{"id":2087,"date":"2017-08-06T01:17:52","date_gmt":"2017-08-05T17:17:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nargalzius.com\/blog\/?p=2087"},"modified":"2017-08-06T10:03:38","modified_gmt":"2017-08-06T02:03:38","slug":"advsound-accessport","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/nargalzius.com\/blog\/archives\/2017\/08\/06\/advsound-accessport","title":{"rendered":"ADV.SOUND AccessPort"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>I reviewed a <a href=\"http:\/\/nargalzius.com\/blog\/archives\/2017\/06\/16\/wizician-iphone-dacamp\">similar product<\/a> before, so I won&#8217;t repeat <em>why<\/em> it&#8217;s a good idea to have something like this. In a nutshell, it solves this problem as stated in that post:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>For an iPhone user, unless you never plan going past a 6S, needing a lightning headphone adaptor is an inevitability. And while Apple does supply the newer iPhones with adapters, it does have its limitations. For one you can&#8217;t charge your phone when listening to music.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>And of course the <a href=\"http:\/\/nargalzius.com\/blog\/archives\/2017\/06\/16\/wizician-iphone-dacamp\">Wizician<\/a>, for the most part, came through &#8211; but not without some misgivings (mostly build quality). Here I am now with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.adv-sound.com\/collections\/all-collection\/products\/accessport\">ADV.SOUND&#8217;s AccessPort<\/a> to see how it stacks up with the competition.<\/p>\n<div align=\"center\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4399\/35572862683_30dd6e9668_o.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"click for more\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4399\/35572862683_53dd79e61d_m.jpg\" class=\"wb\">\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<p>It&#8217;s going to be a short review because the AccessPort practically trumps the Wizician in <strong>all<\/strong> aspects <em>except<\/em> price. So let&#8217;s see what that extra $20 premium got us.<!--more--><!-- \/\/ --><\/p>\n<h1>Build Quality<\/h1>\n<div align=\"center\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4352\/35984410320_13c8a61a9a_o.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"click for more\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4352\/35984410320_f5eedbf730_m.jpg\" class=\"wb\">\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<p>Right off the bat, everything about it looks good. While I would&#8217;ve preferred something like a double-shot surface treatment, the rubber-like finish is fine and premium-looking &#8211; but you just know it&#8217;s not going to look good over time once wear and tear start kicking in. But hey, at least it doesn&#8217;t look like a cheap china knockoff. <\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4404\/35984410740_92f97abe95_o.jpg\">[braided] cable<\/a> also seems to be better on first glance, but was way less stiffer than the Wizician&#8217;s &#8211; so I&#8217;m not sure if that&#8217;s a good or bad thing. <span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_2087_1('footnote_plugin_reference_2087_1_1');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_2087_1('footnote_plugin_reference_2087_1_1');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_2087_1_1\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">1 <\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_2087_1_1\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">Good as in did they find a cable technology that was durable but very bendy? Because as far as I&#8217;m concerned, the stiffer the better<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_2087_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_2087_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script> In any case, I didn&#8217;t take any chances and gave it the same DIY treatment as the Wizician to ensure stiffness and durability. Here it is side by side with the Wizician.<\/p>\n<div align=\"center\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4390\/36336294276_eb7fa116cd_o.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"click for more\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4390\/36336294276_efc1f05133_m.jpg\" class=\"wb\">\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<h1>Sound Quality<\/h1>\n<p>I noticed the AccessPort has less distortion on higher volumes than the Wizician &#8211; so it would be safe to assume it processes audio better. But not by much, so don&#8217;t expect anything spectacular. As far as it being noticeably better as a DAC\/AMP vs just plugging straight through the 6S jack <span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_2087_1('footnote_plugin_reference_2087_1_2');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_2087_1('footnote_plugin_reference_2087_1_2');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_2087_1_2\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">2 <\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_2087_1_2\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">Which I realize is unfair, since it was built specifically for iPhones that don&#8217;t have jacks<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_2087_1_2').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_2087_1_2', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script> it seems to be just like the Wizician: good, possibly as good as straight to jack &#8211; but nothing spectacular. Both just give an extra boost in volume because they are amplifiers after all &#8211; and I guess the AccessPort can amplify sound with less discernible distortion.<\/p>\n<h1>Controls<\/h1>\n<div align=\"center\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4398\/35984410550_fa65a2a37c_o.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"click for more\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4398\/35984410550_84684d0102_m.jpg\" class=\"wb\">\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<p>The controls are on the side of the AccessPort, which form-wise look really slick. Function-wise though, I&#8217;d have to give it to Wizician for having larger buttons that are much easier to access.<\/p>\n<p>I also find it a tad annoying that the alignment of my particular unit had the lightning connector perpendicularly aligned to the main unit. So Whenever it&#8217;s plugged in, you&#8217;d have to twist it a bit for it to be flush to the same angle. But I guess it <em>kinda<\/em> works in the sense that it does expose the buttons to the front when plugged in LOL.<\/p>\n<h1>Firmware<\/h1>\n<p>Lastly, and this is something the Wizician doesn&#8217;t have <em>at all;<\/em> the firmware on the AccessPort is upgradeable. I&#8217;m not sure what exactly more can be done via firmware upgrades given the simple purpose of these sorts of units. Re-program the algorithm that actually processes the raw audio data perhaps? Whatever it may (or may not) be, I think we can all agree that allowing a product update\/upgrade of any sort after purchase is always a good thing. And that, for me, coupled with the fact that it improves on every aspect of it&#8217;s competitor, merits the $20 premium.