Douk Audio DAC-Q11--The first USB DAC with Switchable ESS9038Q2M and AK4493?

[Douk Audio]

To enjoy different sound styles of two top DAC chips via only one DAC?

What do you think of this switchable design? Let's discuss Douk Audio DAC-Q11 together!

 

[Brian Hall]

I guess it would be good for people who wrongly believe one of those chips "sounds better" than the other.

 

[antcollinet]

For me - sorry to say - utter nonsense.

We don't want sound effects. We want accurate reproduciton. Both chips are capable of doing that. Pick one - use it and do the design right.

I realise this doesn't help with gimmick marketing. How about, instead, offering features of genuine benefit to the customer. Balanced connections, usable display etc etc. Best of all, you could spend the money from the second DAC chip on some DSP, and implement decent built in room correction.

 

[MCH]

You know what would be cool? That it could be recognised by the computer and used as a 4 channel DAC

 

[Douk Audio]

I guess it would be good for people who wrongly believe one of those chips "sounds better" than the other.

Hi, the sound is subjective. We won't say that one is better than the other, just provide two options to select for those who want to try two differernt DAC chips just via the same DAC.

 

[JSmith]

To enjoy different sound styles of two top DAC chips via only one DAC?

I also think this is a waste of time... unless you're trying to appeal to those that think different, performant DAC chips have a sound. By releasing this Douk Audio will then reinforce this mistaken belief and end up inadvertently perpetuating it further unfortunately.


JSmith

 

[antcollinet]

Hi, the sound is subjective. We won't say that one is better than the other, just provide two options to select for those who want to try two differernt DAC chips just via the same DAC.

If you've done the design right, there shouldn't be an audible difference to enable subjective sound/preference - other than bias effects. If you've done the design poorly enough to result in an audble difference, don't expect those of us who value high fidelity to be interested.

There are much cheaper and more effective ways to create "sound effects"

 

[TonyJZX]

its only $110

i'm ok with this

the world is full of strange products and this one strikes my sense of the absurd

Douk Audio DAC-Q11 HiFi ESS9038Q2M+AK4493 USB DAC Audio Adapter COAX/OPT D/A Converter DSD256

Warm tips: 1. For safer and faster delivery, the remote control may not include batteries (2*AAA), please prepare it by yourself. 2. For Win7, PC-USB can only be recognized when the driver is installed. For other systems, the driver is only required when playing DSD files. 3. 2 groups of Stereo...

doukaudio.com

output voltage isnt the same which bothers me for obvious reasons

 

[antcollinet]

its only $110

i'm ok with this

the world is full of strange products and this one strikes my sense of the absurd

Douk Audio DAC-Q11 HiFi ESS9038Q2M+AK4493 USB DAC Audio Adapter COAX/OPT D/A Converter DSD256

Warm tips: 1. For safer and faster delivery, the remote control may not include batteries (2*AAA), please prepare it by yourself. 2. For Win7, PC-USB can only be recognized when the driver is installed. For other systems, the driver is only required when playing DSD files. 3. 2 groups of Stereo...

doukaudio.com

output voltage isnt the same which bothers me for obvious reasons

I object on the ground it promotes audiophile mythology and misinformation. I particularly object to that being promoted here. There is too much of that in the world already (regardless of price).

PS $110? I'm seeing $170.

 

[Douk Audio]

Maybe there is a misunderstanding here, we use the wrong word and most attention is on "effects" in the picture, I deleted it. It just pure and simple DAC, just with two swithcable DAC chip design, no additional sound effects.

 

[boxerfan88]

Nice product to be able to A-B between ESS & AKM chips.

 

[Blumlein 88]

 

[Blumlein 88]

Maybe match output voltage and allow one to invert polarity to one and null them real time against one another. A product that rather than pushing sound is subjective would let audiophiles experience a good null showing both chips are pretty great. Yes a product that one plays and puts out noise too low in level to hear. Makes just as much sense and serves a better purpose.

PS-I do dig the transparent window in the case. Spectral used to do that on gear.

 

[Brian Hall]

View attachment 380486

At least they didn't add tubes.

 

[Douk Audio]

If you've done the design right, there shouldn't be an audible difference to enable subjective sound/preference - other than bias effects. If you've done the design poorly enough to result in an audble difference, don't expect those of us who value high fidelity to be interested.

There are much cheaper and more effective ways to create "sound effects"

Hi, thank you for your suggestions, I will covney that to our PD. I think that accurate reproduction does not conflict with the use of two DAC chips at the same time, in other words, DAC-Q11 will reproduct the sound accurately no matter which chip you switch to. Maybe the words "sound effects" in the origianl picture caused the misunderstanding?

 

[boxerfan88]

Looks like both chips can run simultaneously, therefore the extra pair of outputs can be used for subwoofers. Interesting…

 

[antcollinet]

Hi, thank you for your suggestions, I will covney that to our PD. I think that accurate reproduction does not conflict with the use of two DAC chips at the same time, in other words, DAC-Q11 will reproduct the sound accurately no matter which chip you switch to. Maybe the words "sound effects" in the origianl picture caused the misunderstanding?

Thanks for your reply, but your whole marketing premise is on the basis of different sounds from different chips, otherwise why use different chips at all?. If they both reproduce the sound accurately, then they won't sound different.

If they sound different, then at least one of them is not accurate.

 

[Killingbeans]

Hi, the sound is subjective. We won't say that one is better than the other, just provide two options to select for those who want to try two differernt DAC chips just via the same DAC.

It assumes that both ESS and AKM are incompetent enough to not being able to avoid giving their chip designs a "sound".

What people are trying to tell you, is that the "comparison", that your customers will do, most likely falls in the same category as when people compare cables, magical stickers and other nonsense. It will fuel the imagination, but nothing more.

Or, as @TonyJZX says, the differences in output level will fool people into thinking there's a "sound".

 

[Leporello]

To enjoy different sound styles of two top DAC chips via only one DAC?

What do you think of this switchable design? Let's discuss Douk Audio DAC-Q11 together!

View attachment 380483

View attachment 380482

What an utterly pointless solution looking for a problem.

 

[lcheetec]

Can't wait to try!