X-SABRE Pro is a DAC equipped with the world conquering ES9038PRO D/A chip, and Matrix Audio have fully explored this advanced 8-channel D/A chip's potential. The HyperStream architecture is responsible for both the outstanding sound quality of ESS PRO SABRE DACs and the extremely low THD+N. … 4497 is my vote. ESS DAC sounds clinical/souless, eg: Benchmark DAC2. Which sounds better? Ralf11. AKM just released a new one AK4497, power usage is way up and brand new dedicated fabrication process, should be quite something. The ES9038PRO SABRE DAC features ESS's patented 32-bit HyperStreamDAC technology. What We Don't: Horrendously complex menu system, no Bluetooth. It would make sense. Both have Sabre 9018 ESS chips...the difference in sound in dramatic. Often the margin of difference is unexpected. I know that AKM is more versed for DSD music and its said that their AK4490 is more comparable to the ES9018/9028 chips. DAC Chip: AKM AK4490EQ MQA Playback: No Max Sampling Rate: 32-bit/768kHz What We Like: Outstanding sound quality and interface. The two ESS Sabre DACs are set in a dual configuration, and the flagship AKM DAC flies solo. The Sabre has a slightly rising treble that, while occasionally irritating, can usually be ameliorated through slight amounts of speaker repositioning (in this case, toe-in or toe-out). ES-Sabre-Forum › Other topics... › AKM vs ES Sabre › AKM vs ES Sabre Ebay-review ES9038Q2M->"Better than AK4490 / AK4118 DAC" AKM vs ES Sabre Ebay-review ES9038Q2M->"Better than AK4490 / AK4118 DAC" MSB has been shipping a true 24 bit DAC for many years, and now has produced a true 26 bit DAC in the Diamond DAC IV. The SE200 is a world first in that it features two audiophile-calibre Sabre ESS9068AS DACs (in a dual DAC configuration), alongside a single AKM4499EQ (last seen in the flagship SP2000). And now the 3020 is priced that same as the 2030 wince it's last years model. I'm leaning to the 3020, but what is making me hesitate is the 2030 has the newer 32-bit ESS DAC vs the 3020's 24-bit Burr-Brown. The only AKM DAC device that I have used (and know the AKM chip is inside) is the Fulla 2. In my system, and to my ears, the Denafrips Ares II DID sound different from the Sabre DAC built into my OPPO UDP-205 player. Link to post Share on other sites. It looks like they’ve edited it since I was last there to show the switch positions for each filter, which is really handy. SABRE audiophile grade DAC’s are also used in professional audio workstations and other studio equipment. SABRE DACs have consistently been selected for award-winning devices from the world’s leading audiophile system providers and are designed for premium home theater equipment including Blu-ray players, preamplifiers, all-in-one A/V receivers, and more. Mark. We then hand selected the best audio components … I know I specifically don’t like Sabre implementations. There’s a page on the JDS site about it here. Hate "sterile " sound for music enjoyment. (That all-important) contrast with the two other Sabre-chipped DACs: the Chinese Audio-gd NFB-7 (US$1380) and the South Korean Calyx 24/192 (AU$1790) – “The Anedio spanked them both on transient bite and overall holography – I’ve ordered one.” , he wrote. The Denafrips Ares II DAC sounded more edgy and crisp than the Sabre. ( I might also upgrade from the dac im using in the P5) Most of the products I have been looking into either contain the ES9038Q2m or the delta sigma AK4490 chip set. ESS SABRE PRO. What makes the new DAC chip so special is that it is the highest performing digital to analog converter chip the market has seen, with the lowest harmonic distortion and noise of any DAC on the market. Its said that AKM chips are "brighter" but I would take that with a grain of salt. This is a DAC chip just like any other from Burr Brown, AKM or Analog Devices. BB/TI and AKM can be found in a lot of studio gear as well. XMC-2; Panasonic UB420/Oppo 105/Roku Ultra to LG 86UM85; UltraRendu to LH Labs Geek Pulse X-Infinity; nCore nc400's or Prima Luna Premium Prologue to Maggie 1.7's; … The AK4490EQ is a new generation of premium 32-bit DAC, with 2 channels of AKM’s VELVET SOUND architecture that has been widely adopted by well-established high-end audio companies. James Tanner is getting me one for review soon. In terms of inputs, the Dragonfly Black is totally streamlined: The USB-A connector on one end … Schiit Scheduling System Reduces Upgrade Time. Texture is the key word in my original post. The AKM 4490 DACs I've listened to, Rich's DIY, NuPrime DAC-9, TEAC, have a relaxed, no edge detailing ability that keeps less than perfect recordings in the listening que, and don't sound lean or bleached, and most are bargains to boot. Fully balanced professional unit featuring the beloved AKM DAC chips with premium components, full DSD support and headphone amplifier. You failed to mention AKM, whose chips are widely used in both mass-market and audiophile gear. Not drop in replacements. Cirrus/Wolfson is more common in lower end devices. Three different companies told me that AKM told them 12 months to get up and running but 