Which DAC measurements do you like to see next?

[amirm]

It isn't.

Very close, but not identical.

Guy I know in the Seattle area has both the ADI-2 Pro and the ADI-2 DAC, if you want I can see if he can get together with you to measure them.

Please do. Would be nice to quantify the difference. RME says the difference is not measurable from what someone post earlier.

 

[punkriot]

I would love to see measurements of some of the RPI based, DIY DACs like HiFiBerry DAC https://www.hifiberry.com/shop/bundles/dac-bundle/ or Allo Boss: https://www.allo.com/sparky/boss-player.html. You feed them directly from Ethernet (with Roon for example). Very convenient option if they do their job right.

 

[amirm]

I have the Allo unit which they kindly loaned to me weeks ago! But just have not had the time to touch it given so much gear that has come for review (both purchased and on loan). But I will get to it at some point.

 

[duo8]

I'm new here so I don't know if this has been suggested before, but would you be interested in testing those random Chinese DAC boards?
They aren't really random because there aren't that many models out there, they're just unbranded.

 

[March Audio]

I'm new here so I don't know if this has been suggested before, but would you be interested in testing those random Chinese DAC boards?
They aren't really random because there aren't that many models out there, they're just unbranded.

I have an ES9038q2m & 28q2m johnny generic Chinese boards in front of me. Will post results soon.

 

[duo8]

I have an ES9038q2m & 28q2m johnny generic Chinese boards in front of me. Will post results soon.

That's neat.
I bought a really cheap 9018 board before and it came defective, after fixing it I can't hear any glaring faults, outside of apparently high output impedance.

There's a AK4490 board out there that might be worth measuring. It's a step above the cheap $10 ones, and is ready-to-use, unlike many I2S-only, no DC in boards.

 

[amirm]

That's neat.
There's a AK4490 board out there that might be worth measuring. It's a step above the cheap $10 ones, and is ready-to-use, unlike many I2S-only, no DC in boards.

Welcome to the forum. Do you have a link for someone selling that?

As BE718 I too have bought a no name board only one to test: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B077995VQT/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[sonci]

Any news on the Topping D50? I can't find it anywhere on sale, not even on their site.
I hope it's the next Dac on schedule.

 

[amirm]

Ok, ok, ok. I will do it in the next couple of days.

 

[duo8]

Welcome to the forum. Do you have a link for someone selling that?

As BE718 I too have bought a no name board only one to test: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B077995VQT/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Ah one of those PCM2704 sticks. I remember someone reported that it killed their headphone, though that was some really cheap chinese one.

Anyway the one I mentioned is available on aliexpress: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/ak4490xmosu8/32788755737.html
It's $40. I'm not sure if it's on ebay or not though.

EDIT: there are several others using a PCM5102 too.

 

[amirm]

Thanks. Looks like there are a lot of sellers like that. Here is one from Amazon with seemingly identical looking board: https://smile.amazon.com/Quickbuyin...8&qid=1519754136&sr=8-5&keywords=AK4490+board

 

[duo8]

Thanks. Looks like there are a lot of sellers like that. Here is one from Amazon with seemingly identical looking board: https://smile.amazon.com/Quickbuyin...8&qid=1519754136&sr=8-5&keywords=AK4490+board

Yeah, looks like the same one.
Another device in the same league as that PCM2704 stick above is the ES9018+SA9023 board (that I have), it's $11.

 

[sejarzo]

LOL if you want the thrill of building your own DAC, you can buy that AK4490 board, insert it in this case, tighten a few screws, and voila, you get a participation ribbon!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Aluminum-C...-asynchronous-USB-Decode-DAC-DIY/132099160077

Or you can buy the board in that same case, with a wall wart for a couple of bucks less than the board and case alone:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/AK4490-XMO...s-decoder-with-Headphone-out-PSU/132095271629

 

[amirm]

Wow, we should get an ASR brand printed on it and sell it as our own DAC!!!

 

[SchwarzeWolke]

Wow, found this one
It's clearly the Douk Audio/Nobsound I mentioned in the other thread but they "got rid" of the brand name.

Here is the German Ebay shop
Some interesting stuff with AK4490, ES9018K2M and so forth

I would say it can't get cheaper!

 

[duo8]

Wow, found this one
It's clearly the Douk Audio/Nobsound I mentioned in the other thread but they "got rid" of the brand name.

Here is the German Ebay shop
Some interesting stuff with AK4490, ES9018K2M and so forth

I would say it can't get cheaper!

I'll bet you it's the same one as my $11 board, but with a case on it.

You can go further and buy I2S boards, then pair with your transformer, I2S source and case of your choice.

 

[Randem Tox]

Wow, found this one
It's clearly the Douk Audio/Nobsound I mentioned in the other thread but they "got rid" of the brand name.

From the listing:

We specially offer weaked edition for audiophiles, The original design is not the best, The sound is a little harsh/dry and noisy,Also bad low frequency extention, It is a typical "digital" sound

Quick! Sign me up!!

 

[amirm]

"weaked edition for audiophiles?" He means they made it worse for audiophiles???

 

[Randem Tox]

"weaked edition for audiophiles?" He means they made it worse for audiophiles???

Nah, they offer a "tweaked" version for "senior audiophiles" ... but they omitted the "t".

I'm (natively) English (heading back there in a couple of days, my little jaunt to the PNW ends this week), so I take a particularly perverse pleasure in pointing out major butchering's of my mother-tongue. I do think it's a shame that, through failure of language, they make the product they're selling sound awful in an attempt to point people to a "tweaked" (supposedly better) version.

 

[rebbiputzmaker]

Wow, we should get an ASR brand printed on it and sell it as our own DAC!!!

Op-amp is socketed so it can be changed.