Absolutely no disrespect intended towards Amir, but I fundamentally reject any enthusiastic review of a portable device that is priced at this outrageous level with such a paucity of options and antiquated hardware. This review seems almost like a consolation prize meant to level the playing field with Rob Watts.
I think most of us have reached a consensus that a substantial proportion of differences in bench performance among DAC/amps of this quality are beyond the range of human hearing, and thus I think price points and modernized features should arguably be primary factors in how favorably a product should be reviewed.
And the truth is that I can buy my iFi xDSD Gryphon for $599, and get a far more versatile range of single-ended and balanced outputs (and inputs), USB-C connectors, a full-featured graphical display, and robust, satisfying knobs. I can adjust its volume via both its own tight, clicky dial, as well my phone’s own volume buttons, because the two options are synched with each other. I get a more powerful amp, with even more clean headroom when using my headphone’s balanced pentaconn connector—plus the addition of a well-rendered ASP bass and presence enhancer.
I can opt for headphone accommodations via the device’s subtle cross feed circuitry, along with ifi’s built in ieMatch impedance compensator for sensitive IEMs (which was favorably reviewed on this site).
I can use it as a formidable desktop device, or comfortably drop it in my pocket due to its ergonomic form factor—and I can choose from a range of standard, predictable filter options instead of this thing’s made up ones.
Yes, it uses the latest iteration of Burr Brown’s chipset, vs Chord’s proprietary analog converter—perhaps if measured its SINAD would fall a bit short in comparison, but again, I question whether the end results would be audible. FiiO also makes several comparable options at price points similar to the Gryphon that are equally feature-rich and exceptionally well built—in contrast to this unjustifiably costly toy brick with clumsy buttons and obsolete connectors.
If this Chord thing warrants a rave, then I have totally lost sight of the grading criteria.