A DAC converts a digital signal into an analog signal output. In all devices which sound can output (computers, cell phones, DVD players, game consoles, ...), either through built-in speakers (which are powered by a built-in amplifier), an external device such as an amplifier or headphones or powered speakers , such a converter is installed. The present example, on a CD tracks can not be played directly, as they only exist as digital ones and zeros.
The DAC converts it into electric voltage, which is then forwarded by the further following devices as usable tones and finally reproduced by a sound transducers (speakers or headphones).
The actual DAC is in itself only a small chip. The quality which is not primarily decisive for the sound, it's how it is implemented on the board with the other micro components in interaction is much more important.
A well-designed transformers are the available information as possible without bitrichtig further transformed what nowadays is no longer a rocket science.
Often DACs and the amplifier boards in various devices of inferior quality, that is, they do not give as the full for the people existing frequency spectrum again, or this will be forwarded not linear but with accents or subsidence, which is not within the meaning of HiFi (= high fidelity) is.
Audible noise, even if on noise rather insensitive speakers or headphones, caused by low signal to noise ratio, is also a common problem.
A headphone amplifier can be used to a weak efficiency headphones, which may optionally be driven not loud enough on the player to operate at a higher volume.
A good headphone amplifier improves the signal to noise ratio and is also able to remain at higher volumes without major distortions. It is also important that the output impedance is as low as possible, which is important in headphones with larger variations in impedance characteristics over the frequency response so that the output signal is not distorted.
Portable headphone amplifier with low output impedance are therefore often used to, unadulterated driving source critical InEars with several miniature speakers per earpiece also on a device with a higher output impedance, which would bend the frequency response of the headphones in some cases significantly.
My expectations of a DAC / pKhV generally:
Now we come to my simple expectations of a DAC and headphone amplifier.
The DAC should, as well as directing the headphone amplifier, the present musical material as purely as possible to the amplifier. Here, the noise will not be as noticeable with highly sensitive InEars.
For operation with MehrtreiberInEars I also expect a low output impedance.
The volume control should be sensitive and well-graded, also both channels should even at very low volume levels, which frequently occur with, operate identically worded. Ideally, the volume control therefore takes place in the digital domain.
Large headband headphones with low efficiency should be used with reasonable volumes anyway.
As you can see, my expectations are not very high, but unfortunately there is more than enough equipment, which can not meet all these criteria.
Mostly it fails me at a bad control range at low volume settings, too high noise (it I react quite sensitive) or a too high output impedance, whereby the sound of my more driver-InEars is bent noticeably.
My expectations of the A 200 p:
From A 200 p I expect that it is easy to use, a price corresponding processing quality has what you already noticed when opening the package, a reasonable battery life brings and enhances the sound of my Nexus 7, but this is no great art. My expectation criteria for DAC and headphone amplifier are still very much here.
Features:
The Beyerdynamic A 200 p can be only used as a DAC with headphone amplifier, a way to operate it as a pure analog headphone amplifier, do not exist.
Since the P in the name probably appears to be for portable, it is available on Apple devices with Lightning connector and mobile devices running Android 4.1 or higher than DAC, but also on computers with Windows or Macintosh operating system.
Per separately available adapter it can also be used on older iPhones and iPads with 30 pin Dock Connector.
On the device itself are three buttons at the side, which provided that the A 200 is connected as p DAC can be used to control the audio playback. To what extent this will work, remains to be seen.
The volume control is done digitally in 135 steps on the silver wheel on the top, the control function can be deactivated via a switch, so that the volume does not inadvertently adjusted in portable use. An LED next to the volume control indicates the operational function, and the change in volume.
In addition to the USB input is another LED which indicates that the A 200 is loaded p.
The DAC part dissolves with up to 24 bits at a sampling rate of up to 96kHz.
Me rich 16 bit with 44.1kHz (CD Standard), which I also own material with higher resolution and sampling rate, but what I see as not relevant in practice since an identical mastering no differences are detectable by the human ear.
I'll continue with my actual Unboxing and Review.
Now I want to show you the first pictures of small DACs together the whole Accessories not withheld from the arrival to unpacking.
The package has the typical for Beyerdynamic color combination and is kept headphone packaging style Beyerdynmic.
On the back there are details on the technical data and a brief description of the device.
The presentation of the A 200 p in the package was a success in my opinion.
