Rastanearian
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- Sep 28, 2019
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My tweeters have an altogether different opinion.
The edgy sound is not your DAC, it's the Arya...I've been thinking of upgrading my SMSL SU 8 (yeah! Way deep into this rabbit hole!!)...and so I am wanting to hear thoughts and experiences with DACs under $1000 mark that would pose as genuine upgrade to the SU 8 in terms of sound quality, naturalness and smoothness. I'm kinda not liking the edgy sound of ESS based SU 8 DAC on my THX 789 and Hifiman Arya ... and presume the M500 would sound equally edgy...thinking of AKM based DACs are more musical. Also considering Denafrips Ares as it's a R-2R DAC and perhaps is smoother. Any help in suggesting a DAC upgrade would be helpful...and thanks in advance!
Yup...had it kinda fixed with a filter I bought from diyaudioheaven... really made a difference for me.The edgy sound is not your DAC, it's the Arya...
So you wouldn't recommend the SMSL M500 over the SU8 for the better chip and USB chip...MQA feature aside?By which I mean, headphone makes biggest difference. Amping needs/having enough power second biggest. DAC, unless broken, is dead last. R2R when done 'proper', not intentionally full of distortion, will sound just like a non-R2R DAC. I've done the test :/
Don't chase the DAC Dragon
No I wouldn't. If you need no features you should aim to simply tame your headphone's edginess differently. Passive filter, EQ/DSP, tuning materials ...So you wouldn't recommend the SMSL M500 over the SU8 for the better chip and USB chip...MQA feature aside?
Yup passive filter worked for me. How about detail? Would a well Implemented Pro DAC chip based DAC sound more detailed than a well Implemented Q2M mobile DAC chip based DAC...excuse my English ...with all those extra channels and better board etc.?No I wouldn't. If you need no features you should aim to simply tame your headphone's edginess differently. Passive filter, EQ/DSP, tuning materials ...
I purchased the SU-8, paired with that THX thingy and HD6XX and I love what I hear, whether the source is a CD player (Nakamichi MB-10), the Blu-Ray player or else. I haven't tried the Beyerdynamics Tesla yet, but I should in the next few days. I was concerned that DAC (which is an "upgrade" from Grace DAC balanced) would not be that great, but the more I listen to it, the more I am accustomed to it and I don't regret my choice. No issues so far.The edgy sound is not your DAC, it's the Arya...
Pro chip has potential for less distortion but that's it. Perfect implemented Q2M chip should get 99% there. Whether that last 1% is worth it is up to you. I personally have a Q2M DAC and it's perfectly suitable to me.Yup passive filter worked for me. How about detail? Would a well Implemented Pro DAC chip based DAC sound more detailed than a well Implemented Q2M mobile DAC chip based DAC...excuse my English ...with all those extra channels and better board etc.?
Thanks for the info matePro chip has potential for less distortion but that's it. Perfect implemented Q2M chip should get 99% there. Whether that last 1% is worth it is up to you. I personally have a Q2M DAC and it's perfectly suitable to me.
I don't think you'll get "more detail". Just less distortion, which is probably inaudible at these sub zero numbers
I just upgraded DAC from SINAD 105 to 119 and I find that difference audible, both in bass and treble. I can’t say if Balanced line out was also a factor. Perhaps worth another 2 or 3 dB?Pro chip has potential for less distortion but that's it. Perfect implemented Q2M chip should get 99% there. Whether that last 1% is worth it is up to you. I personally have a Q2M DAC and it's perfectly suitable to me.
I don't think you'll get "more detail". Just less distortion, which is probably inaudible at these sub zero numbers
Balanced will also double the signal level so hard to compare, really. Volume matching alone would be quite difficult. What did you upgrade from/to?I just upgraded
I just upgraded DAC from SINAD 105 to 119 and I find that difference audible, both in bass and treble. I can’t say if Balanced line out was also a factor. Perhaps worth another 2 or 3 dB?
I just upgraded
I just upgraded DAC from SINAD 105 to 119 and I find that difference audible, both in bass and treble. I can’t say if Balanced line out was also a factor. Perhaps worth another 2 or 3 dB?
Volume matching for me is pretty easy because I use the McIntosh power meters. Can easily compare 2 V line to 4 V balanced line input because my amp handles them differently and net output is very similar.Balanced will also double the signal level so hard to compare, really. Volume matching alone would be quite difficult. What did you upgrade from/to?
I think if you upgrade from sub 90dB SINAD to 100+, maybe you will hear increased fidelity. But over 100dB I would find it very unlikely there would be a difference in a controlled test honestly. I certainly wouldn't pass such a test...
I know something, but I can't tell you all, one thing I can tell you is, it uses ES9038PRO.