So I'm stoopid and made the same thread because I thought this thread was a post in another thread.
I did a better job this time though! Hahaha.
Unfortunately I can't edit the OP, so in it goes as a post!
(I've requested the dupe thread be deleted!)
So I've been perusing the AK4499EX's datasheet (+EX = ver. "Velvet").
Reason being? Curiosity...
And my current favourite DAC for music playback uses it! (Topping E70 Velvet)
(It doesn't matter for this thread, but I also have the L70 (matching HP amp/pre), and I like it lots: it's very nice!
I find this... curious "9.6. - Sound Control"
So there is a pin called "SC pin". I guess you either pull it up or down to switch it from 0 to 1. As you can see L (0) [ie. low/off] puts the DAC in "Measurement Mode", and H (1) [ie. high/on] puts the DAC in..... Sound Quality Mode?!?!?!
OK, hooooollld up, AKM!
Why is the mode for "Measurement" (which, presumably, configures the DAC's internals to measure best), not also best for sound quality?
I can think of one scenario in which Measurement Mode and Sound Quality Mode don't mean what they appear to mean, and that is if this so-called "Measurement Mode" is only for OEM use, during their design phase of the surrounding circuit (it's a protected mode, of sorts, for experimenting with passive parts in the signal path (different values). Maybe it limits maximum current of the outputs or something? So that each mistake isn't -$80. -$80. -$80!!
But!... I don't think that's the scenario. There would be a better name and description for that.
I think... the better sounding mode measures worse!
It's too bad we don't know which mode the DAC was in for the datasheet values. I would assume Measurement Mode (well, they are the measurements...), but wedon't really know, do we?! If Measurement Mode and Sound Quality Mode measure differently (I mean, if they don't, what's it all about?...), the datasheet should contain BOTH! (well, the better one would be measurement mode, but probably not for all parameters, all the time)
Topping is all about being the top of the measurement charts... Does this mean they're shipping their E70 Velvet in the Measurement Mode instead of Sound Quality mode? Personally, I'd rather have my DAC running in Sound Quality mode if it sounds better and measures worse... If it's as simple as cutting the pin at the side of the chip so that the trace isn't pulling it up or to ground, that'd be a GREAT hack... and easy to fix with a bit of solder, too. Since we do have measurements for the E70 Velvet (not here, but on a couple other sites which also measure DACs, often the same ones done here, and the measurements between here and there are quite consistent...), and those measurements match the datasheet pretty much spot on, it makes me thing Topping's put this thing in "Measurement Mode"!
Unless... UNLESS! Unless AKM used "Sound Quality Mode" for the datasheet parameters! That's not the most far-fetched idea...
Even with this.. situation... I'm still very happy with the sound of the E70 Velvet - it sounds GREAT. It's even better than my Arcam rDAC, so I FINALLY have a replacement! (unfortunately the stoopid relay in Mr. rDAC broke. I was so accustomed to his sound! Sounded so good
Always clear, never fatiguing. Plenty of detail, good bass... In Windoze tin I could set it to 24 bit, and use the level in foobar2000 to adjust the volume for the time I didn't have a preamp. It sounded good as ever down to quieter than tv listening levels. Of course there were better DACs out there, but not for the price!
Anywho... Thoughts? Is there a way to find out what mode the E70 V is in? I have an oscilloscope and a reaaaally pointy probe! Know what I should look for to determine if Measurement Mode or Sound Quality Mode is the default? And if the DAC is in the 'wrong' mode, can it be switched? What would switching it look like?
Oh AKM... and Topping. Geez!