• WANTED: Happy members who like to discuss audio and other topics related to our interest. Desire to learn and share knowledge of science required. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!

AKM new flagship AK4191 + AK4499EX

bogi

Active Member
Joined
Sep 16, 2020
Messages
238
Likes
170
Location
Slovakia
@KSTR, thanks. Who is interested, I got yet one answer to the questions I raised in this thread. I got better picture how it could work. Although implementgation details are not provided by Asahi-Kasei, I understood that DSD data can be transferred without information loss through the multi bit binary weighted interface between chips. That's what I was interested to know.
 

Jonessön

Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2023
Messages
17
Likes
1
What is difference between Gustard A26 and SMSL D400EX? 500€ price difference.
 

orchardaudio

Addicted to Fun and Learning
Audio Company
Joined
Aug 24, 2018
Messages
853
Likes
1,242
Location
Succasunna, NJ

FrankNL

New Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2023
Messages
2
Likes
0
I see you call it AK4499EXEQ which is the name I see in the AKM product lineup on their website. Others just call is AK4499EX, which is not on their webpage. Are they one and the same?
 

lyramax

Member
Joined
Apr 19, 2021
Messages
7
Likes
1
There are several DACs using this AKM chip combo that are nearly in the same price range: Topping E70V, SMSL M400, SMSL DO400EX, SMSL SU-9 Ultra.

Any recommendation on which one to get?
 

Kiko1974

Member
Joined
Apr 2, 2019
Messages
81
Likes
33
9
There are several DACs using this AKM chip combo that are nearly in the same price range: Topping E70V, SMSL M400, SMSL DO400EX, SMSL SU-9 Ultra.

Any recommendation on which one to get?
I'm receiving an SMSL DO300 EX that uses the AKM AK4191 + AK4499EX.
I'm getting this DAC as I currently own an SMSL DO300 that has a couple of design issues. First is that it applies more than +6 dB of gain when playing DSD, and second, its I2S input reverses channels when playing DSD, and using the I2S invert channels on the configuration menu doesn't work with DSD, only with PCM.
The SMSL DO300 EX seems to have sorted out these desing faults.
 

lyramax

Member
Joined
Apr 19, 2021
Messages
7
Likes
1
What are the benefits of using a dual AK4499EX design, such as in the Geshelli Dayzee ard Gustard A26, vs. a single AK4499EX design as in the SMSL DO300EX and Topping E70V?
 

orchardaudio

Addicted to Fun and Learning
Audio Company
Joined
Aug 24, 2018
Messages
853
Likes
1,242
Location
Succasunna, NJ
What are the benefits of using a dual AK4499EX design, such as in the Geshelli Dayzee ard Gustard A26, vs. a single AK4499EX design as in the SMSL DO300EX and Topping E70V?
Objectively you can achieve better dynamic range by 3dB when doing a design with dual chips.
 

Kiko1974

Member
Joined
Apr 2, 2019
Messages
81
Likes
33
Objectively you can achieve better dynamic range by 3dB when doing a design with dual chips.
I own an SMSL DO300 EX after getting rid of the DO300 that has a couple of issues when playing DSD (It applies too much gain to DSD, over +6 dB which is the standard, resulting in some distorsion and boomy bass, and DSD inverted channels vía I2S which is not corrected by inverting I2S channels on the configuration menu), and I much like the sound of the DO300 EX over the DO300.
I find the DO300 analitycal and bright for my taste. It may be more truthful to the source than the DO300 EX but for the time I've had the DO300 (around 9 months) I felt something was missing or at least not for me.
The DO300 EX corrects the issues when playing DSD that the DO300 has, It sounds smoother, more easy on the ears to me for listining sessions.
But beware, It may be a matter of sinergy with the rest of my equipment, a humble but fine sounding Marantz PM 6007 integrated amp and B&W' DM 601 (yes, the first series, which I bought in 1996, filters were changed around 4 years ago), or maybe my hearing as I'm 50 and have been suffering of tinnitus for around 8 years.
The fact is that the DO300 caused be listing fatigue after 40 minutes or so of listening, and the DO300 EX doesn't even after listening of for over 3 hours.
By the way, the DO300 EX states on its instruction manual that features TWO AK 4499EX converters.
 

ttt

Member
Joined
Oct 17, 2021
Messages
47
Likes
13
I also satisfied with DO300EX. However I upgraded from an old FX-6 used for many years as my headphone amp during worktime. FX6 has a good listening sound, not fatique at all, but less detail, and less bass than the 300EX. The timbre sounds different to me. I know there are a lot technical differences, different category, technical params but for my ears both sounds good.
 

lyramax

Member
Joined
Apr 19, 2021
Messages
7
Likes
1
...
By the way, the DO300 EX states on its instruction manual that features TWO AK 4499EX converters.
I am not able to locate any place in the DO300EX manual (which I just downloaded from SMSL) that states the DAC uses two AK4499EX converters. Furthermore, the reply I received to the inquiry I had made to Aoshida-US (SMSL Seller on Amazon) says "DO300EX only has one chip and supports two channel".

In contrast, amongst the items listed in the Feature section of the D400EX manual is the statement "Dual mono design, one AK4499EX per channel, distortion as low as a staggering 0.00006% (-124dB)".
 
Last edited:

ttt

Member
Joined
Oct 17, 2021
Messages
47
Likes
13
@lyramax DO300EX has single AK4499EX, look:
1000005265.jpg
 
Top Bottom