Topping DX9 Discreet - What's the point?

[RandomEar]

Has any DX9 Discrete owner messed around with the sound color options and adding the second harmonic? I’ve heard these settings can seriously sweeten the musicality of this DAC. I am planning to purchase the DX9 Discrete within the next 10 days and want to be sure it's worth it. As a current owner of the SMSL RAW-DAC1 (AK4191+AK4499EX), I am expecting a bit more of a natural sound and a holographic soundstage

You would be wasting your money:

How can DAC's have a SOUND SIGNATURE if they measure as transparent?

I know there are people out there that think cables affect sound, which is much worse, but there really is no response to something like that, but just to smile and nod. But what about people who talk about DACS as if they were headphone drivers or speakers, and talk about the SOUNDSTAGE...

www.audiosciencereview.com

That is, unless you plan to utilize the built-in EQ and had no other option to add that. If you are feeding the DAC from a Windows PC, you could add EQ via EAPO for free.

 

[Benedikto]

Thanks guys , my mistake with sound color and second harmonic , now I see there is no such a thing in this DAC . My 85% of audio source is Tidal , sometimes audio files from my Windows via Foobar over upnp network . Any suggestion about DAC upgrade for my : SMSL RAW-DAC1 (AK4191+AK4499EX) ?

 

[solawind]

Any suggestion about DAC upgrade for my : SMSL RAW-DAC1 (AK4191+AK4499EX) ?

Is there anything wrong with it? It's already a state-of-the-art DAC. Why would you want to upgrade it?

 

[Benedikto]

Is there anything wrong with it? It's already a state-of-the-art DAC. Why would you want to upgrade it?

It is a bit artificial sound , I need a bit warm and holographic one .

 

[RandomEar]

It is a bit artificial sound , I need a bit warm and holographic one .

If you are not happy with the sound, the problem is either the source material or the speakers, their interaction with the room or specific source or pre-amp settings like EQ and tone controls. Switching between modern, transparent DACs will change absolutely nothing about the sound. Look into EQ, room correction and adding a subwoofer - those are things which actually make an audible difference.

 

[solawind]

It is a bit artificial sound , I need a bit warm and holographic one .

There is no audible difference between high-end DACs such as the DX9 and the RAW-DAC1. They are audibly transparent, and their distortion levels are many times below the threshold of human hearing. You may come across other opinions, but those are marketing claims intended to sell you something or opinions from people who don't know how to perform a proper sound comparison between DACs (or cables, or whatever else people believe "sounds different").

 

[Benedikto]

I have got : Topping D70 Pro SABRE, A70 Pro amp for 2 week testing , and mow I can say ,there is a difference D70 Sabre vs my old SMSL RAW DAC1

 

[RandomEar]

I have got : Topping D70 Pro SABRE, A70 Pro amp for 2 week testing , and mow I can say ,there is a difference D70 Sabre vs my old SMSL RAW DAC1

We can safely assume that you did sighted testing, not level-matched and witha couple minutes of switching time, right? If so, test again with proper controls and let us know if your opinion changes.

 

[Geo2160]

My DX9 Discrete arrived a couple of days ago. If you have any questions about it's functionality, let me know. I also have an RME ADI-2 DAC FS to compare. Unfortunately, I have no way of doing proper blind A/B testing, but I'll try some volume matched listening tests. Subjectively, I think the DX9 sounds a tiny bit better.

 

[SoySalsaPicante]

My DX9 Discrete arrived a couple of days ago. If you have any questions about it's functionality, let me know. I also have an RME ADI-2 DAC FS to compare. Unfortunately, I have no way of doing proper blind A/B testing, but I'll try some volume matched listening tests.

I listen to mixed playlists and it will frequently have to change sample rates between tracks (jumping between 44.1KHz, 48KHz, 96KHz, 88.2KHz, 192KHz, etc.) and I found that my DX9 Discrete would have a relay click when changing sample rates.

 

[AetherDrive]

I listen to mixed playlists and it will frequently have to change sample rates between tracks (jumping between 44.1KHz, 48KHz, 96KHz, 88.2KHz, 192KHz, etc.) and I found that my DX9 Discrete would have a relay click when changing sample rates.

That sounds obnoxious.

 

[Geo2160]

Clicks only happen if you use exclusive mode or ASIO. It doesn't bother me much when it clicks, but I don't always use exclusive mode.

 

[SoySalsaPicante]

Clicks only happen if you use exclusive mode or ASIO. It doesn't bother me much when it clicks, but I don't always use exclusive mode.

I was using a Raspberry Pi 5 running Volumio as a Roon Bridge and for Qobuz Connect, so I guess that it also does this when connected to a device via USB that interfaces using ALSA.

 

[Geo2160]

If you use any type of bit-perfect playback, it will click. I guess it makes sense considering the discrete nature of the device.