# Recommended Gear **URL:** \ **Category:** I need advice!\ **Created:** [February 24, 2020, 11:25pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/recommended-gear/5467 "2020-02-24T23:25:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 13
**Author:** ![MartinTransporter](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/martintransporter/32/8809_2.png) [@MartinTransporter](https://forum.headphones.com/u/MartinTransporter)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2020, 12:48pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/recommended-gear/5467/13 "2020-02-25T12:48:43Z")
Software: your Android onboard Audio is crap. At least it is not ideal compared to a audio spezialised DAP, for example. You will need to bypass the internal Android audio system, if you want to use a external DAC or DAC/Amp. [USB Audio Player Pro](http://www.theaudiophileworld.net/2018/05/usb-audio-player-pro-review.html) for Android devices - is around 7(add another 5 to unlock mqa) bucks and very usefull/ for me without alternatives, if I want to use a Android device as source for my own FLACs, Streaming Tidal(full mqa unfold with ext. DAC), Qobuz(dark mode) or online radio like radioparadise. since years, there are updates on a weekly basis and include new services, new hardware or bugfixes Tier 4 Koss KSC 75s or [Porta Pro](https://forum.headphones.com/t/koss-porta-pro-unofficial-thread/4694) - both with Yaxi pads - both stay under 50 bucks and are a good start The 75s are a bit wider and airy while the Porta Pro is still wide and a touch warm The 75s drivers are different vs the PP and provide a higher resolution for a sub 100 Bluetooth dongle I can recommend the [Earstudio ES 100](https://forum.headphones.com/t/radsone-es100-bluetooth-dac-amp-official-thread/2481) and the [Fiio BTR3](https://forum.headphones.com/t/radsone-es100-bluetooth-dac-amp-official-thread/2481/6) while the ES100 is more power, provides even balanced hf out and has physical buttons for all controls and a fantastic app, which got many updates(firmware and functions) the BTR3 pairs better with brighter sounding headphones and IEMs. The Sennheiser Massdrop collaboration brought us the [58x](https://forum.headphones.com/t/massdrop-sennheiser-hd58x-official-thread/1888), which is easy to drive and does not change much with the source - so it´s a sub 200 solution for these without a DAP, DAC/Amp it does not scale as much as the legendary HD650 or 600 Tier 3 my office combination is simple: [ifi xDSD](https://forum.headphones.com/t/ifi-audio-xdsd/2154) \> ifi OTG cable \> custom balanced cable \> [Focal Elegia](https://forum.headphones.com/t/focal-elegia-closed-back-headphones-official-thread/2166) - out of phone or tablet with USB Audio Player Pro Android App(Tidal mqa unfold and Qobuz dark mode, …) it´s sub 1k, if you are lucky, like me and the synergy is perfect for my preferences you get a nice Burr Brown implementation, with enough power for most modern easy to drive over Ear headphones the sound option xBASS+, which is analog and no dsp, is very subtle and helps the Elegia with some songs. It brings the Elegia maybe a touch closer to the [Dan Clark Audio AOC2](https://forum.headphones.com/t/dan-clark-audio-aeon2c-vs-focal-elegia-a-closed-back-headphone-comparison/5445) in the low end. I did audition the DCA and did use the xDSD with/without the xBASS+ on both headphones. the Elegia is hard to beat for long time comfort and sound + quite open for a closed back the xDSD brings also the best Bluetooth implementation I know(tried the Fiio Q5) and the optical/coax digital in as added DAC inputs to the USB in the synergy between [Sennheiser HD650/6xx](https://forum.headphones.com/t/sennheiser-hd-650-over-ear-open-back-headphones-official-thread/1042) and the ifi xDSD is not there - what I had to learn over the last days one could add the ifi xCAN for way more power and the new xBASS+ 2 option. So you could choose to add Bass, push the mids presence or both. the synergy between [Beyerdynamic DT 1990s](https://www.headphones.com/blogs/news/beyer-dynamic-dt-1990-pro-open-back-studio-headphone-review) (analytical pads) and the ifi xDSD is phenomenal, for my preferences with some music. I know it´s not really respected among most audiophiles, though I love it from time to time on shorter listening sessions the last but not least, is the [Tin Hifi T4 IEM](https://forum.headphones.com/t/chinese-brands-iems-discussion/2389/134) with balanced cable out of the ifi xDSD is very good synergy wise and again the xBASS+ helps the T4 with some songs - here you have a top synergy under 500 bucks Tier 2 [RME ADI 2 DAC fs (4493)](https://forum.headphones.com/t/rme-adi-2-dac-fs-official-thread/1540/348) \> THX AAA 789 \> balanced cable \> HD 650/6xx - synergy is good enough this combination won so mutch more in many ways over the ifi xDSD. I am not used to the 6xx yet. It´s neutral warm represantion was to thick out of the xDSD. I am going to edit this part after some more time with the 6xx RME ADI 2 DAC fs (4493) \> [THX AAA 789](https://forum.headphones.com/t/massdrop-x-thx-aaa-789-amplifier-official-thread/2330) \> custom balanced cable \> custom balanced adapter \> Focal Elegia the Synergy is great and I miss absolutely nothing - this is used on the sofa, on most evenings for a few hours, while cuddling with wife and the dog - prefer not to use a open back in a seperate listening room. I have linked some official threads and reviews in the text The best review I re-read was this one: [iFi Audio xDSD](https://forum.headphones.com/t/ifi-audio-xdsd/2154/29) by David @pennstac --- _[View the full topic](https://forum.headphones.com/t/recommended-gear/5467)._