Marcelo opinions the TempoTec V1, a brand new entry-level Linux-based DAP with as much as DSD256 decoding and 215mW of balanced output energy. It’s at present priced at $109.00.
Disclaimer: I obtained this pattern in alternate for my sincere opinion. Headfonics is an unbiased web site with no affiliate hyperlinks. I thank TempoTec for his or her assist.
Click on right here to be taught extra about TempoTec merchandise beforehand reviewed on Headfonics.
This text follows our newest scoring pointers, which you’ll be able to learn in additional element right here.
TempoTec V1 Overview
Abstract
The Tempotec V1 is a real audiophile-sounding DAP in the best way it presents the small print with finesse and effortlessness with out sounding brilliant. This method to an in depth presentation is just like that of high-end DAPs, the place particulars aren’t compelled but stay obvious.
Professionals
Straightforward to make use of.
Impartial and clear sound.
Detailed but not bright-sounding.
Though TempoTec merchandise have been reviewed right here at Headfonics, together with the TempoTec V3, V3 Blaze, V6, and the March V-M5, to call a number of, and have been beneficial to me by on-line pals on a number of events earlier than, that is my first time reviewing a TempoTec product.
That mentioned, I’m fairly excited to see how the TempoTec V1 DAP performs, which recurrently sells for $109 however could be discovered at a lower cost throughout gross sales.
I’m additionally curious to check the V1 to different entry-level DAPs, such because the FiiO SNOWSKY Echo Mini and the xDuoo X5. Let’s discover out in my evaluation beneath.
Options
The TempoTec V1 is able to natively decoding and outputting bit-perfect audio, corresponding to DSD 256 and PCM as much as 384 kHz/32-bit digital alerts, from lossless FLAC, ALAC, and WAV file codecs, in addition to lossy MP3 and AAC file codecs.
Excessive-quality music streaming providers, corresponding to Tidal and Qobuz, are constructed into the working software program, together with wi-fi streaming protocols like AirPlay, DLNA, and HiByLink.
The V1 can be utilized as a DAC/amplifier for a telephone, enabling lossless, high-bitrate audio high quality when paired with providers like HiBy Music, Tidal, and Qobuz.
It’s an Impartial Energy provide that forestalls smartphone energy drain and eliminates electrical noise interference from the telephone, leading to cleaner audio.
The V1 will also be used as a DAC/amplifier for PCs, with remoted energy and USB noise filtering, which achieves a -120dB noise ground. The V1 additionally helps decoding as much as DSD256 natively and PCM 384kHz/32-bit.
The V1 can act as each a Bluetooth transmitter and receiver, which suggests it might probably obtain Bluetooth audio alerts from sources corresponding to Telephones, DAPs, PCs, and different gadgets that may transmit Bluetooth audio alerts.
Moreover, it might probably transmit Bluetooth audio for TWS earbuds, wi-fi headphones, and Bluetooth audio system.
DAC & Amplifier
The V1 makes use of the ever-present Cirrus Logic CS43131 x 2, one for every channel. CS43131 deserves its reputation attributable to its simply likable sound high quality, characterised by a neutral-warm, barely analog sound with good soundstage depth, and a low worth.
Since no amplifier chips are talked about in its product web page, I presume that the V1 makes use of the inner amplifier from the CS43131 chip to drive each the three.5mm and 4.4mm outputs straight at as much as 215mW balanced right into a 32Ω load.
Design
I discover the TempoTec V1 aesthetically utilitarian in look, with a mixture of industrial and fashionable kinds. When its buttons and again, it’s tiny for a DAP that encompasses a contact display screen UI, measuring 87.2 mm x 41.8 mm x 13.75 mm (HxWxD).
When it was on my desk with the again going through up, I mistook the V1 for a vape mod attributable to its tiny orange accent, brand, and stripes.
The entrance is absolutely lined with a tempered glass panel, however the precise contact display screen is just a small portion close to the highest, measuring 2″ diagonally and 240×320 decision. There’s a barely annoying multi-colored LED indicator close to the underside.
The V1 makes use of a coloured display screen with adjustable brightness, which is brilliant sufficient for most conventional conditions, and encompasses a good viewing angle. It has affordable responsiveness.
Each the three.5mm and 4.4mm output jacks are situated on high. The USB-C charging and information port is positioned on the backside. The micro SD port and two quantity buttons are located on the left facet, whereas the facility, again, play, and ahead buttons are positioned on the suitable.
The V1 is primarily made from plastic, however attributable to its compact measurement, it feels strong within the hand.
I/O
The V1’s 3.5mm output jack is switchable between audio line output and headphone output. Nonetheless, neither the three.5mm nor the 4.4mm output jacks have a plug insertion sensor.
This implies V1 doesn’t detect when the headphone plug is unplugged and continues to play music till the battery runs out.
The multi-purpose USB-C port serves as a charging port, a USB audio In/out port, and an information switch port.
Controls
The TempoTec V1 may be very intuitive and straightforward to make use of. I by no means need to seek the advice of the consumer guide to take pleasure in it, aside from the best way to take a screenshot for this evaluation, which entails tapping the firmware model 5 occasions and holding the play button to behave as a screenshot button.
There are two buttons on the left, serving as up and down quantity controls, and 4 buttons on the suitable: energy, again, play, and ahead.
Regardless of their similarity in measurement and form, I encountered only a few errors in controlling the V1, due to their ample spacing and logical placement of the management buttons.
Battery Life
The V1 makes use of a 1400mAh battery of undisclosed composition. Nonetheless, I extremely suspect and speculate that it’s a Lithium-ion kind battery, as a result of it’s the most typical and most cost-effective accessible, with good capability for its measurement and quick charging occasions.
