Opus #3 Digital Audio Player Discussions | Drop

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Opus #3 Digital Audio Player

Audiophile

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Opus #3 Digital Audio Player

jsmiller58

804

Dec 3, 2018

I would love opinions to the following question... In the day of the ubiquitous cell phone, what is the point of a dedicated DAP? More specifically, I have an LG V30 (great Quad DAC chips, good amp), and I have two separate DAC/amps (iFi xDsD and Hidizs DH1000) if I want higher power, balanced, etc... I never go anywhere without at least my phone... I stream everything from Tidal, but also have a 256GB SD card if storage were an issue. Under what circumstances is a DAP relevant in general? In my situation is there a reason to go for something like this drop. I am serious in asking that... I have had my eye on this one in the past, but always come back to "WHY?"

valius55

Dec 3, 2018

jsmiller58I own V30 and Opus#2. Opus sounds much better, there is nothing to compare. V30 is OK for listening music on the go, it is nice audio device, but Opus#2 is dedicated for serious listening sessions.

TCat

Dec 3, 2018

jsmiller58I'm with you. For those not-in-the-know, the LG V30 is probably the best -phone- for audio, with a "Quad DAC" (marketing gobblygook for a ESS Technology Sabre ES9218P (64-bit accumulator, 32-bit processing, 2.0Vrms output) and native MQA (Master Quality Audio) format support. It also has aptX-HD Bluetooth, but if you care enough to specify a DAC, you're not using wireless headphones. All of which is overkill for someone using Bluetooth or Spotify anyhow (as is the Opus - don't buy any audiophile-specific DAP for either of those)... but is the Opus perceptually better than, e.g., the LG V30?

jsmiller58

804

Dec 3, 2018

valius55Even if I take on face value that the Opus is better than the V30, I also have separate portable DAC/amps to enhance my mobile listening... For really serious listening sessions I have some very capable desktop hardware, and if needed the aforementioned portable DAC/amps I keep trying to figure out why I need this... I really want it, but in the end while the heart says buy, the head says nope... Don’t hate me, but it really feels like this is great technology, but technology that has nonetheless been passed up by other developments...

jsmiller58

804

Dec 3, 2018

TCatIt also supports LDAC... :-). But yeah, I think that there is little to endear wireless to me. And anyone in the market for a high end DAP would need to have their heads examined if they wanted to use it for Bluetooth... For that just use your phone...

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contaxxx

Dec 3, 2018

jsmiller58I think the "look" or the "feel" is the only thing that DAPs have going for it. I also have been looking in to DAPs for a long time (never had one) and can't find the reason to get one. I have mojo and lg v30, you will not find better dac/amp than mojo for the price and you will not find better player whit all the bells and whistles than dedicated android or ios phone. Of course, this is only my opinion.

jsmiller58

804

Dec 3, 2018

contaxxxYeah, I am there with you... I hopped on to the thread here to see if anyone could talk me into getting a DAP, and this one in particular. Seeing as that probably won't happen, I will bow out now. I am wishing great joy and audio bliss to those who choose to go this route!

A community member

Dec 3, 2018

jsmiller58It doesn't apply to me, but I feel like a dedicated DAP is about the only way to play DSD files.

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jsmiller58

804

Dec 3, 2018

Hmmm. My xDSD will play DSD files from my V30... If I only had some DSD files! I downloaded a test track some time ago and it worked... But this is pretty academic stuff for most users as DSD files are relatively rare I imagine... In my opinion not a common enough use model to justify availability of stand alone DAPs...

A community member

Dec 4, 2018

jsmiller58I agree. I'm perfectly happy with FLAC. I think the only niche thing I demand is 2.5mm balanced output. But I've definitely seen people use DSD to justify their purchases. Do you remember how you played the files? Last I checked, there was no way to play DSD on Android.

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jsmiller58

804

Dec 4, 2018

Loaded the files onto the v30 from a site (will have to look it up). Connected the v30 to the iFi xDSD via USB on the go connector. I believe that I then played the file using the native LG player through the xDSD. But it has been a while. I will play with it some more and edit this response if I find anything written is not correct.

EAP1

Dec 27, 2018

jsmiller58For me it comes down to sound quality—my iPhone with dongle just doesn't have the same soundstage, punch, or resolution as a good DAP. I do keep music on my phone for wireless listening (because in that case the player has little to do with the sound quality), but for wired listening I prefer a good DAP hands down.

