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Review and Measurements of Sabaj D5 DAC & Amp
- Thread starter amirm
- Start date
I can only say my ears favor D5 and I've sold my D70.
Regarding firmware fix, Sabaj's representative told me they are done manufacturing the special tools for firmware updating, and are going to ship tools out.
That should make some new used D70 owner very happy!
KingFiercer
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Wait a bit, I'm just now comparing these DACs. And even after 2 hours of warming up, I like the D70 much more. A bit unexpected.
I received sabaj d5 yesterday and tested.
It sounds great. I can recognize the exact positions of musical instruments and subtle dynamic changes players are making.
However remote controllers and dial knobs are clamsy.
I tested it as a preamplifier and found that it has some problems in volume control.
Anyway, Its decent sound and cheap price justified these faults.
It sounds great. I can recognize the exact positions of musical instruments and subtle dynamic changes players are making.
However remote controllers and dial knobs are clamsy.
I tested it as a preamplifier and found that it has some problems in volume control.
Anyway, Its decent sound and cheap price justified these faults.
DeepSpace57
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Do you think it is free for ex-buyers?
It looks like a cheap led display.
Whether its mechanism is OLED or not.
(OLED is too expansive for $469 DAC)
D5 has many QC issues but sounds a little bit better than D70.
How about waiting for the upgraded D5?
I think so, maybe upon request.
What do you mean when you say it sounds a bit 'better?' I can't detect any difference at all...
Did you do any kind of controlled testing?
What firmware issues are people having? I only know about the volume knob issue ...
No, just subjective feeling.
No difference in sound quality and transparency, I think dynamic range of D5 is wider.
While listening Mahler's symphony 7 which is my reference, I could notice the difference of bass sound.
The differencein DR between the two is far beyond what should be remotely audible... It is much easier to be fooled when we don't impose any minimal controls, like matching output levels and testing unsighted as a start... Otherwise impressions are pretty much meaningless
KingFiercer
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Well. After warming up for three hours without listening, D5 finally began to sound interesting, without excessive harshness and stiffness. I think there is a deeper soundstage and resolution, more nuances, more black background. On the other hand, because of the different positioning in space, a lot of things sound different, vocals can sound more detached. D70 sounds more full and intimate, but less energetic, calmer, and without such a separation of instruments in space. The difference between filters is very difficult to catch. I settled on the Hybrid filter.
D5 is now very catchy with its details, dynamics and a sense of space. Sometimes I feel a little lack of warmth and intimacy of D70, which I'm used to.
D5 is now very catchy with its details, dynamics and a sense of space. Sometimes I feel a little lack of warmth and intimacy of D70, which I'm used to.
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That's all quite remarkable...or would be if it involved controlled listening...
What do you believe accounts for these seemingly obvious differences?
KingFiercer
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Two completely different devices, good headphones, amplification and my listening experience, I suppose. These are not the same sounding devices for me. I don’t want to prove anything to anyone, I just share my impressions.
Well I might have used a wrong word, bass was deeper and change of intensity was more sophisticated.
Anyway, just one day test it was, so I'll try thorough test with better intercables and 4pin xlr headphone cables (that was not arrived yet)
I heard sabaj d5 has warming up issues, so I turned it on for a day.
Speaker heco xt501
Amp Rotel 1095
RCA cables canare g6
Source bluray 192/24
I think recording source is important.
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I would simply suggest that if you are actually going to compare the sound of two different DAC's, that you match levels and test without knowing what is playing. Without that effort, our memories of sound aren't going to be reliable. Not just for you...for any human.
If there are actual meaningful differences one can identify between them, it's likely that one is broken or there is some kind of impedance mismatch. Claims of audible differences abound...except when subjective tests are actually controlled...
Just trying to save you money chasing windmills...
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