Review and Measurements of Sabaj D5 DAC & Amp

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

Has anyone compared it to Chord Mojo sonically ? I want to upgrade my mojo to something different. And have been thinking about sabaj d5. Any thoughts ?

 

[Kane1972]

M500 will be released on 2nd September. I will send amir M500 for test at that time.

Great. Do you know the difference between the M300 and M500, can't just be the DAC chip can it?

 

[BDWoody]

Has anyone compared it to Chord Mojo sonically ? I want to upgrade my mojo to something different. And have been thinking about sabaj d5. Any thoughts ?

It is doubtful there would be any detectable difference once they were level matched and done blind...they are both well into the sonically transparent range. Why are you looking to change? It's not like the Mojo is schitty...

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

It is doubtful there would be any detectable difference once they were level matched and done blind...they are both well into the sonically transparent range. Why are you looking to change? It's not like the Mojo is schitty...

Hmm maybe upgrade was a bad word. It's more like just a change. I like to switch some of my audio gear.
Mojo is really nice for my taste its soundstage is just a bit congested, and doesn't have 1/4inch headphone socket. I don't really need portability. So I guess I can't go wrong with sabaj, since it's measures "better overall".

 

[Veri]

So I guess I can't go wrong with sabaj, since it's measures "better overall".

Correct

 

[BDWoody]

Hmm maybe upgrade was a bad word. It's more like just a change. I like to switch some of my audio gear.
Mojo is really nice for my taste its soundstage is just a bit congested, and doesn't have 1/4inch headphone socket. I don't really need portability. So I guess I can't go wrong with sabaj, since it's measures "better overall".

It certainly looks like one I would consider if I was buying... Once DAC's get to a certain level of basic engineering competence, differences between them revolve around everything but how they sound...because they will all sound the same. Once I figured that out (after wasting a lot of $$$ spent where it wouldn't matter) the money went where it would actually matter...Speakers and room treatment in my case.

New gear is fun though...no doubt about that! Welcome by the way...this is a great place to learn.

 

[jruser]

M500 will be released on 2nd September. I will send amir M500 for test at that time.

Anybody have any guesses where the performance will come in on the M500? It would be hard to top the D5's numbers, but maybe we are reaching a new era.

 

[DeepSpace57]

Anybody have any guesses where the performance will come in on the M500? It would be hard to top the D5's numbers, but maybe we are reaching a new era.

M500 has less dynamic range (from data-sheets)

 

[jruser]

Does anybody know what cables come with the D5 and their length?

 

[Kane1972]

Anybody have any guesses where the performance will come in on the M500? It would be hard to top the D5's numbers, but maybe we are reaching a new era.

I want to know how it compares to the M300 as well, as the M500 has the 9038Pro and the M300 has the AKM 4497. It's possible the M300 will be the bargain of the bunch.

 

[Hemi-Demon]

I then read on their website something to the effect of heatsinks are used and hence the unit needs 30 minutes to warm up to required temps. I usually don't put much weight on such comments but here, it was a real deal. After around 30 minutes while I was doing other things, performance jumped way up:

Interesting that this warm up period is what Schiit, or better yet, most of their Yggy users recommend for best output on that device.

@amirm, what is the science for this improvement vs time? I wonder if it improves the longer the device runs warm.

Sabaj should hire IVX to fix that hump, maybe add Bluetooth 5 (LDAC) and release a V2, and this would be unbeatable.

 

[amirm]

@amirm, what is the science for this improvement vs time? I wonder if it improves the longer the device runs warm.

It doesn't keep improving. As to science, it is really an engineering matter. It is certainly possible to design circuits that are sensitive to temperature.

 

[Music1969]

Has anyone compared it to Chord Mojo sonically ? I want to upgrade my mojo to something different. And have been thinking about sabaj d5. Any thoughts ?

Mojo is very good. Plus portable.

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/measurements-of-chord-mojo.2434/

 

[THW]

Mojo is very good. Plus portable.

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/measurements-of-chord-mojo.2434/

the measurements indicate that in the engineering aspect it is competent, not so much “very good”

NX4 DSD still seems to be of much better value if you don’t mind the channel imbalance, also based on whatever limited specifications I can find, the Q5 from FiiO seems to be of much better value than Mojo when viewed as an overall product

 

[Music1969]

the measurements indicate that in the engineering aspect it is competent, not so much “very good”

Maybe subjective interpretation of the results?

The guy that did those measurements says:

"I wouldnt hesitate to use this DAC as a primary source in a full system despite its portable pretensions. It measures very well."

 

[THW]

Maybe subjective interpretation of the results?

The guy that did those measurements says:

"I wouldnt hesitate to use this DAC as a primary source in a full system despite its portable pretensions. It measures very well."

I also noticed it isn’t Amir’s set of measurements and was about to make the edit

Distortion is also quite low in Amir’s measurement set but overall SINAD takes a hit, I would guess this is due to (relatively) high noise levels

Oh and the Mojo has a whole host of other issues that aren’t directly related to sonic performance, enough for me to not even consider touching it even with a 10 meter wooden stick

For example, given its bulk and its susceptibility to EMI noise, I’m not even sure if the Mojo can actually be considered a “portable”

 

[frogmeat69]

For example, given its bulk and its susceptibility to EMI noise, I’m not even sure if the Mojo can actually be considered a “portable”

Sorta like the iFi iDSD Micro, more "transportable" than "portable". Sure, you can take it with you, but it's not all that comfortable to do so.

 

[Kane1972]

Why is there no "sticky" of the most up to date SINAD chart? I'd love to be able to come to ASR and simply look at that comparison chart.

 

[wadec22]

Why is there no "sticky" of the most up to date SINAD chart? I'd love to be able to come to ASR and simply look at that comparison chart.

click on "reviews" in the upper left. it will take you to the home reviews page where the SINAD chart image cycles through. If you click it from there, it takes you here: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ad-distortion-comparison-graph-for-dacs.4814/

 

[Kane1972]

If I click on reviews, it does not cycle through any SINAD charts and if I click the link you posted it does not show the latest as the D5 and Topping D70 are absent for instance. Thanks anyway though,