Bob3600

202

Jan 2, 2019

jsmiller58Nobody has put a gun to your head!! LOL

iamleo

Jan 2, 2019

jsmiller58One of the reasons I want a DAP is the 2.5mm balanced output.

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DJAT

299

Jan 2, 2019

jsmiller58Well congratulations. You wrote so much only to realize you dont need it. Neither do I. I have a smartphone and an older non android DAP. Good enough for me. But it's not relevant. The whole discussion is pointless. The aim here is to figure out if 1) This drop is worth it, 2) if there's a better DAP out there, 3) Any other questions related to the DROP itself. You and I and people like us arguing why we need one, is pointless. It's the same like coming over on a Toyota to a Ferrari showroom and ask them why you should buy it. Well, I have a car already... gets me from A to B... why do I need you, Ferrari? MOVE ALONG, says Ferrari. Don't want it? Don't buy it man. They not gonna justify themselves. People will buy this DAP. You have to justify it and you owe it to yourself what you wanna do. No one can help you and convince you to buy when you already have a nice phone, nice dac/amps, great desktop/other platform. Why do you even ask then? Save your money.

SamsaraT

Jan 2, 2019

valius55Wrong answer. A V30 is on the level of a Mojo, easily at the same level as any DAP around the asking price for this drop. Nothing to compare my ass. I sold my great Pioneer DAP when I got the V30 and have not regretted it for one minute. Unless you need extreme amplification power or use exotic (and useless) file types, the V30 has become the way to go for the vast majority of use cases, especially when you have dedicated DAC/amps at home. You probably also believe wireless is inherently inferior to wired even though LDAC is capable of transmitting higher-than-CD resolution, etc. The usual clichés people keep throwing around to make themselves look like “true audiophiles” or something instead of using their ears and heads.

Rotorooter

Jan 2, 2019

DJATThank you. Very well said. People keep rehashing their beliefs and needs hoping to change your mind. For what reason is beyond me. If you don’t want it, don’t buy it. Don’t rain on my parade. BTW I use Costco TP. I’m always looking for better. Please give me your advice on that so I can be happy again.

valius55

Jan 2, 2019

SamsaraTWrong to you, but not to me. I own Opus, Mojo, and V30. My ears tell me that mojo and Opus 3 play in another league. I accept your opinion and I do not state you are wrong. But please dont make such stupid statements like YOU ARE WRONG...

DJAT

299

Jan 2, 2019

RotorooterLol any time. Well guys to be honest, for us audiophiles busting our wallets all the time, there's only one advice... If you can buy any XYZ bling gear and also get to keep your house, your car, your job... and your woman, sure, go ahead and buy. If though, you've got other responsibilities, better think it over several times. We just can't stop buying shit. They call us audiophiles for a reason: same like a pedo, just jumping gear instead lol.

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jsmiller58

804

Jan 2, 2019

DJATI simply started a thread saying that I had my eye on this DAP for a while and genuinely seeking advice if it was worth getting given my particular situation (phone and portable DAC/Amps), and throwing out the very obvious question/challenge of why DAPs are relevant today. That wasn't a conclusion on my part but instead a question, and a pretty logical one at that. I will definitely admit to starting out with a bias in my thinking. But I was also open to having my mind changed. Why do I even ask? For the best possible reason - I honestly do not know the answer. I am sure this is an awesome DAP, and I hope that everyone who gets one enjoys it to bits! I am also convinced that those who own phones and portable DAC/Amps that have excellent performance will also enjoy those solutions to bits!

(Edited)

jsmiller58

804

Jan 2, 2019

Bob3600Ummmmm... Yeah... And what's your point?? I was hoping that a community of people interested in this unit could help convince me that this was a good purchase... But if they couldn't I would save my money.

