Maybe because many people don't read test results?After reading some test results on MQA, why would anyone want such a disaster in any product? Are there that many crazy people out there?
I keep wondering how deep the DAC market really is, given we get a new top performing example on a biweekly basis, and where all the old DACs go to die.
I guess at least one of the "customized" filters is using "OSF (oversampling filter) bypass", so that users (filter nerds) can run their own software upsampling in playback software (up to 768kHz?). Perhaps someone from SMSL can explain more.I was surprised to see two new "Customized" filters in the already large set provided:
I have no use for them though give the fact that they roll off early and don't cut out much. I looked in the manual but there is no documentation on them.
I guess at least one of the "customized" filters is using "OSF (oversampling filter) bypass", so that users (filter nerds) can run their own software upsampling in playback software (up to 768kHz?). Perhaps someone from SMSL can explain more.
The chip itself supports up to 1.536MHz before going through the IIR filter and modulator.If you run at 768khz the internal filter is bypassed anyway, I think.
As a professional designer and design educator, I agree. I have not bought a lot of products because the company has no industrial or graphic designers on staff nor contracts with an outside firm (like many smaller companies do). I often see either too large a reduction in useful information presented on the user interface (the physical front) or, it is trying to be nostalgic for no reason.If it weren't for the chrome ring on the volume knob, I'd want this component to replace my Adcom preamp.
DACs are so good now that silly aesthetic preferences like this can be a major consideration in the purchase decision. (I'm aware my admission here doesn't reflect well on me.)
I have an older SMSL DAC with the "ESS hump" .... is there any evidence that the "ESS hump" on some of the previously tested DAC's is audible? Is getting rid of the "ESS hump" a rational reason to "upgrade"?The classic signature ESS DAC chip IMD "hump" is there, albeit, very much reduced to be a non-issue.
Add streaming, a Roon badge, maybe a bigger footprint? (undecided) and this would be an absolute giant killer. All those 1.5k$+ units dead in the water w/o any excuses.Lol, well there goes the golden sample theories out the window.
I feel attacked.
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This DAC is actually insane. 22 bits in the multi tone test (and not the usual SOTA 21). Unbalanced performance that actually lowers distortion respectably in my view while lowering power output by half compared to balanced with very little bit to noise. And also the bonus extra slow filters for the NOS type nuts out there while keeping the standard ESS filters I appreciate.
I don’t think anyone is really tired of the great products. We seem to just take them for granted at this point. I just wish these companies would take a break from the SINAD race for a second and start focusing on features. Let’s get some more inputs, let’s get some networking, or some DSP functionality. We need RME competitors, and we could use some ADC love by way of Motu competitors for example. Let’s get some streamers (I know SMSL actually has two off the top of my head, but I’m not sure if one is even being sold anymore).
I think people just want some cool new sort of stuff functionally (give us better UI, or volume controls, or nice big screens that could display cover art while having loaded on to an SD card the device can accept).
The SINAD wars need to cease a bit, ESS doesn’t care about making a new flagship it seems, and AKM has burned down so no real new chips from them for a while. Until these two companies start competing again, not sure why DACs need any performance bumps. SMSL again, does pretty cool stuff like that one amp with a screen, or another with relay volume control. We need more of that stuff.
My pleasure. MQA is a proprietary audio format which Tidal streams high resolution content in. Bartok is a model number of dCS (high-end) DAC. Its measurements were published recently and it was around 115 dB or so. Yet it cost $15,000 (it is a custom DAC). So folks naturally complain about its high cost relative to delivered performance.Thank you @amirm. Much appreciated and kinda wish my WXC-50 dies, so that I can justify SU-9n.
But who is MQA and what is a bartok?
Do you mean input perhaps?No AES output makes me very sad