^^Pun ^^intended.

My Moondrop Starfield’s with a 4.4mm balanced cable sound miles better than when used with the standard 3.5mm that came with them (from a Fiio M11S).

I have the Dunu Titan S’ as well and when compared to the Starfields (both using their stock cables) they sound pretty similar, albeit less low end on the Titans. But when comparing the 4.4mm on both of them the Starfield is leaps and bounds better.

Is it just me? Is it due to the higher mW output from the balanced jack and my dumbass just confusing louder=better?

Comments

TemporaryLlamaDrama OP t1_je336up wrote on March 29, 2023 at 1:29 AM

#2,435,137

No I agree, the 4.4mm cable is way better

TemporaryLlamaDrama OP t1_je33861 wrote on March 29, 2023 at 1:29 AM

#2,435,147

Replying to TemporaryLlamaDrama (#2,435,137)

I know right?! Glad to know im not crazy

blargh4 t1_je338wp wrote on March 29, 2023 at 1:29 AM

#2,435,153

>louder=better

Almost certainly this. Even relatively small volume difference are going to confound any comparison you make.

Some IEMs may be somewhat sensitive to differences in cable impedance (and, probably more importantly, the amp's output impedance, which will double with the balanced output), but the Starfields shouldn't be.

TemporaryLlamaDrama OP t1_je33dyc wrote on March 29, 2023 at 1:31 AM

#2,435,188

Replying to blargh4 (#2,435,153)

Fair enough!

TemporaryLlamaDrama OP t1_je341oa wrote on March 29, 2023 at 1:35 AM

#2,435,340

Replying to TemporaryLlamaDrama (#2,435,147)

No you’re not crazy

SlavJerry t1_je39b5l wrote on March 29, 2023 at 2:16 AM

#2,436,466

Replying to TemporaryLlamaDrama (#2,435,340)

you good mate?

enligh10ment t1_je3ew9k wrote on March 29, 2023 at 3:01 AM

#2,437,532

I never cared enough to test it but apparently some sources are designed with the balanced output in mind, which means their circuit has more or better components and therefore should sound better; the single-ended is an afterthought and is there for convenience. Your DAP could be one of these sources.