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Review and Measurements of E1DA 9038S BAL Portable DAC & Amp

Some comments on the DSD performance. Archimago always uses the same set of DSD files generated at -3dbfs, I used Foobar2000 DSD processor to online generate DoP DSD64-128 at 0dbfs. My THD+N result is slightly worse than PCM 32/96 -124db(PCM -125.5db, I guess a worse result caused by the fact that THD compensation is not active in DSD). Also, I noticed that Foobar2000 has noticeably less HF noise(30-100kHz) vs Archimago's files, so to get a reliable reading of THD+N with these files I used my passive LPF. Foobar2000 allows THD+N reading directly by Cosmos APU without the LPF.
 
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IVX said:
Some comments on the DSD performance. Archimago always uses the same set of DSD files generated at -3dbfs, I used Foobar2000 DSD processor to online generate DoP DSD64-128 at 0dbfs. My THD+N result is slightly worse than PCM 32/96 -124db(PCM -125.5db, I guess a worse result caused by the fact that THD compensation is not active in DSD). Also, I noticed that Foobar2000 has noticeably less HF noise(30-100kHz) vs Archimago's files, so to get a reliable reading of THD+N with these files I used my passive LPF. Foobar2000 allows THD+N reading directly by Cosmos APU without the LPF.
Click to expand...
Archimago's DSD files were always a point of conflict,some people has pointed that to him.
Luckily we now have Multitone Analyzer where we can measure any DSD signal possible (including DoP and Native and from DSD64 to DSD1024 )

I find Multitone much cleaner down low with my ancient PC who can add kind of tiny (down to -130db ) spikes to the chart when played through foobar,depending on it's mood.
With Multitone is always clean as a whistle.
 
IVX said:
It seems not dither is a matter but REW gen itself. Usually, I use another sine gen but today I run REw's one and got THD -146db on the same sample! Completely vanished H7 for instance.
Click to expand...
THD compensation is a great tool for measurements, but what does it look like at different frequencies, say 100Hz? Too bad the notch is only at 1k and 10k. Maybe a future version will have a lower setting added, say at 100Hz? ;)
 
IVX said:
AP SYS2522
Click to expand...

One can now measure well below the capability of that AP :) Just need that one more notch frequency at 100Hz for complete happiness :)
1712422602785.png
 
@IVX @staticV3

Hi both- just got my 9039S- am I right in thinking you cant use the Tweak app to configure ? I mostly just want to set a max volume but maybe play around with filters too.

If I need to either update FW or the app be grateful if yoiu could point me in the right direction.

Are the default filters on the 9039 the Linear Slow btw?

Cheers
 
AFAIK, Tweak9038 does not currently support the 9039S.

I don't think there's anything physically preventing these to work together, just that @IVX and the developer of Tweak9038 haven't gotten around to patching the firmware and App to add support.
 
staticV3 said:
AFAIK, Tweak9038 does not currently support the 9039S.

I don't think there's anything physically preventing these to work together, just that @IVX and the developer of Tweak9038 haven't gotten around to patching the firmware and App to add support.
Click to expand...
Figured it might be that- cheers.
 
I have a "hard question" I have a vintage refurbished made in Austria AKG K501 (120 ohm), from the Sennheiser HD600 golden era. It is very good headphone even today. Comparable to the vintage HD600 series. Currently I am running it with 9038D with the factory single ended cabling. Is it worth it to modify the headphone cabling to balanced (resoldering a new balanced cable to +-R and +-L) and change the sound card to 9039S? Or it has just measurable improvements but no audible difference?
The volume is already enough with the 9038D, so I am looking only for sonic improvements. Going full balanced is really audible? This headphone has 120 ohm impedance, so theroetically it is not pulling that hard the 9038D output, and probably I have good THD already single ended.
 
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Lewzke said:
I have a "hard question" I have a vintage refurbished made in Austria AKG K501 (120 ohm), from the Sennheiser HD600 golden era. It is very good headphone even today. Comparable to the vintage HD600 series. Currently I am running it with 9038D with the factory single ended cabling. Is it worth it to modify the headphone cabling to balanced (resoldering a new balanced cable to +-R and +-L) and change the sound card to 9039S? Or it has just measurable improvements but no audible difference?
The volume is already enough with the 9038D, so I am looking only for sonic improvements. Going full balanced is really audible?
Click to expand...
If the D is loud enough, no.
 
The E1DA AliExpress store is closed due to vacations. @IVX When will it reopen?

I noticed that Linsoul is selling the 9039S on eBay for ~€153: https://www.ebay.nl/itm/116171810578
How does that compare to the official price? Unfortunately the shipping time to Europe is more than a month, though.

I found it on their direct website for $139: https://www.linsoul.com/products/e1da-9039s
But it's marked as a pre-order so I wonder if it would have to wait until the vacation period is over.

These specs are so amazing that, depending on my volume needs, I'm considering selling the RME ADI-2 DAC FS that I have on the way and getting a 9039S to power the DCA E3 that's also on its way...

Thanks
 
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