(Edited)

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DJAT

299

Jan 2, 2019

jsmiller58I'll help you, just the way I'm thinking of helping myself. I have an S8+ as my daily driver phone. I can see an LG V10 for $100 or a V20 for $140 around here somewhere. I have a micro DSD which I can slap on that phone and make a portable rig. You see, that way, there are a couple of things that will happen. We can play FLACs, WAVs, MP3s. We (you and I) don't need DSD formats, nor we can find many for our preferred music genre - I'm gonna conclude that looking at your comments. So we have sources (phones as DAPs) and DAC/Amps. I will keep my second phone solely as a DAC. Plus I think overall my phone will be a better and faster device that will easily handle my library via PowerAmp. If you can go that route, it's perfect. We save a lot of money, and don't have to necessarily buy a dedicated DAP for a lot of money where we think we could put it to better use. Now why would others actually BUY this DAP instead of doing what we are gonna do? Maybe they have more money to spare. Maybe they're enthusiasts and wanna add something to their collection. Maybe they don't like the idea of devices slapped together and cables sticking out and just wanna have a device that just helps them play music dedicate-ly. Maybe they don't wanna mix up their phone (which could be a professional tool) with their music (so again, they buy a second phone or a DAP). Maybe they can tell the difference more profoundly than us, and well of course that's possible. Maybe they want great battery-life and runtime (as a primary phone, if used for entertainment and business both, would require recharge several times a day). LG phones are notorious for their run-time also, let's not forget. Maybe they want a dedicated player as no phone has those PLAY/FOR/REW/SKIP controls. Right? Think about it. Your device is in your pocket. You wanna skip tracks. You're on the subway. A Phone? Crap. You have to take it out to do so. THAT's one thing I missed, even on a normal android phone, hence why I bought a DAP. I've contemplated inline remotes, but again, it's gonna be a nightmare if you plan on slapping DAC/Amps also. So there's plenty of reasons to go either way. It's just that the way you asked it was like... WHY DO WE NEED A DAP when an LG VXX and DAC/Amps exist? And you pretty much spelled everything out for yourself, and that renders the idea of buying THIS DAP or any other, fruitless for you... You asked a question which you, to a great extent, answered. But we can't judge why others would buy this DAP. If they want to, and can justify the expense and tell the difference, and it serves them in a much more practical way than you, then well, let them. ME, as I told you, will buy a secondary phone and declare it DAP. You... you have to decide yourself. So far, from the scent of it, I think you're okay with your phone. Like you, I've contemplated many times of getting a DAP. I eventually got the Hidizs AP100. Don't get me wrong, it's a great DAP. But not Android. I'm at a point where I miss that bling and feature, search and play, touch controls, visualisations etc etc. I can't spend $500 on a DAP-Only device. With a phone like LG, it seems cost-effective and that thing can always find use for itself down the road, should it be required to be used as just a phone. So there.... ah... Sorry for going fierce on ya. But you consider all these things and you'll realise how practical this drop would be for other people, maybe not for us... or maybe? We can't answer that question for you. I've laid it all out for ya, now you decide for yourself. Peace!

Aech661

Jan 2, 2019

jsmiller58my main reason is just because I don’t like stacking my portable audio gear. I have an iPhone and and topping nx4 that works well enough but then it’s too bulky and I have multiple batteries to worry about. And with this damn phone, if it dies, I can’t charge and listen. So stupid Apple. I just want one device to carry or use when I want to listen to music I guess, and The v30, although better than my iPhone I’m sure, can’t power all my cans on its own. I have wanted the hiby r6 for sometime and even though I see the reason for getting a dap In my case, I still can bring myself to buy it at 400. This coming from someone that has dropped at least 4 grand in gear since my addiction started 2 years ago.

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Bob3600

202

Jan 2, 2019

jsmiller58:)

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SamsaraT

Jan 2, 2019

valius55I can only commend you on keeping your cool. I am brutal when I think I smell condescending, unchallenged BS being propagated again and again, like “a phone can’t be as good as a DAP” - says who? And why? But you obviously have your own, real and personal view on the subject, which I totally respect. I remain skeptical of the notion that a Mojo (or this Opus DAP I have never auditioned but I don’t doubt sounds fine) are “something else” than the V30, which you only deem worthy of mobile, superficial listening. It doesn’t reflect my experience at all, and makes me curious what improvements you detect. I have a cool DAC/tube amp for the desktop, that I do favor over the V30, I’m not unconditionally in love with the V30. But a Mojo is not a device I would place far above it (not an inch above it actually, as I stated before).

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trellus

396

Jan 3, 2019

jsmiller58I had the LG V20 (same quad DAC as V30) and while it was okay, I found it didn’t have enough power, and it also lacks a balanced output. Adding an additional DAC/amp to the bundle makes for a clunky, far less portable rig.

