Sabaj A20d 2023 DAC & HP Amp Review

[nclee]

I recently settled on this DAC after carefully A/B testing with the SMSL DO300EX, the SMSL 9n, the SMSL DO100, and the Loxjie D40 Pro. My wife and I both gave each other blind tests on our vintage Klipschorns. The Loxjie had audible distortion, but the others were nearly identical. It came down to a slight preference in the sound color and soundstage.

We were hesitant to choose the Sabaj because of those weird handles on the front, but I'm happy to share they can be removed after disassembling the unit using nothing more than a 2.0mm hex driver.

After I got it open, I had a couple unused connectors on the PCB. There is a 7-pin connector next to the display ribbon connector labeled "CONTACT", and a 10-pin connector next to the XMOS chip, unlabeled.

Any idea what those are for?

 

[gvl]

Can you please share the picture with handles removed.

Those are likely diagnostic headers or for flashing firmware updates.

 

[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