I've skipped talking about DAC for a year or two, just too tired, there's no totally satisfied one yet,
Basically, what is "pass" (as in bottom line) is that a DAC that reaches the limit specs of the chip. This is the basic requirement, but many fails.
what I mention are all desktop version, not mobile ones, mobile as in Q2M etc.
besides DAC, there's also preamp (not mic preamp) (and other parts), which is another page
Preamp, the key is noise, and attenuation, should be 0db gain, the THX789 looks really great but they released the actual measurements long after stop receiving orders, I didn't jump in since they didn't put their measurements out in the first place (which are really great), the not ok part that needs to deal with it's the pot, those kinds of (those most common) pots are just not good enough.
Transformer-type passive preamps are great for noise, but trannies, the distortion are pretty high
well, let's begin
the second generation ASRC is auditionally far better than the first gen (ES9008/18)
second generation ASRC is still ASRC
ES9028 and 9038PRO having the same digital parts, while 38PRO with high current capacity, so 9038PRO has better analog performance.
officially only ES9018mobile, 28, 38PRO could be turn off the ASRC
and most of most of ESS DACs are enabling ASRC, without us controlling. toying
I tried to search some DAC, Gustard X20PRO, X22, SMSL D1, Matrix X-SABRE Pro (the Matrix specs comes close to the demo board's, but still not enough) all having option to turn off ASRC, but their analog PLL are bad, or having no PLL at all
only two companies that designs good PLL, Prism and Lynx, both pro... PLL requires VCO or VCXO which is more expensive.
Pro company, problem is they never use latest chips, or even former-latest chips, but good pros always reach the chip specs, plus excellent layouts, crosstalk better than 110db at 20k, make the chips completely well-bloom (that's bottom line, for ESS, you gotta achieve this while the ASRC is off)
Pro and not-Pro are usually two different worlds, but many people crossover, nothing to surprise with (some Pro turned themselves into non-Pro, DCS, which is an excellent company, although high price, but still miles away better than those mouth pieces, mouth piece = my stuff is mouth-fy-ly good, truth = couldn't design near-OK stuff in reality)
SPL belongs to low-tier pro (pro in fake), should be avoided, and Antelope clocks... well, get used Agilent instead of Antelope, clocks are tiring, even more tiring than DAC topics
Basically, what is "pass" (as in bottom line) is that a DAC that reaches the limit specs of the chip. This is the basic requirement, but many fails.
what I mention are all desktop version, not mobile ones, mobile as in Q2M etc.
besides DAC, there's also preamp (not mic preamp) (and other parts), which is another page
Preamp, the key is noise, and attenuation, should be 0db gain, the THX789 looks really great but they released the actual measurements long after stop receiving orders, I didn't jump in since they didn't put their measurements out in the first place (which are really great), the not ok part that needs to deal with it's the pot, those kinds of (those most common) pots are just not good enough.
Transformer-type passive preamps are great for noise, but trannies, the distortion are pretty high
well, let's begin
the second generation ASRC is auditionally far better than the first gen (ES9008/18)
second generation ASRC is still ASRC
ES9028 and 9038PRO having the same digital parts, while 38PRO with high current capacity, so 9038PRO has better analog performance.
officially only ES9018mobile, 28, 38PRO could be turn off the ASRC
and most of most of ESS DACs are enabling ASRC, without us controlling. toying
I tried to search some DAC, Gustard X20PRO, X22, SMSL D1, Matrix X-SABRE Pro (the Matrix specs comes close to the demo board's, but still not enough) all having option to turn off ASRC, but their analog PLL are bad, or having no PLL at all
only two companies that designs good PLL, Prism and Lynx, both pro... PLL requires VCO or VCXO which is more expensive.
Pro company, problem is they never use latest chips, or even former-latest chips, but good pros always reach the chip specs, plus excellent layouts, crosstalk better than 110db at 20k, make the chips completely well-bloom (that's bottom line, for ESS, you gotta achieve this while the ASRC is off)
Pro and not-Pro are usually two different worlds, but many people crossover, nothing to surprise with (some Pro turned themselves into non-Pro, DCS, which is an excellent company, although high price, but still miles away better than those mouth pieces, mouth piece = my stuff is mouth-fy-ly good, truth = couldn't design near-OK stuff in reality)
SPL belongs to low-tier pro (pro in fake), should be avoided, and Antelope clocks... well, get used Agilent instead of Antelope, clocks are tiring, even more tiring than DAC topics
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