I do not own any. If that is a consideration, then you need to buy something other than this.
As to me, I don't (and am highly likely to not ever) have anything that uses XLR in my personal home audio gear (as opposed to my PA gear).
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Douk Audio DAC-Q11--The first USB DAC with Switchable ESS9038Q2M and AK4493?
- Thread starter Douk Audio
- Start date
As to me, I don't (and am highly likely to not ever) have anything that uses XLR in my personal home audio gear (as opposed to my PA gear).
Killingbeans
Major Contributor
Absolutely. Just make sure to do the comparison in a reliable way:
Sorry, but sometimes it's just hard to resist.
When something appears a bit like a person presenting a healing crystal that's quartz in one end and amethyst in the other, making it easy to compare the healing properties, it's just damn hard to resist making a joke or two about it.
Indeed. Without the levels being matched precisely, any "comparison" will be completely pointless.
there's another brand that's embracing this kind of nonsense:
https://xduoo.net/product/xd05-pro/ $799
https://xduoo.net/product/akm-ak4499ex-dac/ $199
https://xduoo.net/product/bd34301-card/ $149
i believe it comes stock with an ESS9039 dac 'card'
you can buy an AKM or Rohm card right now
they are promising the release of future Crystal and an R2R card (!!!)
so yeah I mean this is an expensive way to indulge this kind of thing
https://xduoo.net/product/xd05-pro/ $799
https://xduoo.net/product/akm-ak4499ex-dac/ $199
https://xduoo.net/product/bd34301-card/ $149
i believe it comes stock with an ESS9039 dac 'card'
you can buy an AKM or Rohm card right now
they are promising the release of future Crystal and an R2R card (!!!)
so yeah I mean this is an expensive way to indulge this kind of thing
lol, I'd happily joke along with you with that example!
Bleib
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4Real
Member
Apples and Oranges. Or, DAC Chips and water, if you will.
I'm not taking this 2 different DAC chips , one of which runs 0.2v lower than the other, which makes comparisons pointless and difficult to do,
either.
It seems like a very odd implementation of a product.
I commend you for attempting provide the curious consumer with a different product, at a reasonable price, and apparently w/decent specs.
Some users may get benefits as a "training" (NOT an A/B comparo) device; to possibly distinguish/differentiate sound impact of 2 different chips.
Some other users may get a benefit from such a device for a second zone.
I consider it a BOGO!
Killingbeans
Major Contributor
I honestly don't see why.
Both are designed to pass something on uncontaminated, and both do that task so exceedingly well, that human senses have no chance of detecting the remnants.
somebodyelse
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A thing with high bogosity?
You cant as they deliberately designed the product with slightly different output levels for each DAC chip
for some reason...The whole thing was/is a great idea EXCEPT for the slightly different output levels for each DAC chip.You cant as they deliberately designed the product with slightly different output levels for each DAC chip
dlovesmusic
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Great idea!!! If only you add balance output, I will buy this over Topping any dayTo 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!
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4Real
Member
so, if that is the case, why do individual Companies make different DAC chips?
So that they can claim that theirs is better & corner the market.
I heard some gossip that a nameless company is readying their pumpkin-spice DAC for release before Halloween 2024!
4Real
Member
I heard some gossip that a nameless company is readying their pumpkin-spice DAC for release before Halloween 2024!
ESS SABRE 8-channel DACs
| Search | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product Name | Datasheet/ Product Brief | DNR per Channel | DNR in Stereo Mode | THD+N | Package | Modulator | DAC Output Resistance | Hardware Mode | TDM Mode | Comments |
| ES9017 | Datasheet | 120dB | 124dB | -110dB | 48-LQFP/ QFN | Hyperstream IV | 1563Ω | YES | YES | Pin/footprint compatible ES9027PRO |
| ES9080 | Datasheet | 120dB | 124dB | -108dB | 40-QFN | Hyperstream II | NA | NO | YES | 2Vrms output with 8Ch line drivers |
| ES9018 | Datasheet | 129dB | 133dB | -120dB | 64-LQFP | Hyperstream | - | NO | NO | |
| SABRE9006A | Datasheet | 120dB | - | -102dB | 48-LQFP | NA | - | NO | NO | |
| ES9039PRO | Datasheet | 132dB | 138dB | -122dB | 64-TQFP | Quad, Hyperstream IV | 195Ω | YES | YES | MQA renderer option |
| ES9038PRO | Datasheet | 132dB | 138dB | -122dB | 64-TQFP | Hyperstream II | 202Ω | NO | NO | |
| ES9028PRO | Datasheet | 129dB | 133dB | -120dB | 64-TQFP | Hyperstream II | 806Ω | NO | NO | |
| ES9027PRO | Datasheet | 124dB | 128dB | -114dB | 48-TQFP/ QFN | Dual, Hyperstream IV | 760Ω | YES | YES | Pin/footprint compatible ES9017 |
