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Review and Measurements of Geshelli ENOG2 Pro DAC

maxxevv

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Maybe someone can do some surgery and put in a Khadas tone board and JDS Labs Atom in it. :)

I can make an identical lookin housing if someone will sponsor the Khadas and Atom though. :)
 

Roen

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thanks. my 1st external dac so learning as I enjoy it.
In a very simple example:

Single Ended (RCA) = Signal carries +2V, Ground carries 0, total voltage differential = 2 - 0 = 2V

Balanced = Hot carries +2V, Cold carries -2V, Ground carries 0, total voltage differential = 2 - -2 - 0 = 4V
 

Voo

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I have been listening alot last few days with rca/xlr and also different dac output settings (hi/mid/low). High enog2 pro voltage output and xlr's is my preferred configuration today using THXAAA amp. Not science I know, so wont get into why...Is there a science reason why I prefer those settings?
 

bequietjk

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I'm noticing more noise in my pc setup compared to my denon avr. The denon sounds more detailed because of the lower noise floor, seemingly allowing instruments to present themselves from a much blacker background, appearing from nothing.

Currently my PC chain goes like this:

Asus x99x mobo optical output > ENOG2 PRO > JDS Labs Atom Amp

I have a Khadas tone board on the way and was wondering if I connected the ENOG2 after the khadas via coax cable, would it help with the noise floor? Perhaps my mobo's optical out is inferior? What do ya'll think?
 

KR8NUX

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Maybe someone can do some surgery and put in a Khadas tone board and JDS Labs Atom in it. :)

Maybe we ask john to also licence the toneboard and make a matching case to the Atom and sell a stack.
Then integrate both of them together into a single unit.
SE heaven.
 

Voo

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my laptop dell 9360 and also 9370 just output more noise...
 

Voo

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it would be easiest to call the dac into question...but I am thinking the laptop is the problem. the avr is the problem only when I move the pc closer...
 

bequietjk

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I'll be adding in a topping D10 in between my PC and ENOG2 via spdif coax in hopes of some kind of noise/clarity boost. I'll chime back in with my thoughts.

As of now i'm going:

PC > ENOG2 via 270 strand glass optical cable, powered by DC regulated linear PSU > Atom amp via RCA > Project Horizon via RCA, powered by regulated DC PSU > HD600

It sounds pretty amazing, I've got to say. But, there is a difference in sound when I used the khadas tone board. Because the TB uses USB, I believe somehow, to my ears, there is more audio being delivered compared to the optical used for the ENOG2. Something about the USB transfer seems to deliver exactly what is being played through my Spotify and Foobar though *at the expense of a dirtier sound*. I'd like to guess my spdif optical implementation on my asrock mobo isn't too great. So using the topping d10 as a usb converter to utilize the spdif coax on the ENOG2 is going to have some good results. This is just my guess. I do not do any measurements, only with my ears so please take my words with a grain of salt!
 

Newk Yuler

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Concerning the digital filter Geshelli used in the AK4493. I asked Sherri. Figured it should be included in this thread. Please excuse me if this has been discussed.

She says they used the default setting which is Short Delay Sharp Roll-off. From the AK4493 specs at AKM:

Six Types
32-bit 8-fold Digital Filters
 - Short Delay Sharp Roll-off, GD=6.25/fs
 - Short Delay Slow Roll-off, GD=5.3/fs
 - Sharp Roll-off
 - Slow Roll-off
 - Super Slow Roll-off
 - Low-dispersion Short Delay

Another setting can be requested when ordering or changed for the cost of shipping both ways. FWIW I'm loving the default setting in my current setup that includes the ENOG2 is fed by an option-maxed Empirical Audio Off Ramp 5 (coax) and Dynamo (Hynes regulated) LPS with no need or intention to feed it any other way. :)
 

bequietjk

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The ENOG2 LOVES an LPS!

I used one of these and was blown away.
https://www.circuitspecialists.com/csi5003xe.html

Geshelli recommended I try out the iFi iPower and I did! It gave the sound a bit more clarity, just a SLIGHT bit more and I wasn't too impressed. So I bought the CSI one by recommendation from someone else and the sound just bloomed! I wonder how it would sound with a discrete R core LPS!

Can't wait for what the Geshelli's have in store for the future!
 

RayDunzl

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XLR: 3.2Vp on one leg -> 12.8Vpp differential -> 4.5Vrms


If the XLR gives 12.8Vpk differential, why wouldn't the XLR Vrms be rated as 9.05Vrms, since that is what would appear across the load?
 

