Sabaj A20d 2022 Version Owners Feedback

[regan]

With A20d, Sabaj took the same misleading road taken by Topping.

What do you mean by that? Which Topping products are you talking about?

 

[BHazard]

The A20d 2022 is on sale now for $377 at the Aliexpress Sabaj store. Absolute steal of a price.

 

[Chilli]

The A20d 2022 is on sale now for $377 at the Aliexpress Sabaj store. Absolute steal of a price.

Totally agree. So reasonable. Bought it.

 

[kickanoob]

Hi, I own a a20d 2022 since a month, sometimes I'm having a strange issue after I play some DSD, the dac starts to randomly disconnect and reconnect itself from the PC (Linux 5.17/5.18) switching modality from dsd to pcm and back to dsd, interrupting the playback. Anyone is having similar problems?
EDIT: Doing more tests, I think is unrelated to the the file format, or the pc, because it seems happening only with very high volume levels (81+)

Just got mine today. Having disconnects too but on pcm and windows. Variable pre mode.

Edit: Solved the problem. Didn't realise I was using a USB 2.0 port. Swapped to 3.1 and it is good now.

 

[BHazard]

Sale is back

 

[James-F]

Anyone knows if Sabaj is a subsidiary of SMSL?

I have compared A20d and M500 MKII manuals and they are identical to the letter.
The M500 MKII has additional "Sound Color" option (probably similar to Topping Valve/Transistor option) which Sabaj omitted but other than that it is identical.
Unless Sabaj is a daughter company to SMSL they would have to clone the hardware and dump the ROM from the microcontroller to claim the same specs and features.

A20d Manual

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZWyZjhDe5LxdGcr3L5GAx1Crh1Rwm1PX/view

M500 MKII Manual

https://www.smsl-audio.com/upload/portal/download/M500MK2Manual.pdf

 

[Foxenfurter]

I placed an order for the Sabaj on 17th Jun with Hifi-express and got it today 28th Jun. Price paid was 397 USD. I chose the option to ship from UK and it came via Royal Mail. So far I haven't had to pay any extras but I got stung before so will update if this changes.

I got this because I wanted an all in one DAC/HPA which measures well with remote, balanced and LDAC that measures well and that I find visually attractive. I was seriously considering the Toppings EX5 and DX5 but they were just not cosmetically appealing, also SMSL D0100 and H0100 which I like the look of but ergonomically I wanted a single device.

This will replace an Eximus DP1 - I am not expecting to hear any differences, but will post if I find anything abnormal.

 

[BHazard]

Anyone knows if Sabaj is a subsidiary of SMSL?

I have compared A20d and M500 MKII manuals and they are identical to the letter.
The M500 MKII has additional "Sound Color" option (probably similar to Topping Valve/Transistor option) which Sabaj omitted but other than that it is identical.
Unless Sabaj is a daughter company to SMSL they would have to clone the hardware and dump the ROM from the microcontroller to claim the same specs and features.

A20d Manual

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZWyZjhDe5LxdGcr3L5GAx1Crh1Rwm1PX/view

M500 MKII Manual

https://www.smsl-audio.com/upload/portal/download/M500MK2Manual.pdf

Not confirmed, but I think Sabaj is a sister company of SMSL.

 

[nonnyno]

Am thinking that the a20d with a topping a90d would give you one heck of a competing system to a d90se plus a90d with the benefit of two headphone sockets and a backup amp if the main amp failed for round about 500 gbp less money

 

[BHazard]

Am think that the a20d with a topping a90d would give you one heck of a competing system to a d90se plus a90d with the benefit of two headphone sockets and a backup amp if the main amp failed for round about 500 gbp less money

Only thing missing for now are the measurements to prove it. I think so too.
This plus my Monoprice 887 is a powerful setup for a lot less money than similar setups.

 

[Hxx]

noob question but can you control volume on this unit via the windows volume ? Meaning is the volume pot digital?
Also is this unit fully functional without the remote? Meaning if you lose the remote do u lose any functionality?

Also just FYI if you are in the US (not sure if it works for other countries) - use code JUN30 on aliexpress Sabaj store to get $30 off. This expires tomorrow i think. Ive got it in my cart for less than $340 before taxes. Crazy price.

 

[Wolven]

noob question but can you control volume on this unit via the windows volume ? Meaning is the volume pot digital?
Also is this unit fully functional without the remote? Meaning if you lose the remote do u lose any functionality?

Also just FYI if you are in the US (not sure if it works for other countries) - use code JUN30 on aliexpress Sabaj store to get $30 off. This expires tomorrow i think. Ive got it in my cart for less than $340 before taxes. Crazy price.

The promo code doesn't work for Canada, too bad. I can get it for 368 with free shipping.

 

[BHazard]

noob question but can you control volume on this unit via the windows volume ? Meaning is the volume pot digital?
Also is this unit fully functional without the remote? Meaning if you lose the remote do u lose any functionality?

Also just FYI if you are in the US (not sure if it works for other countries) - use code JUN30 on aliexpress Sabaj store to get $30 off. This expires tomorrow i think. Ive got it in my cart for less than $340 before taxes. Crazy price.

Volume pot is digital.

 

[Hxx]

thorough overview by this guy check it out

 

[James-F]

Didn't Amir receive a review unit a week ago?
I hope to read a good review soon.

 

[regan]

thorough overview by this guy check it out

Those are sponsored reviews unfortunately.

 

[Sinquito]

I bit the bullet and bought this baby on Aliexpress for 362 shipped after using all the discounts I could. I never had a desktop amplifier/dac before so I hope it’s a improvement over my portable DACs. My plan is to use it mostly with a Drop Dan Clark Aeon Closed which I’m yet to buy. My old trusty topping nx4 can drive decently my HD600 and ATH R70x, but still I want to try them with the Sabaj.

 

[ces04848]

Mine has no output and PROT displaying for Hz after a few hours...

I assume this is protection mode? I was using USB input and XLR out fixed level into preamp. If anyone knows quick fix let me know! Manual doesn't mention error codes as far as I can tell.

 

[BHazard]

The A20d 2022 may not actually play DSD512.
I was able to get DSD256 working with Foobar, but I tested DSD512 and it won't play.
I rarely would ever use this, but something to keep in mind if someone is specifically looking for this. Maybe it's a bug that can be fixed via a firmware update?

 

[nsfgp]

The A20d 2022 may not actually play DSD512.
I was able to get DSD256 working with Foobar, but I tested DSD512 and it won't play.
I rarely would ever use this, but something to keep in mind if someone is specifically looking for this. Maybe it's a bug that can be fixed via a firmware update?

Most likely your Foobar is doing DoP now ... not native DSD. Your DAC is a 768K PCM DAC(up to 256DoP only) so cannot do 512DoP (needs a 1.4Mhz DAC).

If you only have the foo_input_sacd plugin installed/setup for your Foobar it only works in DoP mode. Works great for most people w/ WASAPI and no need to mess with any ASIO drivers. To play DSD512 contents (99.9% contents out there are just test clips I believe ... lol) just set up the DSD processor to play DSD512/1024 as DSD256/SDM type D and you are done.
To do native DSD you need to setup the dsd_transcoder plugin as well and have ASIO drivers working as well for the DAC. Then it should work with your A20d in native DSD512 mode. IMHO not necessary for most people.

See https://diyaudioheaven.wordpress.co...-part-3-new-experimental-sacd-plugin-v-0-9-x/