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Comparison of latest DAC chips

I own a Bluesound Node 2i which greatly improved sound after I added the Cat 6 cable.  I do not own a separate DAC but am told it would be the next step improvement.  I have done enough reading that it appears the two latest chips are the Sabre or ESS ES9038PRO and the AK4499.  The brands I have looked at are Sabaj d5($469) and a Topping D90($699).  I saw a great review on Audiocircle of the Sabaj D5 which is now a year old.  The Topping D90 is newer and I hear the build quality of the Topping as well as customer service are both better.   Other brands cost more and most don't use these new chips. 

Is there a difference in how these chips sound?  I would appreciate any comments. 
daledeee1
dougsat
374 posts
 
https://www.schiit.com/reviews/modi-1

It’s only $99 - worth every penny IMHO.

Try it out - keep it for a second system, it’s a win win. 
dougsat
374 posts
 
Check this out 

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/review-and-measurements-of-sabaj-d5-dac-a...


turnbowm
373 posts
 
I was looking for an inexpensive DAC to extend the life of a Sony X303ES CD Player and the Schiit Modi 3, with its AKM 4490 DAC chip and DC-coupled output, was exactly what I was looking for. I actually like it better than the Peachtree DAC-iTx and Rega DAC-R that I briefly owned. At $99, I consider the Modi 3 a real bargain and an easy recommend.
erik_squires
17,551 posts
 
Audio Science Review is the Julian Hirsch of DACs. They fail to do science and instead bake-in confirmation bias to everything they hear.
jburidan
803 posts
 
Yeah, I wouldn't pay much attention to ASR.
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