Sabaj A20d 2023 DAC & HP Amp Review

[nclee]

Can you please share the picture with handles removed.

Those are likely diagnostic headers or for flashing firmware updates.

Sure thing, here it is without the handles. Looks fairly good next to my old Marantz. I think this is where they got the idea for the script font on the front.

 

[Bahus44]

Sorry, if this is not a correct question, but will there be a noticeable increase in sound quality when listening from linear RCA on budget active audio monitors when replacing Fiio K7 with Sabaj A20D without an additional amplifier

 

[Sal1950]

Sure thing, here it is without the handles. Looks fairly good next to my old Marantz. I think this is where they got the idea for the script font on the front.

Love the Classic Marantz receiver, I owned a 2270 way back in the day.
Ex-wife took it in the divorce.

Too bad the Sabaj doesn't include at least one analog input so it could be used as a remote controlled mini-preamp.
I used to use my old Emotiva DC-1 like that, a real handy option.
After 8 years it "keeps on chooglin" in my rig, used mainly today as an excellent R/C headphone amp.
Thanks again to @amirm for his review of it so very long ago, one of ASR's earliest DAC reviews, before SINAD even. LOL

Measurement and Review of Emotiva DC-1 DAC

This is a detailed measurements and review of Emotiva DC-1 DAC. It is kindly loaned to me by member Sal1950. It retails for $499 including shipping from Emotiva direct. The features and size is very close to my recently reviewed Topping DX7 DAC. As you see in above picture it has extensive...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[ttt]

@amirm thank you for the work you put in detailed measurements!
I'm trying to find in the pages which 'sound color' settings you used for measueements, because the first one cauaing +15dB SINAD, with no success
Can you please share with us, which one was in use to achieve the best results you measured.
Thank you in advance!

 

[caond]

Hi @nclee,

Can I ask if you are using this one as a preamp?

I am planning to buy this one to directly connect into a class d power amp.

Cheers

 

[kokono]

@amirm thank you for the work you put in detailed measurements!
I'm trying to find in the pages which 'sound color' settings you used for measueements, because the first one cauaing +15dB SINAD, with no success
Can you please share with us, which one was in use to achieve the best results you measured.
Thank you in advance!

I think that sound color is still a mistery. He writes all except the first, but then the first sound color is the default one, so it doesn`t make much sense.
I really liked the looks of this one, but now the screen is flickering when cold, even though most of the time I leave the screen off.
I just got a SMSL Raw DAW1, and even though has some usb driver problems, I much prefer SMSL sound to this Sabaj. It has more details in the highs and more puchy bass, and is cheaper too. The Sabaj sound a bit on the warm side, which may be better for some speakers. I`m only using nonbalanced outs.
Sorry for the non scientifically comparison , but maybe there is really a problem with the sound colors on this dac.

 

[ttt]

I think that sound color is still a mistery. He writes all except the first, but then the first sound color is the default one, so it doesn`t make much sense.
I really liked the looks of this one, but now the screen is flickering when cold, even though most of the time I leave the screen off.
I just got a SMSL Raw DAW1, and even though has some usb driver problems, I much prefer SMSL sound to this Sabaj. It has more details in the highs and more puchy bass, and is cheaper too. The Sabaj sound a bit on the warm side, which may be better for some speakers. I`m only using nonbalanced outs.
Sorry for the non scientifically comparison , but maybe there is really a problem with the sound colors on this dac.

Strange that but true. I have Do300ex from smsl, the internal is the same, copy-paste mainboard, everything. But it is a bit different from that Sabaj one. Yeah in bass and highs. I found exactly the same. Dont know how and why.

 

[drodgers]

Does anyone know if the rear balanced + line outputs are auto-muted when headphones are plugged-in?

That's the only feature I need for this to tick all my boxes!

 

[FrankJones]

I wish this or something with the same features had an Ethernet port for streaming built-in. I have a Hifiman EF-500 and EF-499 and they're both OK but not great but they are super clean and convenient in that they have an Ethernet port.

 

[ttt]

I wish this or something with the same features had an Ethernet port for streaming built-in. I have a Hifiman EF-500 and EF-499 and they're both OK but not great but they are super clean and convenient in that they have an Ethernet port.

Buy a cheap WiiM Mini, connect via spdif and your problems solved. It has a good mobile app and supports almost every streaming or local shares.

 

[FrankJones]

Buy a cheap WiiM Mini, connect via spdif and your problems solved. It has a good mobile app and supports almost every streaming or local shares.

I have an Ethernet network port near my listening spot...no optical run

 

[totti1965]

I have an Ethernet network port near my listening spot...no optical run

@ttt says spdif from Streamer to a cheap DAC. From router to WiiM mini of course Ethernet.

 

[FrankJones]

Thanks but defeats the purpose of an all-in-one.

 

[ttt]

@ttt says spdif from Streamer to a cheap DAC. From router to WiiM mini of course Ethernet.

Wiim mini handles wifi only, sorry. But any wifi connection should handle the requirement for sound data streaming. I use w/ 5g wifi, no issues.

 

[DaneelOlivaw]

I have the 2022 and 2023 versions. There is a difference when turning them off: when you turn off the 2023, a relay clicks, and the power amplifier starts to hum. When you turn off the 2022, the relay does not click, and the power amplifier remains silent. However, if you then cut the power to the 2022, the relay clicks, and it also starts to hum. The question arises whether this behavior is a bug or a feature—a tradeoff between idle current and disturbances caused by the hum.

 

[Jimster480]

I have the 2022 and 2023 versions. There is a difference when turning them off: when you turn off the 2023, a relay clicks, and the power amplifier starts to hum. When you turn off the 2022, the relay does not click, and the power amplifier remains silent. However, if you then cut the power to the 2022, the relay clicks, and it also starts to hum. The question arises whether this behavior is a bug or a feature—a tradeoff between idle current and disturbances caused by the hum.

How long does it hum for? I mean, obviously if you unplug it, it can't just hum forever.

 

[DaneelOlivaw]

How long does it hum for? I mean, obviously if you unplug it, it can't just hum forever.

It hums for all eternity. It is exactly the hum that my D5Pro power amplifier emits when I don’t have an RCA cable connected—it gets somewhat stronger when cables are connected with the other end left unplugged. However, when the RCA cables are plugged into the preamp or DAC, the hum stops if the device is switched on—or even in the 'standby' mode of the A20D 2022—which apparently isn’t available in the 2023 version.

 

[Jimster480]

It hums for all eternity. It is exactly the hum that my D5Pro power amplifier emits when I don’t have an RCA cable connected—it gets somewhat stronger when cables are connected with the other end left unplugged. However, when the RCA cables are plugged into the preamp or DAC, the hum stops if the device is switched on—or even in the 'standby' mode of the A20D 2022—which apparently isn’t available in the 2023 version.

So it hums without power connected to it?

 

[DaneelOlivaw]

The speakers at my D5pro with power hums when the a20pro 2023 ist switched Off or the 2022 ist unplugged.

 

[Jimster480]

The speakers at my D5pro with power hums when the a20pro 2023 ist switched Off or the 2022 ist unplugged.

AH so the DAC output causes humming with the Amp.