LEAF Dac Dual 9038Q2M VS Gustard X16 ! Pictures inside )

[daniboun]

Hi amigos,

I share with a quick review of an unknown new DAC. (Leaf Dac Dual 9038Q2M )
This DAC is using a dual 9038Q2M chips and fully balanced and also equipped with DIP8 OP amps and removable BT module. It is using the same chips as the Soncoz SGD1 )
At first sight, the DAC is really really well made with quality components and seems to be very flexible = removable OP amps, removable BT board etc It is also compact (168*110*55mm ) and provided with a external PSU brick (5V/2.8A)

I own the Gustard X16 to compare with. )
I will share a more in-depth test when I have listened to it carefully

For the time being : I gave a quick test with the OPA1612 / 1622 and 1656 ; I really enjoy the 1656 and 1612 both have a very linear response and abolutely dead silence between tracks even with my ears glued to the speakers.
It sounds aboslutely nice out of the box but I updated the PSU with a quality German brick PSU.
Combined with my Hypex NC252MP / David Munyon HD Playlist it is really close to my Gustard X16 and just noticed a lower gain. Anyway : I willl test with my favorite HD Audio Playlist soon.

The inputs interface is really amazing @ such a price !
I think that at the price of 145 euros, we have a little treasure there : To be continued...

SPEC :

Audio input: Bluetooth / USB / LVDS / Optical / Coaxial
Audio output: Stereo RCA / XLR / Balanced headphone jack
BT CSR8675 supports ACC/SBC/APTX/APTX-LL/APTX-HD/LDAC
USB XMOS XU208
IIS that supports DSD64-DSD512 de 32 bits/384Khz,
USB that supports DSD64-DSD256 de 32 bits/384Khz
Opitcal that supports 192KHz y DOP DSD64
Coax PCM 44,1 K-192K/24bit.
RCA inputs 2V RMS
XLR inputs 2V RMS
Headphone amp output power: 1.5W/32Ω, 200mW/300Ω
Matched headphone impedance: 16-300Ω

 

[goldenpiggy]

145 Euros! And it has a real volume knob!
How low can they go and still make money?

 

[daniboun]

145 Euros! And it has a real volume knob!
How low can they go and still make money?

No idea but all I can say : VS the Gustard X16 and my previous Dual AK4497 it sounds awesome @ 5x times cheaper ! unbelievable !
It has a solid volume knob and it also has a balanced headphone output !

 

[goldenpiggy]

I agree, the price is incredible for a balanced DAC and the amount of inputs it offers.
Normally at this price point it's an entry-level DAC: single lower-grade DAC chip, single-ended outs, and no way there would be I2S or bluetooth.

A decent Bluetooth receiver is half the cost of that unit!

I don't know how they do it.

 

[goldenpiggy]

and you can even roll op-amps!

 

[daniboun]

Yep ) Will share some videos tonight and a further review asap.

 

[Racheski]

Where can you buy the Leaf unit online?

 

[daniboun]

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001860718657.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.75c54c4dum091e

Got it in 10 days )

 

[LaL]

@daniboun imagine if it really isn't that difficult to make a good Dac/Amp combo for $150

Another one for the test wish list @amirm
►https://AliExpress.com/item/1005001860718657.html

 

[daniboun]

@daniboun imagine if it really isn't that difficult to make a good Dac/Amp combo for $150

Another one for the test wish list @amirm
►https://AliExpress.com/item/1005001860718657.html

Pay attention > check where you buy and discuss with the seller before.... this one is not serious, I cancelled my first order ! This is the same dac by the way )

 

[Morpheus85]

From which country do you come @daniboun

i come from germany and still have to pay taxes.

 

[daniboun]

I am from France, never paid any taxes... but lots of people forget to ask to sellers : "please declare a low value before shipping" ))) easy words and works fine lol )

 

[Morpheus85]

Right.
And did you change all 7 opamps?

 

[daniboun]

I changed the ones @ top )

 

[Morpheus85]

this?
https://ibb.co/Z2cvN9W

what kind of module is that?

 

[daniboun]

this?
https://ibb.co/Z2cvN9W

what kind of module is that?

This is the main module to drive the OP amps and I guess it also related to the Headphone output... But not sure at all.

 

[Morpheus85]

I would like to use it mainly as a DAC with the XLR outputs.

 

[daniboun]

I am now listening to the DAC for 1 hour ! my god ! I am amazed.... it sounds so so good, It does not blush in anything compared to my Gustard X16

Videos :

https://streamable.com/7lsepe
https://streamable.com/n87kyl

 

[LearningToSmile]

At that price it's almost "too good to be true" territory - would love to see measurements. The only downside seems to be that it's balanced only. Well, that, and the cheap looking chassis. At this price I'd be tempted to just buy it as a secondary unit for the bedroom.

How do the outputs function? Can you switch between pre-out and line-out? And is it simple to mute them when listening to headphones?

 

[Nango]

Amirm already tested several of these like Wei-Li-ang and turned out to be crap.