Sabaj A10d 2022 Version Review (DAC & Amp)

[Veri]

Yikes that is bad !
Ok some engineers know how to fix it, some don't

Yup it's up to implementation details not chip count.

This new 2022 model, just released? Strangely this new model shares the same model number as an older, not very similar, product.

JSmith

Yes the A20d has an older non-2022 version out, too. Actually reviewed here

Sabaj A20d Review (Balanced DAC)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Sabaj A20d balanced stereo DAC with Bluetooth support. It was sent to me by the company. Retail price seems to be US $420 but it is on sale on Amazon for $378. The form factor is a square "brick" rather than the standard horizontal...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

This new 2022 model, just released? Strangely this new model shares the same model number as an older, not very similar, product.


JSmith

Yes it was available at hifi-express on 20th April.

 

[kickanoob]

￥1199 in china, Damn good deal!

Where did you find this deal? I don't see this listed on taobao and I most certainly wouldn't mind trying this aio out.

 

[maxxevv]

Where did you find this deal? I don't see this listed on taobao and I most certainly wouldn't mind trying this aio out.

That's odd. A quick search and it shows up though.

https://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.14.9.550e7200IyuwtH&id=674352186016&ns=1&abbucket=1

 

[anphex]

I see a pattern here. A few months ago the Topping DS90 and Okto Pro were the top tier DAC but for a premium price. Now their performance is achieved and even surpassed by DACs for 1/3rd of the the costs. I am excited to see where this is going in the next few years.

 

[TonyJZX]

yeah to me the way the Chinese are doing this belies that sort of belief that "chi-fi" is inferior to Japanese or Western products at many multiples of the cost.

I wonder what the Chinese are doing correct and others.... arent.

 

[GeekyBastard]

Bought some time ago, not bad, but not great sounding either.

What does “not great sounding” actually mean? It's basically a transparent device.

 

[fatoldgit]

Finally an attractive DAC/headphone amp.

any one brought stuff from https://hifi-express.com

seems to be the best bet for me in New Zealand

Thanks,

Peter

 

[audiofun]

I see a pattern here. A few months ago the Topping DS90 and Okto Pro were the top tier DAC but for a premium price. Now their performance is achieved and even surpassed by DACs for 1/3rd of the the costs. I am excited to see where this is going in the next few years.

the 2020 party is all over and we are in a recession time.
it will be a hard year for those device manufacturers.
reducing the price is the only sensible way to make their companies survive.

topping previously rejected user feedback to build non-mqa dac versions in their flagship line.
they mentioned the actual BOM for MQA (chip, license, etc) is lower than 10 dollars but releasing a different version would add even more costs.
They were pretty confident that their device would sell well. I guess now they know they hit the wall.
they recently released the non-mqa d90le which is 100 dollars cheaper.
It's still expensive. I guess you'll see discounts on that as well soon.

 

[JSmith]

yeah to me the way the Chinese are doing this belies that sort of belief that "chi-fi" is inferior to Japanese or Western products at many multiples of the cost.

I wonder what the Chinese are doing correct and others.... arent.

It's best to refrain from using that term, even though it is a supportive post in relation to products made in China.

Let's Avoid the Term Chi-Fi

I often see the use of the term "Chi Fi" to describe audio products from China. I see the intention and don't think anyone is trying to be racist and what have you. Still, I like us to show the highest respect to products from around the world. As avid readers of this forum know...

www.audiosciencereview.com

JSmith

 

[Music1969]

What does “not great sounding” actually mean? It's basically a transparent device.

With the measurements we have. Which is not all measurements possible.

What if the headphone output measures 20 ohms.

Won't be that transparent for certain impedance headphones.

 

[Gio]

I see a pattern here. A few months ago the Topping DS90 and Okto Pro were the top tier DAC but for a premium price. Now their performance is achieved and even surpassed by DACs for 1/3rd of the the costs. I am excited to see where this is going in the next few years.

Actually this is a real puzzle for me. I mean: are them really at the same sound level or something is missing? The only answer, in my opinion, would came from a blind test of these products.

 

[Jimbob54]

Yikes that is bad !

Ok some engineers know how to fix it, some don't

Just to point out this subsequent edit to that review

"EDIT: subsequent to this review, the IMD "hump" was resolved by the designer. He was also gracious to provide the fix for anyone to use!"

There is also a thread on here by the designer @Ben1987 showing how he did it.

 

[GeekyBastard]

With the measurements we have. Which is not all measurements possible.

What if the headphone output measures 20 ohms.

Won't be that transparent for certain impedance headphones.

Can @amirm confirm what's the HP output impedance of this device? It seems impossible to me that a device designed like that got an output impedance as high as that.

I believe it's innocent until proven guilty.

 

[TonyJZX]

Actually this is a real puzzle for me. I mean: are them really at the same sound level or something is missing? The only answer, in my opinion, would came from a blind test of these products.

Yes it comes down to sound. But if you're 100% objective the graphs and numbers should tell you all you need to know.

A dac or amp that has that linearity, noise floor means that you can buy this DAC and assuming you get a device that has the same numbers, it will perform as expected.

I would happily buy this one. Then it comes down to minor stuff like do you accept that the headphone output is like this... or the volume is like that as described.

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

What does “not great sounding” actually mean? It's basically a transparent device.

It lacks clarity, sound is muddied.
Keeping price in mind it's not bad, if you have more money it's better to buy something better.

 

[GeekyBastard]

It lacks clarity, sound is muddied.
Keeping price in mind it's not bad, if you have more money it's better to buy something better.

Please define the word “clarity” objectively and scientifically, since the device's measurement data seems to be pretty transparent.

 

[amirm]

Can @amirm confirm what's the HP output impedance of this device?

I can but in this class of performance, it is almost guaranteed to have near zero impedance. Otherwise you see a lot of power loss into 32 ohm.

 

[JoetheLion]

I can but in this class of performance, it is almost guaranteed to have near zero impedance. Otherwise you see a lot of power loss into 32 ohm.

Specification says: "NEAR 0".

 

[Talisman]

It lacks clarity, sound is muddied.
Keeping price in mind it's not bad, if you have more money it's better to buy something better.

lacks clarity about what? did you compare how?
these utterances, especially on this site, leave me stunned every time.