18 months to hit sufficient quantity. This balanced DAC adds a USB digital input to your DAC-less Jotunheim or Lyr 3. The ADI-2 is an absolutely gorgeous machine, with a terrific display that gives you full control … No word on if the DACS today are what they will make. Especially since the entire … Burr Brown DAC is the typical hi-fi sound, I like it A LOT. Today, Wolfson is the most popular choice of many manufacturers and it can be had for little money, implemented in hundreds of players, DVDs, squeezeboxes and DACs. I do NOT like the 2 channel sound from my Oppo, but I love the sound of my LH Labs DAC. I got the DIP switch installed on my OL DAC several months ago so I could play around with the filters. I’ve DIY/modded/bought Chi-Fi DACs using Wolfson, AKM, Sabre, Burr Brown, Cirrus, and Philips (TDA1543) chips. Many expected to redesign new products around ESS Sabre DACs. I really recommend it even if the Sabre ESS I recommend even more. Since the launch of Asahi Kasei’s latest flagship DAC the AK4499EQ last year several audio companies have been hard at work, implementing the new chip into their flagship products. I ranked the GOV2 (Sabre) as the DAC with the least amount of digititus among four other combos units in a recent comparison review. My general impression is that ESS Sabre DACs are used exclusively in audiophile equipment. Now I know the implementation of the dac has an over all effect on it's sound quality, but there has to be a certain sound signature with each chip. The new Bryston dac (BDA-3) uses a pair of "new AKM chips", one goes on the PCM side of the DAC, and one for DSD (with a microprocessor sending the correct format after the USB receiver). Compared to the previous generation ES9018S, ES9038PRO fully optimizes the internal DSP units, further improving the performance and customer user experience. More open-eared listeners have long since grasped that Sabre-toothed DACs from various vendors do not sound alike. As I am aware from reading up, the AKM ‘velvet sound’ chips are also well extended like Sabre, but have smoothed over the texture & detail like Cirrus Logic (although to much less of an extent on AKM I have read many AKM DAP and DAC experiences mentioning ‘smooth texture’). HT SYSTEM-Sony 850c 4k Pioneer elite vhx 21 Sony 4k BRP SVS SB-2000 Polk Sig. A friend had recently enjoyed the immediacy of same-time-same-place DAC comparisons at a UK headphone/DAC bake-off. Since music is my #1, I was just wondering which part of my decision is more important. I haven't heard AK4490, but it seems to be where the future is headed, NOS mode too!!! They may choose to use these 18 months to develop a new line. For discussion purposes assume other aspects of AVR or pre/pro product implementation other than the DACs are identical. The differences in the sound as was pointed out by the comparison of the Wolfson and AKM DAC’s has more to do with the type of filtering they employ. This technology realizes fine sound details with its low-distortion architecture in addition to 32-bit resolution digital filter processing. This DAC is powered by a 32-bit ESS 9010 Sabre chip. Lets look a little deeper to avoid any confusion about what this DAC actually is. It uses dual AKM AK4490 Verita® D/A converters, in a hardware-balanced configuration with active filtering. (01-09-2018, 17:08 PM) Zek Wrote: Did anyone compare AKM AK449x vs. ES-sabre 90xx boards? I spent a long time figuring that out! Personally, I'm a fan too of the AKM'S, and if that floats your boat why change it I say. But we are now facing bold product claims about a new 32 bit DAC availible, namely the Sabre 32 DAC chip. Last Edit: May 16, 2020 16:47:18 GMT -5 by klinemj. I think it's more along the lines that I've never heard AKM, BB179x, Cirrus, AD1922, PCM1704/02/63/56 or UltraAnalog implementations have nasty digital treble (Wolfson seems 50/50). Which is an all separates system. Other 32-Bit 8-Channel DACs, using typical delta-sigma architecture, feature -- 107 dB THD+N (0.0004%), which when subjected to individual listening tests do not equal the … So adding a warm amp is the path to sinergy with ESS. AKM's is the AK4399 Wolfsen WM8741 Analog Devices AD1955 (I added 12/1/12) Burr Brown PCM1795: 32-Bit Resolution; Analog Performance: Dynamic Range: 123 dB ; THD+N: 0.0005%; Differential Current Output: 3.9 mA PP; 8× Oversampling Digital Filter: Stop Band Attenuation: -98 dB; Passband Ripple: ±0.0002 dB; Sampling Frequency: 10 kHz to 200 kHz; System Clock: 128, 192, 256, … While slightly less feature-rich than the Mytek Brooklyn, I’d rate the sound quality about on par with the Mytek Brooklyn but I need some exhaustive comparisons before I can elevate the ADI Pro 2 to my personal reference class. This is great DAC and great player - but not as good as the ESS SAbre or AKM DAC. Ralf11. Each configuration gets its own amplifier circuit to … Limited Time Sale Easy Return. Hello folks: I'm wondering about the relevance and ability of humans to perceive any and all spec differences between DAC's such as the following ? 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