I own several DAPs, they just can't beat the convivence of dongles. So I bought several, from $100 ones to $400 ones. W4 is probably the only dongle you need. I also have the W2, bought from MusicTeck as well. W4 is an improvement from every aspect of W2: better details, lower power consumption, higher output power, more expanded stage. The W2 is still a very good device. But the fact that it is discontinued right now and there is W4 existing makes W2 an obvious inferior choice to W4. If you have the budget for W4, or simply want to try the best that a dongle could offer, you will not be disappointed by this device. Also, this dongle is beautifully made, the original leather case is very pretty too.
Like always, MusicTeck is a great website to buy from. Shipment is always so fast and more importantly, the packaging is really nice: always wrapped in bubbles and tightly sealed.
It's been a long time since I was really impressed by some DAC products after 9038pro and AK4499 came out and flipped the desktop DAC market. Yeah, for the portable side of the game, an implementation based on CS43131 is also a significant improvement but somewhat underwhelming without reaching the threshold of theoretically comprehensible optimum. Kudos to L&P for striving above and beyond, even doing their own SIP to present the best CS43131 implementation with a measured SINAD of over 119 dB.
P.S. The leather case is kind of underwhelming compared to the device.
First, the shipping via DHL is escellent.
And, now, via Iphone+Roon ARC, the sound of a 300 ohms earbuds is perfect to my ears, at the good level.
The L&P sound is there !
I own the LP6ti7AE and my listening pleasure continues with the W4.
The same universe, analog and bright, precise and harmonious.
Stellar spec'ed dongle and MusicTeck shipped it to Europe really fast.
I am big fan of a good sound on the go in a small form factor.That's why I decided to buy another USB dongle. Before I had Lotoo Paw S1 and L&P W2.The first one was quite weak for the sound I was looking for but the W2 was a great success.
I am saying that I was, because now I have purchased from this great website the flagship L&P W4.
This is 10% or more better then the W2 in every single aspect including instrument separation, details, soundstage, sub bass.
I can't compare it with the other high end RU7 as I haven't heard it, but the W4 is very detailed, neutral with a black background, it uses very little battery power from your phone and is very powerful for it's size.
I really recommend it to anyone that is interested in quality powerful sound in a small device.
Review can be found on headfi: https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/unique-melody-mest-mkiii-cf.26526/reviews
TLDR: I loved the Mest Mk3 when I first heard it at CanJam, and I have no regrets purchasing it. It really is a wonderfully tuned iem, that does pretty much everything right. It strikes a perfect balance to me of sounding detailed and resolving but also having a hint of warmth to give it a more natural tonality without bloating the lower mids. It also has a unique spacious spherical soundstage that is truly impressive, especially when compared to my other iems in my collection.
Nice IEM and thank you to Musicteck for delivering it safely.
Absolutely wonderful sounding and feeling cable. I need to buy about 5 more. Very very impresed.
Powered by an LP6TI (199) & connected to the Aura, I simply dressed them up in a luxuriant "envelope" that embellished the entire spectrum and darkened the black background even more!
The "tactile" side of the instruments thickens, the details are just as magical in their realism, and the highs are breathtakingly smooth... A gain I'd describe as admirably "emotional"...
Nothing is spared, reverb/sustain/echo/vibrations Pffff the extinction of notes never ends 👏
👉🏻 The tuning on Todi is fairly balanced with a slight mid bass focus over sub bass, and somewhat relaxed lower mids that gain energy as they rise into the upper mids and highs.
I don’t find any particular range to be over, or, under represented to any detrimental degree.
👉🏻 Recorded sources are quite transparent. Poorly recorded source files will be laid bare, while, well recorded source files will bend Todi’s tuning to their will.
👉🏻 Listening to a sub bass test track (Bass Test 20Hz by Boosted Bass, or, Mo’ Better Bass by Techmaster P.E.B.) the sub bass is capable of going very deep with nice rumble or boom. Not as low as some bass focused IEM’s, but Todi is no slouch.
Listening to Cherish the Day by Sade;
The opening couple minutes of this track start with a steady rhythmic
kick drum beat with impact and thump, at about the 1:30 mark the bass guitar drops in deep and low. Todi maintains clean clear definition between sub and mid bass, while Sade’s sultry voice floats overhead with clarity and natural tonality.
Nicely confirming that the 2 full range, 6mm dynamic drivers are capable of moving enough air to offer strong sub bass presence, yet agile enough to deliver impactful mid bass and tonally correct vocals.
👉🏻 Lower mids are recessed, but the bass stays in its place and doesn’t overshadow. Lower mids detail and clarity is good, just not elevated or forward.
Energy builds into the upper mids and vocals, giving them a more elevated and prominent presentation. No harshness or sibilance.
👉🏻 Highs are crisp and clear with excellent micro detail retrieval. Very good air and sparkle.
Listening to Poncho Sanchez Medley #2 by Poncho Sanchez, there is a flute solo just past the 3:00 minute mark that lasts more than a minute. The high notes reach well into the upper frequencies and Todi handles it like a champ. Crisp, clear, and accurate with no hint of sibilance or harshness.
👉🏻 Head stage is very good.
Very wide left to right, just outside the head.
Top to bottom height also very good, especially on tracks that pull the sub bass low and also have good treble presence.
Front to rear depth is just average.
I find the stage head filling, but intimate.
Imaging and layering are very good left to right and top to bottom.
Instrument placement is easy and accurate.
Summary:
I spent a considerable amount of time listening to recorded tracks of individual instruments, listening for tonality and timbre, and I found Todi to be extremely accurate.
This was one area where higher resolving source devices had a slight disadvantage. They had a tendency to thin the tonality of the upper ranges on some tracks. Bit of a nitpick, but it is why I choose a warmer source device with Todi.
Todi is very much an audiophile tuning.
It doesn’t cater specifically to serious bass heads, treble heads, or mid centric aficionados.
It does offer a quality musical presentation throughout all the ranges that will, in my humble opinion, satisfy a wide swath of music enthusiasts.
At $1500 usd it is not an inexpensive offering, but the build quality, technical design, and quality sound presentation, establish it as a worthy contender in this price bracket.