Whereas performing my necessary 24-hour burn-in of the V1, I seen that the battery lasted roughly 10 hours from 100% to depletion, with a mixture of enjoying music, organising the V1, exploring its options, and testing its wi-fi capabilities.
It took roughly 2 hours and quarter-hour to completely cost the V1 from 0% to 100%, which is typical for DAPs. The machine by no means acquired sizzling, nevertheless it did grow to be mildly heat.
Packaging & Equipment
TempoTec V1 is held in place by a mix of EVA foam and cardboard, inside a inflexible black field with graphical prints. The packaging is easy, effectively finished, and doesn’t waste too many supplies.
It consists of the V1 DAP, an additional display screen protector movie, a consumer guide, a 1-meter-long USB-A to USB-C cable, and a ten cm USB-C to USB-C cable. My evaluation pattern got here with a plastic protecting case, nevertheless it was packaged individually from the V1 DAP field.
Software program Impressions
TempoTec V1 makes use of a non-Android working system, which suggests we’re restricted to the pre-installed music participant and streaming Apps.
Nevertheless, I seen the working system works nicely with the {hardware}, leading to a surprisingly easy and quick operation, particularly for a DAP in its worth bracket.
The V1 took solely about six seconds as well up and 7 seconds to close down, which is quicker than my Android-based DAPs.
The V1 arrived with model 1.0 firmware, however was later up to date to model 1.1 when it turned accessible.
I think HiBy created this working system, because it consists of the HiBy proprietary sound adjustment characteristic known as MSEB, in addition to a graphic equalizer, achieve management, soundfield management, digital filters, and different options. The consumer interface resembles HiBy’s DAPs, which, in my view, is an efficient factor.
Navigation
Navigating by means of the V1 utilizing the contact display screen is intuitive and straightforward. There aren’t many pages to go round, and the icons’ format is easy; all of the capabilities are straightforward to grasp, so I by no means needed to learn the guide to benefit from the music.
The V1’s contact interface is responsive, nevertheless it lags barely when enjoying music mixes which might be an hour lengthy with massive file sizes, which is comprehensible. Nevertheless, for normal-length music, it’s quick.
Third-Get together Music Gamers
Being a proprietary working system, putting in a third-party music participant app onto the V1 is sadly not attainable. That is the primary draw back of non-Android DAPs.
Streaming Apps
It’s good to know that Tidal and Qobuz streaming apps are inbuilt. Sadly, neither is offered in my nation, the Philippines.
On account of its non-open Android working system, I’m unable so as to add my favourite music streaming apps to the V1, corresponding to YouTube Music and Spotify, amongst others.
Sound Impressions
For the sound analysis of the TempoTec V1, I used my MOONDROP Harmon and Kiwi Ears Etude IEMs, in addition to the MOONDROP Horizon headphones.
I selected them for the check as a result of they fluctuate extensively in sound signature and cargo problem for the amplifier part of the V1. All sound evaluations use the 4.4mm balanced output.
I accomplished my customary 24-hour burn-in interval by letting it play on my desk whereas I used to be busy with different opinions.
Nevertheless, I made a decision to let it burn in for longer, as much as greater than 40 hours, and I seen a barely cleaner sound with a extra spacious soundstage.
No EQ, MSEB, filters, sound discipline, or another options that improve the sound have been used. All of the sound settings have been set to their default values.
Abstract
The V1 has a similarity however not fairly the identical sound as different DAPs or DAC/amps that use the CS43131 DAC chipset.
The V1’s general sound could be characterised by its impartial tonality, that includes a balanced sound signature that presents the bass, midrange, and treble in equal quantities with out the glare and overly highlighted particulars related to undesirable digital-sounding gadgets.
Bass is tight; there isn’t any overhang within the sound to make it fats or flabby, however it isn’t too muscular-sounding both.
It’s not probably the most punchy bass and doesn’t have probably the most breathtaking subbass slam. It sounds impartial, with a very good rhythmic high quality and velocity that lets me benefit from the music with out drawing consideration to itself.
Midrange and treble are impartial, with a flat perceived frequency response; there isn’t any emphasis on a particular frequency that will make the sound both thick or skinny.
It sounds clear but not sterile or scientific; there may be good transparency that makes the small print straightforward to listen to with out resorting to brightness.
Timbre
The V1 timbre is pure and impartial, with solely a slight rounding off in the vanguard of the transients, making the general sound smoother with out being too apparent, avoiding a rolled-off treble sound. There are various particulars to be heard.
Devices and vocals sound pure with out synthetic heat or brightness, permitting me to take pleasure in a pure and uncolored sound.
Staging
The V1 has an enormous, spherical soundstage that I can undoubtedly say is above common in measurement in comparison with all of the DAPs and DAC/amps I’ve heard.
There’s a sense of a pure area within the sound discipline, due to its impartial and clear sound presentation, which provides the soundstage an affordable proportion of peak, width, and depth, making a spherical soundstage – in my view, the best soundstage form.
Imaging & Dynamics
The V1 imaging is nice, however not probably the most outlined, relying on the IEM or headphones. The V1 can venture good photos with affordable definition and spatial separation within the soundstage, providing good stability.
There may be additionally good lateral and longitudinal panning efficiency I noticed, due to its spherical soundstage.
Though there isn’t any dynamic compression to debate at regular quantity ranges, throughout loud listening classes, I couldn’t assist however discover an absence of dynamic slam and punch, particularly within the bass, which I attribute to its modest energy score and the absence of separate amplifier chips.
Click on on web page 2 beneath for my beneficial pairings, wi-fi efficiency, and chosen comparisons.
