AKM makes the best DACs

Added the Gustard U18 to the SMSL. VMV D2 AKM Dac for about a month now.  All I can say is wow, just wow…. More of everything you love about AKM chips, everything is everywhere.  Big air, open and spacious.  Take what a great power cable does to a digital source, (if u believe in such), then multiply it by several times.  $500 well spent.  The DDC’s I2S output and better clocks are essential in ways that make it really easy to hear differences between speakers, the resolution and presentation making various designs more or less desirable and offering up a few surprises in doing so.  Really been interesting rolling thru 5 pr. of speakers I have tried so far, each a different design config more or less, and hearing the differences which become more readily apparent.  Same with amps.  What a great little device…

Here’s a review that came out a couple weeks ago.  Pretty much nails it…

Replaced my Benchmark Dac3 w/the VMV D2 since a bit b4 last Thanksgiving. No regrets, but still haven’t tried the I2S connection. Looking at the Gustard U18 DDC, so maybe soon. It’s a great all round performer that utilizes the AKM 4499, and fed by an Intel Nuc running Roon Roc, the usb connection is really very good already. Given its full 2months run time, it’s a flawless performer on all types of music, running thru a handful of different speakers. ProAc 1sc w/tubes could keep a fella happy for a very long time. Zu DW’s are pretty much phenomenal. Elac DFR52 throw a beautiful soundstage and image. Daedalus DA1 are like listening to a new set of speakers. ADS 880’s just oh so easy listening to a sealed box design with a 10”. Can’t really see anyone being disappointed in this unit. It’s open, spacious, musical, organic and well balanced top to bottom. Don’t know what an output stage without opamps would bring, but for me this seems like premium performance in the sub $2000, chip dac territory with the added benefit, that it’s disaggregated design can incorporate a ddc and a clocking component to push the performance level further if required. Someone here, has gotta try one of these soon. It’s fast, has slam, micro detail, flesh on bone mids and ‘bite’ but is never harsh.

Anybody wanna take a look at its ‘external clock’ settings. I only understand ‘the ‘why of about’ half of the values, several seem odd, but I’m just getting up to speed on the value of disaggregating the dac, ddc, and OXCO’s. Anyways, if there is a better AKM dac, it must really be something…