The scope of supply including connection cable for PC, Android and iOS devices, Quick Start Guide, additional pads for the volume control and a high-quality leather case. A power adapter is missing, however, this is can I cope. A connection cable for older Apple devices can be purchased separately.
It comes with a Lightning cable for newer Apple products, a Micro USB cable for connection to devices with Android as the operating system, a USB cable, to 200 p to connect the A to the computer and recharge, a high-quality leather case with attachment for example. A belt , three rubber pads and a quick start guide. Only missing an AC adapter to recharge the battery permanently installed, but is in most households. In a pinch, the USB port of the computer has to serve.
Technically processing is the A 200 p, powered by Astell and core, at a high level. The aluminum housing has no burrs or column, nothing squeaks or creaks.
The rocker switch to turn the set has a pleasant resistance, the buttons for playback control have a good pressure point.
The command dial for the volume is smooth, perhaps a tad too light for my taste, at the individual detents I would have liked a little more resistance.
Size comparison to an iPod Nano 6th generation (with which the A 200 p but is not compatible).
Visually, the A 200 p has a classic, which I like quite well. Of weight, I find him quite easy, but not too easy, but that he felt inferior.
The leather is sewn clean and the DAC perfectly fits into and is tight enough to not fall out accidentally
The recesses are sufficiently large chosen to ensure easy accessibility of the controls while protecting your investment. The buttons for playback control are covered, can be represented by the imprint in the leather but also blindly grope. To my surprise, their pressure point is not deteriorated despite the envelope.
From the size of the DAC, I was pleasantly surprised when first unpacking, because it is more compact than I thought.
The included Quick Start Guide summarizes compactly and illustrated all relevant functions and details of the A 200 p together and includes, in my opinion, all the relevant information, so that even a Techniklaie or someone who have little or no familiar in the field of portable HiFi, quickly and easily find cope with the DAC.
Ease of use:
Now I want the small Beyerdynamic but finally turn and use.
The Micro comes with charged battery, so I can get started right away. To switch on the rocker switch (or whatever you want to call him) once pushed slightly to the left, then the small LED on top starts blinking blue. If no device is connected, the A 200 turns p independently from top. To turn off the switch for about three seconds is shifted to the left, in which time the LED is solid blue lights and then goes out.
If you push the switch the way to the right, snaps this and disables all buttons and the volume knob, so that an inadvertent change of volume or change the song is excluded.
Just a note for LED: while reducing the volume indicator glows blue when raising red.
During charging, the small LED next to the USB input flashes green way, and finally illuminates when the battery is charged.
So, But enough of the theory I want to hear music. So I close the A 200 p so through the cable on my Nexus 7, fire up Poweramp and press play but from my headphones is no sound, only from the tablet itself. Play and pause, and skipping work perfectly with the A 200 p, but simply no sound comes out. What now? After some googling I find out that not all devices, despite the current Android, USB Audio Out natively.
So this is Android and manufacturers, but not Beyerdynamic or Astell & Kern, ascribed.
To benefit from the DAC anyway, I install the app USB Audio Player Pro and actually, finally drowned music from my Kopförer.
To the sound but I would like to express then later in my review.
Positive strikes me that the volume control on the A 200 p works very accurately and can be adjusted in very small steps. The fact that she has been working in the digital domain, both channels have identical playing in the softest setting stage, which is not possible with an analog volume control, because only from a certain position of the potentiometer, there is a constant velocity.
Switching and pausing the music is performed by the way very quickly, without any noticeable delay (only with Gooogle Play Music, Poweramp or another player application, with USB Audio Player Pro is not working, the music control via the A 200 P, however, what, again on the Software but not the DAC itself, is attributed).
However, the lowest setting stage the volume of the tablet could be even lower.
Positive I noticed the way that the specified battery life of 11 hours seems quite realistic.
From Tablet I switch on the computer (Windows 7). Right after I joined the DAC, the drivers are automatically searched, found and installed plug and play just so, as promised by Beyerdynamic.
Now I as the A 200 p in the control panel quickly as the primary audio output source, place a sample rate and bit depth, and away you go.
Both with Foobar and the Windows Media Player everything works perfectly and quickly, the title can be quick and go back without noticeable delay and pause, even without the player window is open in the foreground.
The volume control is working again beautifully sensitively, is at its most quiet setting very quiet (much quieter than on the tablet) and can be increased uniformly beautiful.
Since everything works without problems, I switch to my MacBook.