| ES9026PRO | Datasheet | 124dB | - | -113dB | 48-LQFP | Hyperstream II | 806Ω | NO | NO |
ESS SABRE 2-Channel DACs
| Search | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product Name | Datasheet/ Product Brief | DNR per Channel | DNR in Stereo Mode | THD+N | Package | Modulator | DAC Output Resistance | Hardware Mode | TDM Mode | Comments |
ES9020
| Datasheet | 122dB | 122dB | -110dB | 28-QFN | Hyperstream IV | 1050Ω | YES | YES | APLL |
| ES9039Q2M
| Datasheet | 130dB | 130dB | -120dB | 32-QFN | Hyperstream IV | 390Ω | YES | YES | |
| ES9038Q2M | Datasheet | 129dB | 129dB | -120dB | 30-QFN | Hyperstream II | 774Ω | NO | NO | |
| ES9028Q2M | Datasheet | 129dB | 129dB | -120dB | 32-QFN | Hyperstream | 403Ω | NO | NO | |
| ES9018K2M | Datasheet | 127dB | 127dB | -120dB | 28-QFN | Hyperstream | 806Ω | NO | NO | |
| ES9018C2M | Product Brief | 127dB | 127dB | -120dB | 25-WLCSP | Hyperstream | - | NO | NO | |
| ES9016K2M | Datasheet | 122dB | 122dB | -110dB | 28-QFN | Hyperstream | 806Ω | NO | NO | |
| ES9010K2M | Datasheet | 116dB | 116dB | -106dB | 28-QFN | Hyperstream | 806Ω | NO | NO | |
| ES9069
| Datasheet | 130dB | 130dB | -120dB | 32-QFN | Hyperstream IV | 390Ω | YES | YES | MQA Renderer |
| ES9068AS | Product Brief | 129dB | 129dB | -120dB | 64-LQFP | Hyperstream II | 781Ω | NO | NO | With Mic ADC & MQA Renderer |
| ES9033Q | Datasheet | 122dB | 122dB | -108dB | 28-QFN | Hyperstream II | NA | YES | YES | 2Vrms output with line drivers |
| ES9023P | Datasheet | 112dB | 112dB | -94dB | 16-SOP | Hyperstream | NA | NO | NO | 2Vrms output with line drivers |
4Real
Member
which one of those is the pumpkin Spice?ESS SABRE 8-channel DACs
Search Product Name Datasheet/ Product Brief DNR per Channel DNR in Stereo Mode THD+N Package Modulator DAC Output Resistance Hardware Mode TDM Mode Comments ES9017 Datasheet 120dB 124dB -110dB 48-LQFP/ QFN Hyperstream IV 1563Ω YES YES Pin/footprint compatible ES9027PRO ES9080 Datasheet 120dB 124dB -108dB 40-QFN Hyperstream II NA NO YES 2Vrms output with 8Ch line drivers ES9018 Datasheet 129dB 133dB -120dB 64-LQFP Hyperstream - NO NO SABRE9006A Datasheet 120dB - -102dB 48-LQFP NA - NO NO ES9039PRO Datasheet 132dB 138dB -122dB 64-TQFP Quad, Hyperstream IV 195Ω YES YES MQA renderer option ES9038PRO Datasheet 132dB 138dB -122dB 64-TQFP Hyperstream II 202Ω NO NO ES9028PRO Datasheet 129dB 133dB -120dB 64-TQFP Hyperstream II 806Ω NO NO ES9027PRO Datasheet 124dB 128dB -114dB 48-TQFP/ QFN Dual, Hyperstream IV 760Ω YES YES Pin/footprint compatible ES9017 ES9026PRO Datasheet 124dB - -113dB 48-LQFP Hyperstream II 806Ω NO NO ESS SABRE 2-Channel DACs
Search Product Name Datasheet/ Product Brief DNR per Channel DNR in Stereo Mode THD+N Package Modulator DAC Output Resistance Hardware Mode TDM Mode Comments ES9020 Datasheet 122dB 122dB -110dB 28-QFN Hyperstream IV 1050Ω YES YES APLL ES9039Q2M Datasheet 130dB 130dB -120dB 32-QFN Hyperstream IV 390Ω YES YES ES9038Q2M Datasheet 129dB 129dB -120dB 30-QFN Hyperstream II 774Ω NO NO ES9028Q2M Datasheet 129dB 129dB -120dB 32-QFN Hyperstream 403Ω NO NO ES9018K2M Datasheet 127dB 127dB -120dB 28-QFN Hyperstream 806Ω NO NO ES9018C2M Product Brief 127dB 127dB -120dB 25-WLCSP Hyperstream - NO NO ES9016K2M Datasheet 122dB 122dB -110dB 28-QFN Hyperstream 806Ω NO NO ES9010K2M Datasheet 116dB 116dB -106dB 28-QFN Hyperstream 806Ω NO NO ES9069 Datasheet 130dB 130dB -120dB 32-QFN Hyperstream IV 390Ω YES YES MQA Renderer ES9068AS Product Brief 129dB 129dB -120dB 64-LQFP Hyperstream II 781Ω NO NO With Mic ADC & MQA Renderer ES9033Q Datasheet 122dB 122dB -108dB 28-QFN Hyperstream II NA YES YES 2Vrms output with line drivers ES9023P Datasheet 112dB 112dB -94dB 16-SOP Hyperstream NA NO NO 2Vrms output with line drivers
Killingbeans
Major Contributor
Same reason there's a million different tool companies making hammers.
Just because a problem is solved, doesn't mean a monopoly will automatically emerge.
Marketing usually has its focus on a ton of other things than real world objective performance. There's always a niche to dig into.
Seriously, a good implementation of a modern SOTA DAC chip keeps all of the undesirable effects at -120dB or lower. That's 0.0001% of the desired signal.
Anybody, who thinks that this percentage combined with their immaculate hearing is enough to give a "sound signature", are just plain delusional. No offence
for me there's acclimatisation period for a dac
i have units from AKM ESS CS and you run them for a while and you get used to the sound - they're all pretty much transparent for our uses
for this douk unit you're going to be happy with the AKM and the ESS when you increase the vol to match but i suppose many people here are super opposed to this device
i have units from AKM ESS CS and you run them for a while and you get used to the sound - they're all pretty much transparent for our uses
for this douk unit you're going to be happy with the AKM and the ESS when you increase the vol to match but i suppose many people here are super opposed to this device
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