I don't know what kind of magic you cast but this video was marked as important on my RU-vid notifications and I really can't afford to spend any more money thank you
I bought this USB bridge - "Douk Audio U2 PRO XMOS XU208 Digital Interface, USB to TOSLINK Coaxial/Optical/HDMI IIS Audio Adapter, for DAC/Preamp/Amplifier, Support PCM & DSD256" on Amazon for $56, it's currently $65, and powered with a $50 iFi linear power supply that I already had. I converted USB to I2S and fed that into a Topping D90 DAC without issue. I was shocked to see similar products costing 5x - 10x more money, i.e. the Topping U90 at $599.
I have the u3 and use it as a portable headphone amp when i travel and such (plus a usb dongle). One can just connect it to a usb port and it'll work. I mainly use it feeding from a a powerbank though. Works great.
Nice to see you review the world of underrated amps (and dacs someday?) from Douk Audio/Nobsound/Fosi Audio/Aiyima, they might be the same I don't know.
I have the Douk U3 Mini with a MUSES02 opamp installed. It's really a magical box, powered every single dynamic headphones (and some planars) that I own like a boss. I'm looking into the U5 too, but I can't justify pairing it with any comparably priced balanced DAC.
I choose Douk U3 because you would roll only 1 single opamp instead to 4 as it would be for Douk U5. My opamp choice was Sparkos SS3602 and I am pretty happy with its quality if paired with a good DAC. Unfortunately there is no gain selection that would accommodate more sensitive IEMs.
I did something similar to the Fx-audio tube-03 preamp. I cut two holes in and put in 2 Burson v6 vivid dual opamps in it. Used a duok audio linear power supply and I'm super impressed. I have cheap but really well made nordost knock off cables from China and soviet voskhod tubes too. The whole thing is insanely good! It's around $40.
there are cheaper and better opamps, im using that fx audio and the douk u3 since 2 years ago and nobody belive how that cheap things can upscale until they hear them, its crazyness
@@Thoughtflux nope search for high bandwich opamps, burson are only 50mhz and there is 100mhz 200mhz ones that deliver ultra fast sound, they dont leave time to create distorsions lol the average cheap op amps only work at 8mhz, ther is some mono gold burr brown you need an adaptor to use two, and other ones that work at that speeds
@@necrodh thanks for that info bro! I didn't know that mhz of opamps affected the sound. But perhaps the discreet designs also have their affect. I have been thinking about sparkos.
I got one with 6.3 jack, rca in. I use usbc to dc adapter, powerbank so it's portable amp, with usbc dac perfect. Powerful even for 250ohm. It's says something over 1W, feels like 40W. Happy it got here, I was trying to spread the word of this price/performance marvel. On top it's design is awesome, actually they got more audio products with great "steam punk" design.
The newer V7 Vivid Dual Op Amps would fit more correctly to the device so you can put the cover back on after swapping the Op-amps, plus would sound better.
Just bought a U5 myself, should be arriving later today. Saw this on Amazon a couple weeks back and decided to see if there were any reviews. Funny enough I see Z's channel pop up and start laughing. I'm now interested in swapping op-amps also. Z what did you have to do to fit the Burson V6s in there? 🤔
I literally looked at this thing for months and wasn't sure to buy it or not. Godda**it zeos. Bought the last one on eBay. I'm gonna see if staccatos will play out of them. (I have risers) Anyone know the circuit of the opamp sockets so I can mix ops or do I need 4 of the same
yeah I have the single ended version of this that I played around with for a bit also had the noise issues considering trying it again with a linear psu
I'm glad to hear that this piece of sh* like Z says, is wonderful, I have one and I loved 😍, I need a confirmation about that marvelous amplifier, thanks @z_reviews for that confimation
you shouldn't need to worry about more than 5v going to it thru USB, chargers that support multiple power profiles like that will default to the normal 5v USB bullshit if they can't see that the device specifically supports anything better than that.
Maybe my fave video from you this past year. A voyage of discovery and it is affordable!! The U3 is more interesting as a recommendation to several acquaintances just starting to explore "quality" audio.
Wow. I just got mine and have been using it with the Topping D10 blanaced and the best results I have had with de Hifiman 4xx. Totaly transforms these headphones. Can someone explain how this can happen?
Hey Z are there are any replacement pads for the 58x Jubilee's you'd suggest? I tried replacing them on my 598se's and they sounded horrible when i did, they were a bit thicker. Anyways keep doing what ya do homie!
What you need is a ONE sponsor tier! The Jeff Bezos Tier! Ten Million Dollars a month. Then you can just retire to the Caribbean and chill. And bid farewell to ALL THE OTHER TIERS! Who needs THEM. So me the MONEY, lol!
Yeah when i get mine (ordered already) that blue LED is getting ripped out n replaced with something a reasonable human being in 2022 would put in there. As for the op amps not sure yet.
@@ZReviews from what you’ve shown in the review..is that you’ve more or less got a build kit for a “cheap” headphone amplifier…but as you’ve said you need Op-Amps and power supply…so what are you getting but the chassis, power distribution board and connections….I’ll stick with my 789, 604 and Loxji amps.
The only thing I blow off is the cocaine off most of my hookers. Will double check. I just don't want to get into tube rolling. AT MOST I will swap to an opamp. Which that video will come.