Here the little DAC is also recognized immediately without any problems and can be selected in the system settings as an output device for the sound.
The sampling rate and bit depth can not be changed in the system settings yourself, so I guess that the system automatically adjusts it. Please forgive me, I'm only recently owners of an Apple computer. On the other hand, I think anyway not too much of the hype about the highest possible sample rates and bit depths, the mastering of music is far more crucial and I doubt that there are differences between CD and studio quality in the practical reality in comparisions.
The control of the volume, as on Windows also, either via the DAC itself or alternatively the volume bar in the settings or the sidebar of the system, the most accurate but directly from the DAC.
The playback control also works on MAC OS wonderful and delay on the A 200 p. As a player and the iTunes VLC Media Player were used. Only when I use Foobar, which I was able to run through Wine on Mac OS, it does not work on the Beyerdynamic, but this is to get over because Foobar is not a native application for Mac OS and can be made only in a roundabout way it runs. This can be seen among other things, the fact that not the usual for MAC OS cmd key, but the Ctrl key must be used to select multiple tracks.
In general, I would like to say that you, no matter what device you use the A 200 p, namely start playback from the DAC itself and pause, and can change the title, a function which allows fast forward or rewind, however, is not implemented. Perhaps this feature can be submitted via firmware update sometime.
Now I would like to move forward to the essence, to the sound.
First, I will talk about the behavior of strap headphones, then to more drivers InEars, reports and also attach frequency measurements (the other readings I skip here because my sound card does not constitute a reference for).
With large bow headphones with low efficiency and high impedance of the A 200 p, at least in my eyes (or rather ears) no problems.
It can also drive a Beyerdynamic DT 880 Edition 600 problems and provides, at least for me, yet ample volume reserves.
Should a maximum volume on the portable device, which runs on iOS or Android, not enough can be envisaged for the European market volume limit of
A 200 p Incidentally off by holding down the Play / Pause button for about two seconds, whereby the output will be muted and you can increase the volume. I did not do this because I, as I said, the volume itself has well been enough with limitation.
With high-impedance and efficiency weak strap headphones A 200 p in the positive sense plays unspectacular and neutral, without producing any audible noise or distortion.
On MacBook I have a feeling that the A 200 p produce more controlled bass on HiFiMan HE-400 compared to the standard output what it is probably that the MacBook noticeably rushes through the internal headphone output, which one clearly perceives with sensitive InEars.
With a Leckerton UHA-6S MKII I suppose the way the same phenomenon as with the A 200 p true.
I guess are the higher noise of MacBooks bass softened (I do not know how to describe it otherwise), the SanDisk Sansa Clip +, at least this phenomenon with more drivers InEars with Balanced Armature technology clearly audible and deteriorates the sound and bass precision, but not as dramatic as it is the case in the MacBook.
So we are progressing towards smaller, low bow headphones.
To come to say the same, Aam Nexus 7 I feel tonally no differences on Sennheiser Amperior between the integrated converter of the Nexus 7 and the A 200 p.
Actually, this is not particularly surprising dynamic headphones are rather uncritical of Ausgangsmpedanz the playback device, if it is not extremely high, and today costs reasonable converter technology is not much.
Otherwise, the A makes 200 p Again, everything positively unspectacular right, not roars audible and playing sober and neutral.
On the MacBook same impression as with large irons, the bass appears firmer and better kontinuiert, the volume can be (unlike the MacBook starting at which me the slightest adjustment stage is still clearly too loud) very nicely adjust sensitively and accurately.
Performed the A 200 p his task as DAC to large high-impedance and low-impedance smaller strap headphones with flying colors, I hoped for as much good properties associated with more drivers InEars Armature with Balanced Technology.
At the very beginning, when I connect a sensitive More drivers Ear, I notice an unpleasant noise that occurs regardless of the set volume. It's not much and not nearly at the level of a headphone amplifier or CMoy iBasso DX50, but clearly perceptible and also a bit disturbing. While soft music passages it annoys me a little. I hear, however loud, it is covered by the music.
More drivers InEars Armature with Balanced drivers react now times much more sensitive to noise than dynamic InEars and headphones. At Sennheiser IE80 (dynamic driving), for example drops the noise from low and no longer bothers me, as I perceive it only in very quiet environments.
By this noise but the sound of more drivers BA InEars seemed altogether a bit washed out and lacking in detail, compared to when I hear with my right Leckerton as DAC, in which no noise. The differences, however, are more likely to be described as subtle.
