыл бұрын
Does this unfold mqa?
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
It's unclear. It's not meant to, but when playing back MQA, the light turns purple as if it is unfolding so I'm not sure
@sorcerermax5111 3 жыл бұрын
On my smartphone, running KZ ZSN pro, the sound is lifeless, powerless, no depth in sound and not enough bass. Will this improve all that significantly?
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
Hi SM, in my experience yes it will. The Eagle is way better than any smartphone I've tried other than the LG Quad DAC phones which come close, but the Eagle is still a little better
@sorcerermax5111 3 жыл бұрын
@@PassionforSound I was just going through Fiio BTR5 reviews online when you replied. Any idea about that? cuz I am thinking if I should get Earmen Eagle or BTR5. Both would be used with wired IEMs. Also I listen to music mainly on Amazon Music or Spotify and no local music files on my phone
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
I've actually reviewed the BTR5 and Shanling's equivalent UP4. In both cases the Eagle is significantly better if you're only looking for wired connectivity.
@rocknrollonefourthreetwo1102 3 жыл бұрын
hey Thanks for the information. i use lg v30 plus... im thinking to take earmen sparrow would that be a huge difference than quad dac ?
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
Sparrow will be an upgrade over the V30 because it gives the balanced output option, but the single ended output from the Sparrow is probably no better than the V30
@chefsteve8381 3 жыл бұрын
When you pay over $2000 au for a phone you would think and expect some half decant audio from it, phone audio looks like a 2nd rate afterthought and is now becoming the consumers problem to fix it! why?
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
I think the vast majority of consumers use Bluetooth earbuds these days and are not focussed on sound quality. We audiophiles are a passionate bunch, but a drop in the ocean for phone manufacturers and not worth their R&D investment compared to the broader market.
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
Great news! Glad I can help and glad it improved your listening experience!
@Love.2Play 3 жыл бұрын
Questyle m12
@PassionforSound 3 жыл бұрын
I really like Questyle, but hadn't seen the M12. Thanks for the tip!
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