DD HiFi – DJ30A – 4.4mm to 3.5mm Adapter
Website – DD HiFi
Specifications
- Material: Aluminum sandblasting with anodizing process
- Size: 16.5mm (W) * 10mm (H) * 18mm (L)
- Color: Grey
- Weight: 6g
Price: U$27.
Available directly at DD OfficialAliExpress Store
DDHiFi is a small company that usually surprises with innovating new accessories that are pretty convenient and arrive in a compact yet sleek design. Prices are also kept at a relatively affordable level, making items from more (self-named) “hi-fi” brands ridiculously overpriced. Lately they have been releasing a wider variety of products and some that already raise over the $100 range. Multiple adapters, compact audio DAC for portable use, cables, cases and what else.
On this occasion, we’ll be covering the DJ30A. A very interesting adapter with a very specific usage. It is
meant to be used with headphones that have cables of standard 3.5mm single
ended termination but users still want them to be connected to an audio source,
player or amplifier that have a specific full 4.4mm balanced output.
For such a compact adapter, the DJ30A is still very well
built, with a full aluminum outer shell that goes under a sandblasting and
anodizing process. It has a very polygonal design that looks like a small
hammer – or ‘T-shaped’, as advertised. The input part is for 3.5mm plugs. The
output plug is of 4.4mm (5-pole) that connects to a balanced audio source.
Important note: Standard 3.5mm TRS 3-pole type will work perfectly. For
3.5mm TRRS 4-pole that include a microphone line it will depend: those on OMTP
configuration should work correctly, but if CTIA you may need an extra adapter.
Now, the more important part lies inside the adapter
construction. As seen on the diagram, the DJ30A adapter nullifies the negative
poles (R- and L-) into a single G- (ground), turning the output balanced signal
into a single-ended that will properly match the connected 3.5mm plug. So even
though the audio source outputs to both channels there won’t occur any
short-circuit that may damage the source.
So, what does all this do to the real sound? “It is still
Single-Ended”.
The reason the DJ30A adapter is meant for sources that have
only 4.4mm balanced output and not for those who have both single AND balanced
output is simple. Players and amplifiers that have both options generally
implement dual (or more) audio chips. When connected to the single ended port,
just one (or half) of the chips is outputting the audio signal, and only when
using the balanced output is when you get the multiple DAC system performance,
what results in extra power and other benefits. Now, if using the DJ30A with
such devices, the only thing you get is to nullify the balanced output to a
single-end, and that is identically what the main single-ended port would do.
As such, the volume is the same as the single-ended without the benefits of the
balanced mode, but will still make the player work as it was working in its
balanced mode draining the battery faster. It was an easy test with players
from Shanling (M6 & M8), HiBy (R6 Pro & R5), iBasso (DX160 & DX300
– AMP11) and Fiio M11’s line.
Then, where are the benefits of the DJ30A?
With amplifiers like the Oriolus BA300s, iBasso AMP8 modules
and similar, which come only in 4.4mm output and you still want to try with
single 3.5mm gears instead of switching to balanced cables.
For example, pairing the BA300s with final higher IEMs like
the A8000 and qdc VX proved a really good synergy, and also with planar
headphones like the Hifiman Sundara. It is possible to enjoy the tube-like
sound of the BA300s amplifier, including the extra 3dB gain, adding more power
and the fullness and richer tonality to the sound that these sources provide.
As said, this is not a must have accessory, rather something
you may want to try and that comes very handy. The DJ30A is just the
intermediary but is very convenient instead of buying any extra balanced cables
which usually do not cost little money.
