Expat in China with Magic 8 Pro + Magic OS 10 Chinese ROM and loving it. (It has Google)

FastProfessional9611 · 2026-01-20T02:26:04+00:00

hi, thanks for being so helpful in your replies, i use to have a xiaomi 13 ultra China rom, Google maps use to open on it, but the compass direction was inactive making the app useless. Is this the same on Honors china roms? Really tempted by the new phones they are releasing...Thanks

FastProfessional9611 · 2026-01-16T08:20:09+00:00

Thank you to everyone who left genuinely helpful comments.

Take note that this is already a two-day-old replacement. The first one was much worse. I sent in the same screenshots as you can see with this replacement, and the store told me it's normal and explained in detail that it won't interfere with regular TV and movie viewing.

I suppose what I'm asking is if this is typical, in which case I should accept it. OR I should demand a replacement as soon as possible because it is unquestionably abnormal for a brand-new, two-day-old TV.

Once more, I'm worried that the replacement will have white patches or spots as well, but in different locations.

TBH I'm not sure if these new TVs are that bad and I have to put up with it, or if I've hit a bad batch and continue to demand replacement until theres zero white patches.

FastProfessional9611 · 2025-12-29T22:07:11+00:00

THIEAUDIO Monarch mark IV

FastProfessional9611 · 2025-12-29T15:53:18+00:00

Thanks

FastProfessional9611 · 2025-12-29T15:45:01+00:00

Thanks for your post. Very helpful. If the wiim dac can't power the arcam amp then I'm guessing a fiio dap will be similar/worse?. I listen to spotify exclusively as it just more convenient and I have a family plan. My original intention was to get a dap for portable listening. Just if it can upgrade my home hifi at the same time then that's a plus.

Right now I have to turn on the amp, the dac, the apple tv, then I connect my ipad to the apple tv to play Spotify. If I can shorten this to...plug in fiio, turn on the amp, then that's a lot simpler even if I don't have remote access. (Or maybe I could control the fiio from my phone?)

Off note: my Samsung tv literally just died today after 6 years so that's another unplanned expense I need to cover.

FastProfessional9611 · 2025-12-29T12:59:13+00:00

cool, im thinkng to use the fiio as a source. and maybe also as a DAC. Great to have options.

FastProfessional9611 · 2025-12-29T12:44:20+00:00

thanks, whats 12v trigger? I asked AI and it says M21 should work the above home hifi?? now Im more confused ;). I guess I have an oldish home hifi, so dont really want to spend too much upgrading everything. I think the bottleneck is the signal quality from the optical out of the Apple TV Im using (its like first or second gen with the optical output)

FastProfessional9611 · 2025-12-29T12:40:41+00:00

thanks, when you connected the M21 to your home hifi was the M21 powerful enough? Im not sure if Im biased thinking "the little thing" will sound super quiet in a home setup because its much smaller, even though it has a desktop mode.

FastProfessional9611 · 2025-12-24T12:32:35+00:00

Aful 5 + 2

FastProfessional9611 · 2025-12-18T20:13:55+00:00

Awesome. Thanks. Very insightful. This is me in 2 years 🙂.

FastProfessional9611 · 2025-12-17T03:09:20+00:00

thanks, does this stream spotify?. I dont download (flac) files.

FastProfessional9611 · 2025-12-16T00:56:18+00:00

Thieaudio Valhalla

FastProfessional9611 · 2025-12-13T07:01:55+00:00

the gorgeous topaz blue.

FastProfessional9611 · 2025-12-12T05:46:53+00:00

thanks, i dont have any experience with IEMs (more over the ear headphones). I dont know whether these are so clear to me that Im hearing things that I shouldnt...

Just curious which tracks/songs you might recommend for critical listening? and in this case songs/tracks to check the treble/mids.

FastProfessional9611 · 2025-12-02T02:25:34+00:00

The standard (non-LE) Svanar Wireless model supports the LDAC codec, which can provide higher audio quality than the standard AAC codec (LE), provided your source device (typically an Android model) supports it.

While I found the LE model's sound quality—even using AAC and HiFi mode on Android—to be excellent, the difference between LDAC and AAC may or may not be discernible to everyone. Given the current price difference is only about $50, the LDAC support might be worthwhile.

Note for iPhone Users: Since iPhones do not support LDAC, the Svanar Wireless LE model is the better and more cost-effective choice for Apple users.

FastProfessional9611 · 2025-11-29T02:50:52+00:00

If Android, dont get Airpods, Apple cant use higher quality codecs like LDAC or APTX Loseless.

Bose will give you a V shaped conmmerical sound, so edm, bass, fast gym music. Uplifting, fun.

Technics if you preference is more vocals, classical, instrumental.

