SONCOZ SGD1 Audio DAC Review

[mkawa]

i'll be picking this up and selling a sabaj d5 with a cracked screen for cheap if anyone is interested.

will be doing this when stock comes into amzn prime

 

[Truxten Spangler]

I am very interested in this dac but am disappointed by the pricing disparity for those of us in the UK and Europe. On the Soncoz website it says that the "Global Price" is $459 which roughly equates to £350. In Japan the price is about 50,000 yen which again roughly equates to £350. So you would think that the price in the UK would be about £350 - nope it is £459 or $600. It would seem that we in the UK are being overcharged. I emailed Soncoz about this in the hope that they would acknowledge this and hopefully amend the price but unfortunately have had no response. Its a shame that a company with such a great product would alienate a significant portion of its market.

 

[somebodyelse]

So you would think that the price in the UK would be about £350

You forget that the 'Global price' excludes VAT, and probably any applicable EU import duties. That brings the reasonable expectation to at least £420.

 

[Truxten Spangler]

I am delighted to say that I have received a message from Ben, it appears my original email to them went to the wrong inbox. Fantastically he has acknowledged the price issue and has said that they will make an adjustment. In my opinion this is outstanding customer service and they definitely have me as a customer. I will be making my purchase as soon as the price is amended.
Many thanks Ben, it is refreshing to find a company that matches the quality of its product with awesome customer service.

 

[Ben1987]

I will be making my purchase as soon as the price is amended

Purchase links with price updates：
Amazon US 1
Amazon US 2
Amazon UK 1
Amazon UK 2
Amazon DE 1
Amazon FR 1
Amazon IT 1
Amazon JP

Aliexpress

 

[seaninbrisbane]

Would someone be able to tell me if the volume control is analogue, digital, or a combination (like the RME ADI DAC-2). Thanks.

 

[Ben1987]

Would someone be able to tell me if the volume control is analogue, digital, or a combination (like the RME ADI DAC-2). Thanks.

Digital.

 

[januser]

Hi community,
I came across this forum when looking for a new DAC - I've enjoyed reading this thread very much!
But one thing that is not clear to me why it is not a topic to have a I2S interface for this DAC.
Currently I am using a RPi running volumio and my DAC is connected via I2S. As I understood this is simple and efficient - or am I wrong?
Many thanks and excuse my bad english.

 

[Veri]

Hi community,
I came across this forum when looking for a new DAC - I've enjoyed reading this thread very much!
But one thing that is not clear to me why it is not a topic to have a I2S interface for this DAC.
Currently I am using a RPi running volumio and my DAC is connected via I2S. As I understood this is simple and efficient - or am I wrong?
Many thanks and excuse my bad english.

USB will also go into I2S as an intermediary format. I2S input is really niche, serves no point.. it's not a good transport format.

 

[somebodyelse]

Hi community,
I came across this forum when looking for a new DAC - I've enjoyed reading this thread very much!
But one thing that is not clear to me why it is not a topic to have a I2S interface for this DAC.
Currently I am using a RPi running volumio and my DAC is connected via I2S. As I understood this is simple and efficient - or am I wrong?
Many thanks and excuse my bad english.

Simple and efficient for a DAC that plugs directly onto the Pi, or uses a very short cable, as I2S was only designed for use between chips inside digital audio equipment. To send it over longer cables is more complicated - usually involving LVDS converters at each end of an HDMI cable - and no better than a properly designed USB interface. There's a thread with measurements and a load of discussion of the details, but I can't find it right now.

 

[Labjr]

I think Khadas has I2S input but they cater to a different clientele. More hobbyists who build stuff. Sonzcoz customers want a finished product with a case that's ready to use out of the box. Thus no need for I2S.

 

[Veri]

Simple and efficient for a DAC that plugs directly onto the Pi, or uses a very short cable, as I2S was only designed for use between chips inside digital audio equipment. To send it over longer cables is more complicated - usually involving LVDS converters at each end of an HDMI cable - and no better than a properly designed USB interface. There's a thread with measurements and a load of discussion of the details, but I can't find it right now.

This? https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...face-better-for-dacs-than-s-pdif-or-usb.7105/

 

[somebodyelse]

This? https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/study-is-i²s-interface-better-for-dacs-than-s-pdif-or-usb.7105/

That's the one - I was searching for I2S not i²s

 

[januser]

understood - many thanks for the quick replies

 

[Koeitje]

Will the fix if the ESS bump have any impact on the SINAD score?

 

[Veri]

Will the fix if the ESS bump have any impact on the SINAD score?

No.

 

[ClosDeBen]

Here's hoping the new manufacturing run with the fix gets a surprise early delivery

 

[fredoamigo]

Hey guys ! I didn't really follow the thread so far, but this one has been on my list of favorites since the beginning but of course I'd prefer it without the bump even though I'm not sure if it's audible ?
Someone can tell me that if I order tomorrow on Amazon Europe I'll get the version without the hump, thank you Fred.

 

[Veri]

Hey guys ! I didn't really follow the thread so far, but this one has been on my list of favorites since the beginning but of course I'd prefer it without the bump even though I'm not sure if it's audible ?
Someone can tell me that if I order tomorrow on Amazon Europe I'll get the version without the hump, thank you Fred.

I believe all units ordered will be fixed ones! Right, @Ben1987?

 

[ClosDeBen]

On Amazon, it says in stock Feb 5 so with the Feb ETA Ben mentioned, likely the fixed one. @Ben1987 will there be a new model, version number where someone could confirm a unit was the fixed version ?

I'm trying to decide whether to spend the extra cash for this and wait or get the SMSL SU-8 (I'd like XLR out and have no DAC at all now).