Newk Yuler

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The ENOG2 LOVES an LPS!

I used one of these and was blown away.
https://www.circuitspecialists.com/csi5003xe.html

Geshelli recommended I try out the iFi iPower and I did! It gave the sound a bit more clarity, just a SLIGHT bit more and I wasn't too impressed. So I bought the CSI one by recommendation from someone else and the sound just bloomed! I wonder how it would sound with a discrete R core LPS!

Can't wait for what the Geshelli's have in store for the future!

Your testimony may make this cheap variable LPSU worthy of a solid profile (hinting...) Always looking for reasonably priced high value components and it may fit the PSU category. The iPower wall warts have good reputations for very low noise switching supplies but I've seen testimonies stating they don't perform all that well (like yours). I haven't tried one. I have a used Acopian Gold 5v LPS I'm building into something to try with micro USB powered DACs.
 

Veri

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The ENOG2 LOVES an LPS!

I used one of these and was blown away.
https://www.circuitspecialists.com/csi5003xe.html

Geshelli recommended I try out the iFi iPower and I did! It gave the sound a bit more clarity, just a SLIGHT bit more and I wasn't too impressed. So I bought the CSI one by recommendation from someone else and the sound just bloomed! I wonder how it would sound with a discrete R core LPS!

Can't wait for what the Geshelli's have in store for the future!

Your testimony may make this cheap variable LPSU worthy of a solid profile (hinting...) Always looking for reasonably priced high value components and it may fit the PSU category. The iPower wall warts have good reputations for very low noise switching supplies but I've seen testimonies stating they don't perform all that well (like yours). I haven't tried one. I have a used Acopian Gold 5v LPS I'm building into something to try with micro USB powered DACs.

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...o-you-need-linear-power-supply-for-dacs.7021/

:) unless you guys hear up to Megahertz range...
 

graz_lag

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... my current setup that includes the ENOG2 is fed by an option-maxed Empirical Audio Off Ramp 5 (coax) and Dynamo (Hynes regulated) LPS with no need or intention to feed it any other way. :)

So you're feeding a $200 or so DAC by means of a $1,300 or so USB-S/PDIF bridge ...
Interesting ...
 

Veri

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It's all about those bits and bytes :oops::rolleyes:
 

Newk Yuler

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So you're feeding a $200 or so DAC by means of a $1,300 or so USB-S/PDIF bridge ...
Interesting ...

Yes. I believe in seeking high value components, which I include the Empirical Audio parts as high value for what they do. Steve Nugent's products are pricey but have always been assumed and subjectively rated to be correctly priced for their no-compromise performance. He buys licensed tech such as power circuit designs from Paul Hynes and the USB async protocol from M2Tech which he started using shortly after the original Hiface was introduced, so that adds to the cost. Although that's changing to something XMOS based (I think) in his next gen USB hardware coming soon.

A short aside... When the original Hiface was introduced ($100) Steve said publicly that it kicked the crap out of his Off Ramp 3. Which I owned for a little while at the time. ($1000) That was fun.

I recently mentioned ASR to him and suggested he look into getting something tested here if Amirm is interested. Now not certain it's so great an idea if you guys accuse him of cherry picking like you've been talking about the new Gustard. I have a feeling there will be some head butting and challenging if he does. Steve's all about minimizing jitter and allowing only the right kind to pass through. I've been using his products for at least a decade and I'm certain they make a big difference in the focus of stereo imaging, clarity, and super tight, natural bass, etc. Lesser DACs respond well (again subjectively) to the clean, refined digital coming from Steve's products.

The thing is... I'm not sure how relevant a super fine USB to S/PDIF (and i2S) reclocker-converter is with today's finer, reasonably priced DACs that test well here at ASR like the new Gustard. Which is why I'm wondering if there will be head butting if/when Empirical Audio is profiled here. I fully expect Steve will maintain that his products remain completely valid. And I see you educated guys don't shy away from calling BS when you think you see it.

BTW, a fully optioned Off Ramp 5 is significantly more than $1300 or so. The Dynamo LPS is a big chunk, too.
 
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pos

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If the XLR gives 12.8Vpk differential, why wouldn't the XLR Vrms be rated as 9.05Vrms, since that is what would appear across the load?
Let me rephrase this: it is 3.2Vp/6.4Vpp on one leg (ie between either + or - and ground), so 6.4Vp/12.8Vpp between + and -, which is around 4.5Vrms.
 
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