I did it again (sampling rate = 192kHz):
I'm here by an hair (0.03dB SINAD). Good to see the same results across an ocean.
I'm here by an hair (0.03dB SINAD). Good to see the same results across an ocean.
thats amazing for $90.
I really would like to see the BT performance
They've been told it is "digital, but like analogue". That's all some of them need to hear it as better.I don’t think many people even know what MQA is.
I think you're wrong:All 44.1KHz 16bit MQA are still present on Tidal, despite its 48KHz 24bit MQA replacement by hi-res flac and formal abandon of that format.
Anyway MQA is far more complex and versatile than depicted. Its different features can be mixed, from just custom antialias filter to acrobatic triple folding.
It suffered bad press, mainly due to bad presentation from creators.
Despite general beliefs, it's lossless up to 24KHz for the encoded hi-res masters and just the very rarefied ultrasonic part is lossy compressed. Also, cd quality MQA (those 44.1KHz 16bit ones), carry the same pcm content of cd master are derived from,they just activate custom filter if available.
The custom antialias filter, does very well and could be even preferred to those standard dac chips offer.
Looks like it has a nice DAC, but line input is only quoted as -106dB THD+N which is rather average and only matches what my 10yr old EMU0404 can do.What about the Motu M4?
You mean the same dCS that threaten with lawsuits whenever someone hooks an analyzer up to their products and publishes the results?I refuse to believe this DAC can sound as good as a $10,000+ DAC from dSC
Good point.I refuse to believe this DAC can sound as good as a $10,000+ DAC from dSC or Bricasti, to a discerning stereophile, just no way. Its simply a good DAC for $90.00, it must be.
What you mean, "cup of coffee", Amir? At $89.95, you are saving enough for a Big Mac Meal at least! When I was much younger, there was a guy named Earl Schieb, who advertised he "paint any car for $29.95!" SMSL is kind of like the Earl Schieb of Dac manufacturers these days.
As always, nice review, Amir.
What makes you think SMSL could do any better on an ADC?Looks like it has a nice DAC, but line input is only quoted as -106dB THD+N which is rather average and only matches what my 10yr old EMU0404 can do.
They believed the marketing and haven't heard the more recent news about MQA.I have a friend who claimed "MQA is different" (in a good way). When we still have a lot of audiophools out there, there will be someone think/say MQA is better
Just because they seem to be able to produce good performance for little cost. The Motu is an interesting example since they used a nice modern ESS DAC but then a mid-range ADC. I guess DAC specs are good for marketing but not ADC.What makes you think SMSL could do any better on an ADC?
Motu does make a 111 dB SINAD measuring ADC, its just the next step up from entry level
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MOTU UltraLite-mk5 Review (Audio Interface)
This is a review and detailed measurements of the MOTU UltraLite-mk5 Audio Interface (ADC, DAC and headphone amplifier). It was kindly purchased new by a member and drop shipped to me for testing. It costs US $595. I like that the UltraLite-mk5 comes in metal chassis but otherwise, it doesn't...www.audiosciencereview.com
The ES9039Q2M has no MQA hardware renderer. It is mentioned only one place in the data sheet on the typical software application schematic, which is identical to that of ES9069 which has an MQA hardware renderer so may be a carry over. The MQA renderer is somewhere else.I believe the MQA is from the chip, not the implementation of it. so, it's likely they bought the chip, and it's "included", so why not advertise about it? us on ASR do not care about it but many people still think it's an improved format. in the end, they need to sell to wider market also
put this in a better case and sell it for $99 and you have an end game DAC ...
No reason for the modern ESS chip to contain an MQA rendered as it's a defunct technology which damaged the signalThe ES9039Q2M has no MQA hardware renderer. It is mentioned only one place in the data sheet on the typical software application schematic, which is identical to that of ES9069 which has an MQA hardware renderer so may be a carry over. The MQA renderer is somewhere else.
It's a DAC Sure it's nice seeing DACs that's a bit more decently prices being test and performing way beyond audibility threshold, but common this is SMSL DAC number 84829, it's getting a bit boring :\
Apart from having been developed at the time when MQA was a thing. The 9039Pro has an option for an MQA renderer denoted by an M before the Pro in the name of the chip - 9039MPRO or 9039MSPRO. The 9068AS also has an MQA renderer. All others don't. Let's see if the successor of the 9039 will include it.No reason for the modern ESS chip to contain an MQA rendered as it's a defunct technology which damaged the signal