Apart from the noise, the heights break at 10 a Triple.Fi a little, it seems to me. This is the output resistance of 1.1, which still moves in more than acceptable range, but the concentrated listening at home, at least I am Triple.Fi 10, which I would prefer to approach testing and evaluation of new equipment, as this through its vote and his behavior at higher output impedances than about 0.5 an increased output resistance quite well reveal remarkably noticeable. In mobile operation, for which the A 200 p also mainly provided me the output resistance and the resulting slightly different frequency responses of more drivers InEars however disturbed in any way.
Really dramatically the differences do not, however, as has been said, the case of concentrated listening at home felt.
Let's see what the measurements say:
As you can see, there is the A 200 p a slight rolloff at 10 Triple.Fi what me so stood out even in my audition. With simple load (InEars and press with dynamic drivers, as an example of the measurement here was a Sennheiser CX200 Street II), the frequency response remains linear unimpressed.
For home use me this deviation to more drivers Bas a bit too strong would be (positively struck me, however, that other values remained constant well under complex load).
But is the primary end use of the A 200 p, as mentioned often enough in the mobile space. And here my acts currently my Nexus 7 in the original version with 16GB storage capacity than all-rounder when it comes to entertainment, business and Internet.
As audio players I would very much like to use, but for more drivers InEars it is not necessarily useful, as my next measurement impressively shows (note the different scaling on the Y-axis as compared to the previous measurement, which I have chosen, so the graph the window is completely visible):
As he collapses, the treble of Triple.Fi 10, right on the Nexus 7, which makes the music enjoyment impossible. Even the good-natured Sennheiser Amperior there are slight, but still tolerable deviations of up to 0.5dB.
The A 200 p as intermediary DAC falls this slump naturally much lower and is for me also in the mobile space acceptable, especially in relation to the use of multi-driver InEars directly at Nexus. 7
Here, the direct comparison between the bare Nexus 7 and the A 200 p, to represent the significant difference:
The A 200 p makes then but much better.
The overall tonal behavior (and, unfortunately, the background noise) is logically no different than when I connect the DAC to the computer in both cases ultimately the internal converter of the player circumvented.
My Nexus 7 are occasionally over the headphone output noise from, for whatever reason. These are also eliminated by the A 200 P, a pure headphone amplifier brought nothing, since these noise apparently occur in the signal path of the tablet.
So the Nexus 7 is the A 200 p a sonic improvement is, although there are also other devices such as the JDS C5D or Leckerton UHA-4, also mastered this and have a lower output impedance which.
One thing which is me, have noticed during the test period, which at my disposal, I would like to mention: the A 200 p are turning off a popping of the connected headphones is that not a negative effect on my overall impression, However, a little bothered me. The easiest way was to the headphones before turning off the DAC always pull out what I usually do well on all devices in general, only one time, I had forgotten it at A 200 p, so plopping me this is also noticed.
Arriving at the end of my review, now follows my conclusion:
For 300 obtained from Beyerdynamic an attractive wooden, noble-sounding device with enough equipment and good feel.
Full-bodied is spoken in the press release about markedly improved sound of portable devices with some equipment this may be true, in the majority, however, very ordinary converter and amplifier chips are now built in, so the sound is inherently already properly, just to uncritical headphones) as connected load (which I mainly headphones counting with dynamic transducers and rather good-natured impedance curve.
At InEars multi Balanced Armature drivers performed the A 200 p its job quite well (in terms of the use in mobile applications), the output impedance could be a little lower in order to achieve a minimum deviation in the natural frequency response of InEars. The noise could also be smaller and disturb me in a quiet environment a little.
The integrated remote control in the DAC, however, has me very well and I feel as a comfort increase, especially since the buttons are very good grope blindly with over striped leather sheath and have a, I think, an ideal pressure point. A forward and rewind function, there is not, maybe this can however be submitted via software update.
The digital volume control is very good and can be very beautiful sensitively, stepped delicately and precisely adjust and has, in principle, an immediate channel synchronization on what is for me as someone who likes to listen to very quietly, very important.
Mainly I see for me personally the intended use of the A 200 p with me on MacBook while surfing the Internet while listening to music with headphones ironing and playback can conveniently pause with one click. Sufficient power reserves are available for this purpose and to me a slight increase in the precision of the bass range compared to in
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