The AAC codec for Bluetooth isn’t free, and it is comparatively computationally expensive, so it’s not uncommon to see lower-tier units omit it.
In addition to the license (and per-device royalty) for it, if native (hardware) support for it is not present on the SoC the device uses then said SoC may simply not be powerful enough to handle it in software while also running all of the other device’s features.
Additionally, AAC, outside of the Apple eco-system (even though it’s not an Apple standard), tends to be quite variable in terms of encoder quality. The best non-Apple encoder still doesn’t objectively doesn’t quite match the performance of Apple’s implementation, and a number of them are a good bit worse than that.
So AAC tends to get chopped in favor of aptX (computationally simple, and available on a wide array of SoCs as standard anyway) and LDAC (free for encoding, and computationally less demanding than AAC) on cost-constrained devices. The thinking being those are regarded as “higher end” and SBC is always available.
Interestingly, at higher bit rates SBC will outperform aptX. aptX’s strength is that it is consistent, since it is not based on psychoacoustic models (one reason why it is less computationally intensive).
If it’s a true MFI device it will work with any spec-compliant cable. I’ve not tried the Q5S myself, but I have a had a bunch of other devices that either only work with their including cable or that only work with a subset of other cables (e.g. the Lotoo PAW S1 won’t work with an Apple lightning to USB-C cable, but does work with some others).
The xcan is high on my list. It always has been. but I would have to use the apple dongle to get wired, which is ok, just not particularly appealing. From a bluetooth perspective, it is awesome.
If you went with the xDSD you’d have Bluetooth with AAC for wireless.
Wired use, while requiring the CCK, ONLY requires the CCK … no additional cable … as the xDSD has a recessed socket that the fat end of the CCK cable plugs directly into (where it is fully enclosed and it’s a much more secure connection than you’d get with micro USB).
BRILLIANT! But I don’t think you mean the normal CCK. I think you mean the USB2 adapter, which very well may serve the same purpose. The one I have is the one with lightning and usb here: Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter - Apple
My only potential reservation with that, is the xdsd has been observed to have a noise floor for IEMs (where the XCAN does not have that issue). If that doesn’t apply to the Zen, the XDSD may be a phenomenal option with the other CCK.
Also, I liked the idsd micro signature sound signature with it’s burr-brown dacs. XDSD would bring that back.
Is it possible to mark a reply with more than one heart click?
Coloquially, all of the lighting-to-USB adapters, from the first (which was literally called the Camera Connection Kit) to the latest 3.0 w/ power, have been referred to as “CCK”.
Using an “IEMatch”, which would just go inline with your headphone connection, so effectively just makes the cable 2" longer, would fix any noise floor issues.
I am aware of IEMatch. Haven’t had a need yet. But, using the other CCK (I can’t believe that never occurred to me. I think I even have one in a box) may have just opened up the idsd portables to this process. The idsd signature was probably my favorite sounding amp (when it wasn’t causing problems, which was frequent static. my luck with amps has been terrible).
The question may become: what size amp can I tolerate glued to the back of my phone?
Anyway, q5s arrives today. That will handily help answer that question.
Oh, I know. but it’s also relatively inexpensive. “One source to rule them all” is partially practicality and partially cost. From a UX experience, I would much rather have one really good and possibly really expensive solution (hence considering DAPs like the new hiby r6 which does all of it out of box including google play, but costs more than the dunu zen which annoys me).
I’ll still have the BTR5 either way. So two things that cost $260 together will at least be considered if the one device solution is determined to be an $800 dap. But the $350 Q5s-TC (or similar XDSD) is likely to be preferred as a single device solution at only $90 more total.
So, yes, I am chasing my ideal, but my ideal may not be reality based. In which case a dozen more acceptable plan b’s just became available by changing my CCK.
Now I have lots of paths forward based on how much wiring/bulk I can tolerate.
I don’t see how that is different from the fiio btr5? It’s not MFI certified as far as I can tell (meaning it likely needs a CCK). And it has a lot less power.
The fiio btr5 works great except for running wired which is annoying because of the CCK.
Well, fun times. Q5s-tc. Let’s start with the bad.
noise floor (hiss) on the zen when using bluetooth (hiss is largely gone when wired)
getting Bluetooth to, you know, work is stupid at best and dysfunctional at worst.
only works wired with the included cable.
app went bat crap crazy trying to get this thing working. (It took about 30 minutes until it stopped flipping out and connected correctly. I almost put it back in the box without listening to it)
The good:
The wired sound on this thing is the first time I felt wired might actually be worth the effort. Mostly in the dynamic range. My bass test list hit hard in a wonderful way.
This is what I want wired. But I don’t want it to be wired only.
Bulky note: without removing my phone case and sticky tacking these together as one unit, wired is useless except when sitting and listening. And guess what? The cable is too short for even that.
So the qudelix was under consideration when I bought the Fiio BTR5. It has the same problem as the btr5 in that it is not MFi certified so the CCK is required for wired.
I can’t remember why I went btr5. But there was likely a reason at the time.
That’s great. If I had a reliable source of cables in different lengths that I can buy separately and are known to work with different dacs, I would love that.
So far, it just seems like dumb luck when you find a cable that works with a specific dac.
I think this video covers everything you may want. The unit is on Drop right now. Options wise it covers everything, power wise I do not know. If you want aac you can attach any Bluetooth receiver that has 3.5mm/aux cable out. Which most units do
Zeos has some additional attachments. You maybe just interested in using those or get it all.
I am actually waiting on the balanced version as it has Bluetooth built in instead of a dongle. Don’t know if it meshes well with IEMs. I can’t find any listed output impedance for it.
Xd-05 balanced is my next purchase (after CNY most likely)
It looks like the xd-05 has the same issue as the q5s with cables.
If I can’t have multiple lengths of cables that work, it will also be out.
It’s getting ridiculous that manufactures can’t give us cable length options. If they require a proprietary cable, then length options should be a basic requirement. Not to mention that cables die or get lost and need replacing.
Anyone aware of a long cable that works with this or the q5s for iphone?
