Measurements of Soncoz LA-QXD1 Pre-production "Evolution of KTE Board"

[WolfX-700]

During the last contact and measurement of SGD-1, I learned that the developer of SGD-1 is the developer of the famous KTE Board. As we all know, the main expectations of the KTE Board are: XLR Out, official case, ESS Hump.

Now I have the Soncoz LA-QXD1 (pre-production block)。

Let's take a look at the ultimate evolution of the KTE Board!

This is a very compact unit with a size of about 40 * 90 * 150mm

Rear:

It looks good, but what is the most important ... performance?

Let's measure it!

Wow! Does this seem to easily make it into the top 10 of the ASR SINAD rankings?

In fact, the two channels are slightly different. (The developer says the difference comes from manual soldering to repair Hump and will be resolved on production)


RCA is also great

Dynamic Range（A.Wt)

Here comes the most important part: Hump?!

Pre-production type is still a little problem between channels.I actually disassembled the unit and confirmed that there are traces of manual soldering.
Considering the developers assured me that the final pricing will be less than $ 200 (including shipping), this may be the cheapest unit close to this performance.

And there is no doubt that this is indeed the ultimate evolution of the "KTE Board"

Greatwork! @Ben1987 !!!

 

[helloworld]

less than $200, xlr out, no hump,116db thd+n, what else do you expect?

 

[gvl]

less than $200, xlr out, no hump,116db thd+n, what else do you expect?

Linearity to -120dB within 0.5dB? We are spoiled here.

 

[WolfX-700]

Linearity to -120dB within 0.5dB? We are spoiled here.

 

[maxxevv]

Would be a really compelling solution for loads of powered speakers !
Not forgetting how small it is!

I certainly would consider it for mine.

I have to ask though, if XLR output was lowered to just 4V flat, would the numbers have differed ? Or for that matter, improved if that value was changed ?

 

[helloworld]

Linearity to -120dB within 0.5dB? We are spoiled here.

Manual soldering to repair the hump actually affects the linearity. I heard the mass production will improve the linearity.

 

[WolfX-700]

Would be a really compelling solution for loads of powered speakers !
Not forgetting how small it is!

I certainly would consider it for mine.

I have to ask though, if XLR output was lowered to just 4V flat, would the numbers have differed ? Or for that matter, improved if that value was changed ?

In fact, it is basically the same, but because it can only be adjusted by DBFS, I choose to use 0dbfs (ignoring the 0.3V)

 

[Anechoic Reflections]

Uhh it is on "sale".

Joke aside, I might buy this!
How is the feel of the buttons on the front? They look a little cheap.

 

[WolfX-700]

Uhh it is on "sale".
View attachment 43076

Joke aside, I might buy this!
How is the feel of the buttons on the front? They look a little cheap.

The button feels like aluminum (in fact, it should be, but I did n’t confirm it). The feeling of pressing ... is average

 

[headwhacker]

Linearity to -120dB within 0.5dB? We are spoiled here.

That's what SGD1 is for

 

[pos]

Great review @WolfX-700, thanks!
Does the unit emit any kind of noise or pop when turned off/on, or when syncing to a different clock?
What about jitter? Have you tried the spidf inputs?

 

[Alerma]

Black color would be nice...

 

[Ben1987]

Black color would be nice...

That's a good idea！

 

[SpyB]

That's a good idea！

Also Black for the SGD1, would convince me to purchase,

As it would blend in with my other devices,

Ben are you going to send Amirm the revised SGD1,to test and update his recommendation

 

[Ben1987]

Ben are you going to send Amirm the revised SGD1,to test and update his recommendation

I will be!

 

[Tks]

Some really good results, it seems like finally a device to dethrone SMSL's SU-8 in the affordable balanced DAC segment!

Thanks wolfman!

 

[Silou]

Remote?

The digital out is a great addition in my opinion

 

[pos]

Great review @WolfX-700, thanks!
Does the unit emit any kind of noise or pop when turned off/on, or when syncing to a different clock?
What about jitter? Have you tried the spidf inputs?

@Ben1987, what about on/off noises?
I know the asymmetrical khadas board did emit noise in these circumstances, but what about your new designs? (LA-QXD1 and SGD1)

 

[digititus]

Is this fixed or variable output? Remote?

 

[pinky-me]

@Ben1987 could you please make it possible to change volume and mute via USB?