Of course, it is easy to mess up and there are a few exemples given. But Bottom line, any DAC chips manufacturer has absolutely no benefit in getting their IC in products that blows. In order to even assess the performance, ESS or AKM or name it themselves have had to come up with a reference design that works. A chip on it's own don't do anything. If they developped the chip, they have the electronic design to go with it and will share it with any manufacturer. That's key to their success, It's well documented to make it work. They give you the circuit. Now of course proper PCB construction is a skill not everybody have, proper noise and grounding management and such considerations but in the end if you follow closely the applications notes, if you end up with something significantly poorer, well, you screwed up and should go back to work, or do something else but the numbers DAC chips gives you, they are not pulled out of a hat... The thing is, many think that they can just market their products just from having the said chip and are penny pinching here and there on parts specs, maybe discard some stuff, or are just lazy with parts they don't understands, and hope people won't notice and that's why a site like this is useful. Of course you won't get that if you don't properly measure, properly calculate, but let's not make this bigger than it is. This is application Engineering, not electronic design. ESS knows that if you do things how they tell you to, your product will perform, and they will give you all the support you need to achieve that. That's how they got where they are, by making it as easy to implement as they can. Now yes, There are many incompetents in this business, I don't disagree.
That's an impressive response!
The similarity of the PCB and the parts says it all. Even the website looks the same, has the same style.
Not sure if https://www.zidoo.tv/Product/index/model/DAC-Z8/target/DRfy4aRwwsRKKmVViAFMcQ==.html and https://www.smsl-audio.com/portal/product/detail/id/797.html look the same. they are typical Chinese product detail pages, but quite different
No, both should add no sound whatsoever for regular use, if the Z6 is done with the same care, just with slightly less of everything.
I don't allow CCP approved apps on my mobile, thanks.
It's configurable according to @amirm.
The VU meters could be just something one company adds and another doesn't. But i agree, the boards don't look like the the same. But there are a lot of similarities, maybe the same reference design?Maybe it's me but I don't think they are much more than just a little similar
As for sites it wouldn't be surprising there are agencies building these sites for similar companies. Easy money.
So I'm not so sure. The VU meters are very un-like SMSL.
I bet the website designers used the same boilerplate designs from some website hoster or package.
I love SMSL, for me is a good thing, is a certification of quality.
Now I have more trust about EverSolo brand.
Also, if they could integrate with Aida64, that would be even cooler. You could use the display as an external Aida64 stat screen /sensor panel for your PC. This already exists in other hardware peripherals. The DAC market needs to show the RGB PC nerds that audio hardware doesn't have to be boring anymore. Not saying I don't like a spartan, industrial big black box sitting on my desk, but it would sure attract a new crowd. Part of the reason I bought a Motu M4 is because its screen looks nice among all my other desktop gear.I love the looks...not enough to make me buy it. Sold an x16 and went to a 9n...for the look and some new options, but basically only lost $50. This is $700...not enough looks and features to make me change from the identical sounding SU-9N similar level of performance. My gear sits off to the sides in a rack...I can see the amps but I can't see small components (Shield, Denafrips, and SU-9N) without getting up. The question becomes why buy one if it doesn't improve audible performance ...I watch my projected image (110inch screen)...not my gear. A bigger screen adds functionality...(a reason to buy) but I don't want to gawk at it. I even control my PC with a tablet using Spacedesk ..as well as my prepro...wish my dacs could do that...the screen would be meaningless then. Hey dac companies...Android control on all dacs pleases!!
I doubt it would benefit from a quality linear supply. Any improvements in the dc output would be inaudible since the numbers are already great.
