Jimster480
Major Contributor
- Thread Starter
- #41
It makes absolutely no sense to save a few cents on an expensive device. This is why I always question smsl products because they make these decisions that make no sense.That's exactly what SMSL did with the M400 and Sabaj with the D50 with the AK4499. The AK4499 was specially designed by AKM as a 4-channel chip to achieve higher performance in stereo mode. Nevertheless, 2 - 4 OP amps and a few resistors and capacitors were saved on the two devices and 2 of the 4 channels were not connected.
With very cheap devices one could still assume cost savings, but the devices are both well above the $500/€ price range.
Modding danger!
It would be interesting if an experienced DIYer modified one of the cheaper and well-tested SMSL devices with the 9038 Pro and connected the missing channels and sent Amirm to test it.
DAC1/3/5/7, DAC1b/3b/5b/7b, DAC2/4/6/8 and DAC2b/4b/6b/8b must be bridged. To do this, it may be possible to increase the voltage for DVDD, VDD_R and VDD_L from 1.2V to 1.3V.
Like you might as well use a much cheaper chip rather than just use this expensive chip for marketing and not connect the channels.
However SMSL is a contract design company. They have so many products because they are submitted on contract bounties AFAIK.