Well, I had many challenges with my Amazon library once it became large on my HiBy devices. I think a lot of the issues had to do with the chipset not having enough horsepower to manage a large library of downloaded music on the two streaming services I use. YMMV. No new DAPs for this...

No doubt the N7 is a notch above. However, I have tired of playing Amazon HD and Apple Music from non-IOS devices. The Android experience has never been solid; so I would rather use my phone as the transport.

I think there are only a few dongles as high in quality as the RU6 and RU7. There is a Hiby, but I think it only has 3.5mm. iBasso and a few others have choice units at the high end. I think the RU7 is well above anything else I have tried, and I only pull it out now to the exclusion of...

I purchased the Kefine Delci and the Simgot EA500LM. I was expecting to like the Kefine a lot; but found them a bit muffled compared to the Simgot. YMMV. Under $150 would also get one to the LetShoeur (spelling) S12. Those have a nice, fluid sound.

Just did a search on the hot water trick. Might as well try as the tips aren't usable anyway.

This Supermix 4 sounds "sick". As in really good kind of sick. The video review where the imaging was said to be fantastic was more than appealing. I guess I want to believe in Simgot now that I have the EA500LMs. I find them a nice complement to the S12s.

I must be having some kind of idiosyncratic problem with Aliexpress.

I do not have that cable. But I did not notice the word "OTG" in the listing. Might be the issue. I have had good luck with Meenova Apple lightning to USB C OTG cables. They even make longer cables (though ordering is tricky; the AliExpress drop downs often revert to the short cable). I...

This post refers to both the RU7 and later to the RU6. Which device to you in fact have? Somewhere on HeadFi there was positive mention of a ddHifi $29 USB C dongle that had two input connections, one for power and one for data. Worth looking into.

I appreciate that. Where exactly in that listing does one click to actually order? I wonder if US buyers are blocked from ordering.

Say, can the custom eartip filter kits for the EA500LM still be ordered on Ali Express? I find product descriptions for the kit, no problem, but none have links to actually order the product. I suspect that I may solve my issues with tip rolling, but its fun to play with new toys. I am...

Yes, looks like my new EA500LM will be a keeper (with some tip rolling). And right up there is the S12. The is a very fluid sound to the S12 that sometimes I desire. When I want a more rollicking time, it is going to be the EA500LM or my trusty LZ A7 (gold filter).

My pair of EA500LM arrived. Found that I liked them with the stock brass filters. At first I thought they were bass shy but a bit more listening and putting on some Grateful Dead and Phil was sounding mighty fine. Stones Exile sounded better than I remember with these. My treble response...

I am on strike with regards to ESS / Sabre. Not to say I don't have any devices with ESS; in fact probably too many. Now if I see that brand, I skip right over the product. Too clinical /sterile for my taste. I have positive vibes about CS and AKM. Haven't heard any R2R or ROHM systems.

Based on everything I have seen, the only potential upgrade to the RU7 would be the DC-Elite. So your analysis makes sense. I know in this hobby something better inevitably comes along but my satisfaction level with the RU7 is quite high. I can't remember which HiFi journal had the survey...