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jsmiller58

804

Jan 3, 2019

trellusGood points! When I want balanced I have to use an external DAC/amp and it is a lot bulkier combination. My use model has been just the phone when on the go, and stack with DAC/amp when situation permits, like sitting on a plane for extended periods of time. Limits the use of balanced. Definitely something to think about - while still carrying multiple devices they are not physically connected.

Chaturanga

126

Jan 6, 2019

contaxxxSorry but "look or feel" is the last thing an audiophile cares about. There is not just a difference there is a huge difference between any of cellphones (I have V20) out there today and any of a dedicated DAP over 300 USD. Just listen seriously with some serious (not need to be very expensive headphones) headphones to understand.

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Evshrug

3772

Community

Jan 7, 2019

ChaturangaI’m just going to add my reasons why I want a DAP in general, may not reflect the use case or desires of others (seems like the OP already made up his/her mind). •Convergence vs Purpose-Designed. I have a smartphone, yet I still wear a wristwatch; I like a DAP for many of the same reasons. •I get to use the phone I want (iPhone) •Storage separate from my phone (and expandable where my iPhone is not). •Battery runtime separate from my phone (I sometimes travel to foreign countries without the correct wall adapter, or limited access to charging). •Music separate from notifications!!! •Phone connecting to a car with Bluetooth is horrible (bad mic, interruptions, volume disparity between music and notifications, if my phone auto connects when the car is on but the radio is off I won’t hear any notifications), much nicer to connect a dedicated device or media. •Amp/DAC quality without stacking (better components, particularly amps and capacitors, require more physical space than phone designers are willing to make). •User interface... sometimes better than Spotify/TIDAL/Apple Music. This would include physical buttons or dials for blind use or tactile pleasure. •Broad file compatibility. •Sharing Music: If I’m at a show, or a friend asks to listen, I want them to see my music but not all my contacts, notifications, emails, games, etc. •Output/connection options. Balanced? Line-out? Coax? This lets me or others hear my own music files even if there’s a piece missing at a friend’s house or event, and allow quick A/B comparisons to a piece of gear I am familiar with. •Pleasure of ownership (highly subjective, but... pleasure is what music is all about, right?). Now, a smartphone can be adapted or chosen to mitigate some of these factors, but then you’d deal with dongles, cables, batteries, and there would be a setup/settings which would be best for music enjoyment and then a different setup for all the rest of the time. And not even the LG V30 can ever be as optimized as a great DAP. Now, I realize some people don’t listen to music often or only in situations where the quality is compromised anyway, but I listen enough that it’s worth it to me. LDAC has a maximum theoretical resolution (990 kbps) at nearly-CD quality, but the bit rate drops down if there is a need for range or overcoming interference. I believe Bluetooth can be better these days than most people give it credit for, but it’s still not a solution 100% of the time (example, almost every game has audible lag between screen and sound, also I play a very popular game on my iPad that can’t perform game audio and chat audio over Bluetooth at the same time).

(Edited)

Stereofro

Jan 27, 2019

jsmiller58I personally have a 6 TB NAS full of DSD albums so I am not sure they are rare but I am not sure if this is the way to take them on the road. I know that I do not want to have to use more than one unit and a connecting cable.

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jsmiller58

804

Jan 27, 2019

StereofroSomewhat orthogonal to my original posting, can you tell me how you amassed such an impressive amount of DSD files? Did you rip your own albums and convert (probably not a solution scalable to many) or did you purchase them as DSD (which could be a widely applicable solution)? Thanks!

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jsmiller58

804

Jan 27, 2019

EvshrugExcellent points! As the OP, I will readily admit to (a) going into this with a bias for the phone and external amp/DAC solution, (b) being genuinely willing to change my mind if there were inputs that were relevant to my situation, and (c) wishing everyone an awesome amount of satisfaction with whatever solution they choose (certainly no judgement from me either way, because everyone’s situation is different). I will think through your inputs and the inputs of others to see if something has come up to change my mind :-) Now, onto a related topic you can all help me, yourselves, and others with... the Opus #3 has been out for a while now (not that long in real-time, but in consumer technology time it is approaching “dated”...). Is this DAP a good choice, or are there more “modern” offerings to consider in roughly the same price range? If yes/no, why?

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Stereofro

Jan 27, 2019

jsmiller58Actually I purchased this drive from my dealer with my Lumin D2. Awesome unit if you have not used one but they only charge the cost of the drive when purchasing the Lumin.

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