<\/p>\n<div align=\"center\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4395\/36244371191_b7b26db64e_o.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"click for more\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4395\/36244371191_731937c111_m.jpg\" class=\"wb\">\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<h1>Conclusion<\/h1>\n<p>All-in-all, it&#8217;s just as I said, the AccessPort is a superior to the Wizician in nearly every way. So dropping an extra $20 for it seems okay for me. But again, given the purpose of these products, the regular listener would probably enjoy either equally &#8211; it&#8217;s just a matter of them willing to spend an extra $20 or not. If you take audio more seriously than the average listener though, then the AccessPort would be the better choice.<\/p>\n<p>As for me, I have use for both: The Wizician goes in the car, and the AccessPort as part of my &#8220;audio EDC&#8221;&#8230; maybe until a decent sounding bluetooth solution presents itself.<\/p>\n<div align=\"center\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4409\/36244376711_7217e13c7a_o.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"click for more\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4409\/36244376711_be9038bd92_m.jpg\" class=\"wb\">\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<p>You can purchase an AccessPort via their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.adv-sound.com\/collections\/all-collection\/products\/accessport\">webshop<\/a> <span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_2087_1('footnote_plugin_reference_2087_1_3');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_2087_1('footnote_plugin_reference_2087_1_3');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_2087_1_3\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">3 <\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_2087_1_3\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">Not sure if it&#8217;s already commercially available or if it&#8217;s a pre-order page<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_2087_1_3').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_2087_1_3', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script><\/p><div class=\"speaker-mute footnotes_reference_container\"> <div class=\"footnote_container_prepare\"><p><span role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_reference_container_label pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_expand_collapse_reference_container_2087_1();\">Notes<\/span><span role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_reference_container_collapse_button\" style=\"display: none;\" onclick=\"footnote_expand_collapse_reference_container_2087_1();\">[<a id=\"footnote_reference_container_collapse_button_2087_1\">+<\/a>]<\/span><\/p><\/div> <div id=\"footnote_references_container_2087_1\" style=\"\"><table class=\"footnotes_table footnote-reference-container\"><caption class=\"accessibility\">Notes<\/caption> <tbody> \r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_2087_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_2087_1_1');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_2087_1_1\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8673;<\/span>1<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">Good as in did they find a cable technology that was durable but very bendy? Because as far as I&#8217;m concerned, the stiffer the better<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_2087_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_2087_1_2');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_2087_1_2\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8673;<\/span>2<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">Which I realize is unfair, since it was built specifically for iPhones that don&#8217;t have jacks<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_2087_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_2087_1_3');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_2087_1_3\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8673;<\/span>3<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">Not sure if it&#8217;s already commercially available or if it&#8217;s a pre-order page<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n <\/tbody> <\/table> <\/div><\/div><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> function footnote_expand_reference_container_2087_1() { jQuery('#footnote_references_container_2087_1').show(); jQuery('#footnote_reference_container_collapse_button_2087_1').text('\u2212'); } function footnote_collapse_reference_container_2087_1() { jQuery('#footnote_references_container_2087_1').hide(); jQuery('#footnote_reference_container_collapse_button_2087_1').text('+'); } function footnote_expand_collapse_reference_container_2087_1() { if (jQuery('#footnote_references_container_2087_1').is(':hidden')) { footnote_expand_reference_container_2087_1(); } else { footnote_collapse_reference_container_2087_1(); } } function footnote_moveToReference_2087_1(p_str_TargetID) { footnote_expand_reference_container_2087_1(); var l_obj_Target = jQuery('#' + p_str_TargetID); if (l_obj_Target.length) { jQuery( 'html, body' ).delay( 0 ); jQuery('html, body').animate({ scrollTop: l_obj_Target.offset().top - window.innerHeight * 0.2 }, 380); } } function footnote_moveToAnchor_2087_1(p_str_TargetID) { footnote_expand_reference_container_2087_1(); var l_obj_Target = jQuery('#' + p_str_TargetID); if (l_obj_Target.length) { jQuery( 'html, body' ).delay( 0 ); jQuery('html, body').animate({ scrollTop: l_obj_Target.offset().top - window.innerHeight * 0.2 }, 380); } }<\/script>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I&#8217;ve reviewed a similar product (Wizician) before. Now let&#8217;s see how ADV.SOUND&#8217;s AccessPort stacks up against its competitor.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[6,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2087","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews","category-technology"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/nargalzius.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2087","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/nargalzius.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/nargalzius.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/nargalzius.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/nargalzius.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2087"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"http:\/\/nargalzius.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2087\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2093,"href":"http:\/\/nargalzius.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2087\/revisions\/2093"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/nargalzius.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2087"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/nargalzius.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2087"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/nargalzius.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2087"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}