LUSYA S3 - Rod Rain audio, where is the truth in your products?

[trungdtmc]

Previously, I had used some products from Rod rain audio or LUSYA audio. After a while, I took some measurements and realized that the results I obtained did not match the specifications they provided. From that, I felt that almost all the specifications they advertised were incorrect. Okay, that's an issue related to advertising, marketing, and so on. But then yesterday, I saw one of their products, which is a DAC dongle at this link https://a.aliexpress.com/_c4sRkij9 on AliExpress.
I'm interested in the ES9039Q2M chip, so I paid attention to it. Rod rain advertises it as using the ES9039Q2.

I observed their circuit board and noticed something wrong. Above is a large image;
let's take a closer look

I realized that although this chip with the code ES9039Q2M is indeed QFN32, the pin locations are different.
Let's compare it to the chip on my board.

They are completely different pin order.
I looked it up again on the official ESS Technology website and noticed that it closely resembles the ES9028Q2M, not the ES9039Q2M.

So, what is the truth?

 

[DVDdoug]

I have no idea but sometimes manufacturer's change their designs.

And do you really trust AliExpress, or eBay, or 3rd-party suppliers, or people selling Louis Vuitton products on the street?

 

[trungdtmc]

I have no idea but sometimes manufacturer's change their designs.

And do you really trust AliExpress, or eBay, or 3rd-party suppliers, or people selling Louis Vuitton products on the street?

these are feedback photos on their store on taobao. you want to doubt?
no one would counterfeit a product of a less known brand

 

[findneutralsound]

I read your post, can you check mine dongle 9039 is real? Tks

 

[trungdtmc]

I read your post, can you mine dongle 9039 is real?. Tks

View attachment 489577

View attachment 489579

BRZHIFI using real ES9039Q2M.
I found out Rod Rain used fake ES9039 (AKA ES9028Q2M) on 2 other products with code ES9039Q2M

 

[jkim]

If it is real es9028q2m, still not bad

 

[trungdtmc]

If it is real es9028q2m, still not bad

fake still fake.
And Rod Rain really makes bad products

 

[jkim]

fake still fake.
And Rod Rain really makes bad products

We don't want to be deceived, for sure.

It is only $46 at an AliExpress store. If it measured as a good ES9028Q2M-based DAC should, then I would still pay $46 for it. I doubt it would, though.

 

[trungdtmc]

photo above is the measurement of a product using ES9038Q2M.
so you think they can do better with ES9028Q2M?
they also have 2 other products using fake 9039 and i bet the result is not better.

 

[Chester]

Hold on, are they not using the chip they specifically or are they using fake chips?

 

[trungdtmc]

Hold on, are they not using the chip they specifically or are they using fake chips?

they used different chip, grill the top side and re-engraved it into a chip with a different name. what do you think the new chip is called?

 

[brasa]

Hi everyone, now I'm a bit concerned too! I recently tried a Rod Rain Audio B1, sold as using an ES9039Q2M chip. To my ears it doesn’t sound bad at all and feels like a big upgrade over my previous SMSL. That said, after reading this thread I'm starting to doubt the authenticity of the chip.

I’ve taken detailed photos of the full DAC implementation and a close-up of the SABRE chip. Could you help me figure out whether this is really an ES9039Q2M, or if it might be another rebranded ESS chip?

 

[trungdtmc]

Hi everyone, now I'm a bit concerned too! I recently tried a Rod Rain Audio B1, sold as using an ES9039Q2M chip. To my ears it doesn’t sound bad at all and feels like a big upgrade over my previous SMSL. That said, after reading this thread I'm starting to doubt the authenticity of the chip.

I’ve taken detailed photos of the full DAC implementation and a close-up of the SABRE chip. Could you help me figure out whether this is really an ES9039Q2M, or if it might be another rebranded ESS chip?

Yup, it using es9028q2m aka fake es9039q2m that i posted above

 

[brasa]

Yup, it using es9028q2m aka fake es9039q2m that i posted above

Are you sure? Following the chip pin traces compared to the datasheet for the two ESS chips and also asking AI for help with this comparison, the one installed on this DAC seems to follow the outputs of the 9039 or 9038 and not the 9028. Am I missing something?

 

[trungdtmc]

Are you sure? Following the chip pin traces compared to the datasheet for the two ESS chips and also asking AI for help with this comparison, the one installed on this DAC seems to follow the outputs of the 9039 or 9038 and not the 9028. Am I missing

of course i'm sure. look at the 5th pin of ES9028Q2M, it's MCLK pin, completely different from ES9039Q2M

 

[MCH]

yeah, it is always interesting when the chip in one's device was produced exactly the same week and year and has exactly the same lot number that all the marketing pictures available in the internet and all the taobao listings. What a coincidence!