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FiiO D3

DeezTipM8

DeezTipM8

Member
Is the FiiO D3 DAC trash? I don't have a large budget to spend on a DAC (not a combo, not a headphone amplifier), I have about $50 Canadian and I can only buy from Amazon. I am upgrading because I want to make my audio experience a bit better, and there is a slight buzz that annoys me when playing at quiet volumes which I usually do.

I found this for only $35. I will be using it as a DAC for my main PC, I will be playing music that is using 240 or 320KBPS OGG or MP3. It will be used with an Onkyo P-308 preamp and Onkyo M-508 amplifier to power my two Onkyo D-66 speakers (soon to be upgraded to a pair of JBL 4412s!) I do not mind if the sound is a bit bright or dark.

If I do get this, should I worry about getting a good optical audio cable or is it like HDMI and it doesn't matter the quality, if it works it works and it it doesn't it doesn't.
 
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If you are streaming form Spotify (320 ogg) then you might want to try a Chromecast Audio which has a very decent DAC (AKM AK4430 192kHz 24-Bit).

It's a great wireless solution too if you have Wi-Fi in your house and can be controlled from PC's, Phones and Tablets.

On sale for $25 now until the 15th btw.

Eric
 
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I have a D3 which I don't use as I have better DAC's. But if you get the $25 Chromecast Audio ( everyone should own one ) the D3 will improve it's sound using it's optical connection.

Don't waste money on an expensive optical cable. Like any digital cable they either work or they don't work. There are no degrees as to how well they work.
 
If you use the F3 or any DAC with the Chromecast you'll need a cable like this ( mini optical to standard optical )

61w9uhddP0L._SY355_.jpg
 
E.Auer said:
If you are streaming form Spotify (320 ogg) then you might want to try a Chromecast Audio which has a very decent DAC (AKM AK4430 192kHz 24-Bit).

It's a great wireless solution too if you have Wi-Fi in your house and can be controlled from PC's, Phones and Tablets.

On sale for $25 now until the 15th btw.

Eric
Click to expand...

I don't plan on buying one as I will have to use it for my desktop, and all my music isn't from Spotify.

Poultrygeist said:
If you use the F3 or any DAC with the Chromecast you'll need a cable like this ( mini optical to standard optical )

61w9uhddP0L._SY355_.jpg
Click to expand...

Ooh. I have no idea about optical at all, all I know is that it's digital.

So far the two reviews I've found via Google have been positive for the Fiio D3. I will be connecting this to my desktop PC, which by the looks of it has an optical out. Now I don't know if it has mini optical or not..

image.jpg
The motherboard is an Asus P8Z77-V LE and I am running Windows 10.
 
You can do a whole lot more with a CCA than just cast Spotify. I just used that as an example.
Also the CCA has optical out as well if you later on decide to bypass the internal DAC in it.

Lots of info on them here at AK.

Eric
 
E.Auer said:
You can do a whole lot more with a CCA than just cast Spotify. I just used that as an example.
Also the CCA has optical out as well if you later on decide to bypass the internal DAC in it.

Lots of info on them here at AK.

Eric
Click to expand...


Hm. Can I input into it from my PC and then output it to my preamp? I have no experience with the chromecast audio.
 
DeezTipM8 said:
Hm. Can I input into it from my PC and then output it to my preamp? I have no experience with the chromecast audio.
Click to expand...

Absolutely.

The CCA works over Wi-Fi so you cast to it from whatever device you choose to use. PC, Phone or Tablet.
Pretty sure you need a android based smartphone to set it up tho. I only done it that way.

Eric
 
E.Auer said:
Absolutely.

The CCA works over Wi-Fi so you cast to it from whatever device you choose to use. PC, Phone or Tablet.
Pretty sure you need a android based smartphone to set it up tho. I only done it that way.

Eric
Click to expand...

Wouldn't that intorducing a couple of seconds of latency and some dropout? I am going to be using this in the basement, where there is very Crappy wifi coverage.
I have an iPhone, no fun. :(
 
I also seem to recall you can use Wi-Fi direct to the CCA, without a router as long as the device youre using can send out a Wi-Fi signal.

You might want to do some research.

Eric
 
E.Auer said:
I also seem to recall you can use Wi-Fi direct to the CCA, without a router as long as the device youre using can send out a Wi-Fi signal.

