USB "Tweak app" for ESS Sabre DAC's digital filters?

[stbourg]

Hi,
Since there're quite a few USB DAC's on the market that use the Sabre dac and the ones on the cheaper side like Topping D10S doesn't have any control buttons whatsover it got me thinking ...

So just curious, does anyone know if there's such thing as an "general Sabre filter tweaker". E.g like an SW app where one could change the filter regardless of brand/firmware?

Sorry if this might be a dumb newbie question, I'm not an SW or audio engineer by any sort. As I said, just curious.

 

[Greenman]

Well sort of. Many DACs allow you to set them in NOS mode, here they generally bypass the DAC filters, what you do is instead feed them from the output of a computer program like HQplayer. In HQplayer (and many other audio software programs) you can choose from a whole host of filters only really limited by the power of the computer running the program. So any DAC that has a NOS mode can be used in this way.

 

[stbourg]

Well sort of. Many DACs allow you to set them in NOS mode, here they generally bypass the DAC filters, what you do is instead feed them from the output of a computer program like HQplayer. In HQplayer (and many other audio software programs) you can choose from a whole host of filters only really limited by the power of the computer running the program. So any DAC that has a NOS mode can be used in this way.

Sadly I've no idea of what "NOS mode" is or does ...googled though and I think "NOS" is not implemented in such cheap dac's that I had in mind (as the mentioned Topping D10S).I suppose after re-thinking my initial thoughts it all has to do with the firmware of the dac and how it "talks" with any OS thru the USB? And of such if the firmware doesn't allow it there is no chance? But as said, I've no clue ...

 

[Greenman]

NOS = No oversampling mode. Yes it tends to be the more expensive dacs that give this option. DAC chips tend to have a number of filters built in. None budget dacs will usually give you the option of choosing between a number of these filters, more expensive dacs also give the option of turning the filters off via NOS mode. Cheaper dacs may just implement one of the inbuilt filters and give no options, in these instances you can’t really tweak filters - I guess higher end DACs have got to give you something eh?

Amir’s DAC tests do tend to show the different filter options and outputs where user selectable.

 

[voodooless]

Most NOS implementations are totally fake. They are not filterless at all, because the filter is exactly what produces the (hopefully) pseudo NOS signal.

As for some USB API to set filter types: there is not such common thing. Your at the mercy of the hardy implementations.

 

[kemmler3D]

I don't know if a general purpose app like this could be built. The DAC chip is just one of several that would be controlled by firmware in a full DAC unit. Different manufacturers might integrate things differently and I imagine it's possible the ESS chip settings can't be changed after the DAC is built in some cases.

In other words this would probably have to be done by the manufacturer, and it's not certain the ESS chip will be "hooked up" to USB in that way, if that makes sense.

I will also say in passing that unless your hearing is really excellent, switching filters probably won't be audible for you. The ringing and whatnot that people talk about is not usually audible in the least, but a few people can hear different roll offs close to 20khz.

 

[stbourg]

@voodooless & @kemmler3D, Yes what you say is kind of how after some more thought I figured it must work. Cheers to all of you for your kind effort answering.