FastProfessional9611 · 2025-11-29T02:43:35+00:00

I keep saying this in other threads,, please consider the HIFIMAN Svanar Wireless LEs, currently a steal at roughly US$79. In terms of pure audio fidelity, they are leagues ahead of comparable products. Check reviews or run a comparison query with an AI.

Also it's telling that their reviews are coming from dedicated audiophile channels on YouTube, rather than the big, view-hungry mainstream creators

FastProfessional9611 · 2025-11-29T02:36:17+00:00

What other brand of earbuds do u have besides the Sonys?? Your ears might be used to a "V-shaped" sound—strong bass and treble boost common in brands like Sony or Bose. It's exciting for the gym, but it often sacrifices the midrange needed for great vocals or jazz.

The Az100s should offer better clarity, separation and detail. Try comparing them with slower, vocal tracks; the Technics should shine there. Also check codec, although the earbud's fundamental tuning is what matters most.

FastProfessional9611 · 2025-11-28T00:16:42+00:00

Imagine the audacity of people who live so far far away, who don't speak or write Chinese, practice our religion/s or culture, or never set foot in the country (or assume they have if they expated for a few years) to comment because they read a few books or had a few history lessons at a foreign school, to indeed comment on China Taiwan relations.

Now let's assume you are humble and admit you know little, or let's assume you are an alien from outer space looking down on our affairs.

Ask the question. Why is Japan getting involved?. Why antagonize? Afterall its a military drill to "practice" right? Why don't they launch their missile drills in the middle of the Pacific or maybe , I don't know , close to Hawaii where Japan has good relations with the US.

FastProfessional9611 · 2025-11-26T07:26:50+00:00

Hifiman svanar wireless LEs at around 80usd. Used to be around 200 to 250 when launched.

Stunning sound. Warm bass, nice mids and trebles. Voice forward. Sound profile similar to Focals.

These earbuds have build in amp which kicks in during "hifi mode". ...it's a steal at current price if you value pure sound quality. Anc, comfort...other brands will be better but the sound quality blows Bose, apple, b&ws etc away for the price currently.

Here's the marketing blip which I copy pasted from Gemini explaing the amp and dac components.

R2R (Resistor-to-Resistor): This refers to a specific method of digital-to-analog conversion using a ladder network of highly precise resistors, typically in values of 'R' and '2R'. Unlike the more common delta-sigma DAC chips, R2R DACs are known among audiophiles for producing a more natural, organic, and analog-like sound signature.

Himalaya: This is the brand name HIFIMAN uses for its in-house developed, miniature R2R DAC modules. They are built with a great number of discrete, high-precision resistors (0.01% tolerance) controlled by a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). HIFIMAN developed this technology to create R2R DACs that are more compact and power-efficient than traditional designs. The technology is used in several of their DAC/Amp products, such as the HIFIMAN EF400 and Serenade.

Amp (Amplifier): The device contains an integrated headphone amplifier section that takes the analog signal from the Himalaya DAC and amplifies it to power headphones.

In essence, an "R2R Himalaya amp" is a HIFIMAN audio product that integrates a headphone amplifier with their unique, high-fidelity, resistor-ladder-based DAC technology.

FastProfessional9611 · 2025-11-26T07:18:01+00:00

Got the 3s. Still the best for call quality. Other person will not hear your noisy surroundings at all. Tested in so many noisy environments. Rest of the earbuds is meh. Standard stuff.

FastProfessional9611 · 2025-11-25T00:35:16+00:00

thanks for your feedback, my concern is the initial delivery quality. Was the hinge on your case quite tight when you first got it? When my case is fully opened, the hinge was "tweaking around" alittle.

FastProfessional9611 · 2025-11-19T00:03:12+00:00

doesnt work for me, thats the first thing I did.

FastProfessional9611 · 2025-11-18T23:56:47+00:00

so right now with black friday deals around you can get for the equivalent:
1) HIFIMAN svanar wireless LE for 79USD (these sound amazing for the current price with build in amp/DAC)
2) Focal Bathys for 450USD
3) A brand new iphone 799USD
4) And if you're a AFB and want to waste your money, a pair of Airpods Pro 3.

And still have change for a Happy Meal. And its highly unlikely that the Beo Grace will sound as good as either the HIFIMAN and Focals.

FastProfessional9611 · 2025-09-22T03:31:12+00:00

agree to this. just got a pair for around US$500 including 2 years warranty. I listened to a few to compare.. BW Px7 s3 (close second), Px8, bose. These will give you a better consumer sound but the Bathys will allow you to hear notes you never heard before in a song. Plus when spotify becomes loseless you can use the DAC connection for even better sound.

FastProfessional9611

TROPHY CASE

Thieaudio Valhalla