You might want to do some research.

Eric
Click to expand...

It really feels like a lot of hoops to jump through for a subpar experience. Although it may be better than my current option, I'm going to stick with the FiiO D3 unless you have any other recommendations. I'm on a shoestring budget and I want it to just work with minimal latency aswell. :)
 
I have a FiiO D3 and use it to convert my Samsung TV's digital signal to analog for my ModWright>Krell setup. It sounds decent and I am happy with it. A solid, low-priced solution.
 
I almost bought a CCA but what turned me off was that it doesn't really support Spotify Connect, it supports ChromeCast and you need a ChromeCast aware app in order to cast. Based on what I could find the desktop Spotify isn't one of them . As for the D3 should be at least no worse than the on-board sound and if used through its optical input and a stand-alone power supply (not powered from USB) it should cure the buzzing. Looks like it comes with an optical cable, I'd save my money and just used it. If anything, I'd probably invest in a better power supply down the road, like the iFi iPower.

EDIT: as for DACs on the cheap, I got a PCM2704 USB DAC from fleabay $10 shipped just for the heck of it, and I can't say it is all that bad, however it would probably not the best option to keep all that buzzing under control as it is electrically connected to the PC which is the source of the noise.
 
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I got a couple D3's around here,one is in use full-time for a pair of Sony wireless RF headphones,the D3 is used to connect those to the Samsung TV in the LR.
It works fine for that no issues whatsoever,and it's been powered on 24/7 for like 3-4 years and still working just fine,so they seem durable enough to me.

The other D3 is mostly used as a "test" DAC when I'm working with new system configurations and I just wanna get an idea how I'm gonna implement the DAC.
SQ wise they usually seem adequate enough,usually a better DAC will show some improvement,but nothing earth shattering IME.

So IMHO for the minimal $ they cost they are a viable option to consider,and then later if you wanna upgrade it's not like you're losing your @ss with the D3.
That way you can just keep the D3 and throw it in a drawer till the next time you need a quick & easy to implement DAC.

I also tend to prefer using my D3's with the optical input myself,as that provides noise (galvanic) isolation from the source (which is very common w/PC's).
DeezTipM8 said:
I will be connecting this to my desktop PC, which by the looks of it has an optical out. Now I don't know if it has mini optical or not..
Click to expand...
The optical port in the pic is a standard port,not a mini-optical port.
Which is the same as the D3 input,so any standard optical-2-optical cable should work fine.

Just note that they only do PCM,no multi-channel Dolby or such.

FWIW

Bret P.
 
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xero-D-hero said:
I got a couple D3's around here,one is in use full-time for a pair of Sony wireless RF headphones,the D3 is used to connect those to the Samsung TV in the LR.
It works fine for that no issues whatsoever,and it's been powered on 24/7 for like 3-4 years and still working just fine,so they seem durable enough to me.

The other D3 is mostly used as a "test" DAC when I'm working with new system configurations and I just wanna get an idea how I'm gonna implement the DAC.
SQ wise they usually seem adequate enough,usually a better DAC will show some improvement,but nothing earth shattering IME.

So IMHO for the minimal $ they cost they are a viable option to consider,and then later if you wanna upgrade it's not like you're losing your @ss with the D3.
That way you can just keep the D3 and throw it in a drawer till the next time you need a quick & easy to implement DAC.

I also tend to prefer using my D3's with the optical input myself,as that provides noise (galvanic) isolation from the source (which is very common w/PC's).


The optical port in the pic is a standard port,not a mini-optical port.
Which is the same as the D3 input,so any standard optical-2-optical cable should work fine.

Just note that they only do PCM,no multi-channel Dolby or such.

FWIW

Bret P.
Click to expand...

Alright, thanks!
 
DeezTipM8 said:
I don't plan on buying one as I will have to use it for my desktop, and all my music isn't from Spotify.



Ooh. I have no idea about optical at all, all I know is that it's digital.

So far the two reviews I've found via Google have been positive for the Fiio D3. I will be connecting this to my desktop PC, which by the looks of it has an optical out. Now I don't know if it has mini optical or not..

View attachment 965460
The motherboard is an Asus P8Z77-V LE and I am running Windows 10.
Click to expand...

you only need a mini to standard optical if using the CCA
 
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