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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. 
128x128daledeee1
audioman58's avatar
audioman58
3,839 posts
 
Hello check these very good dacs the orchid for the money around $800 is excellent and vacuum tube 
http://www.mhdtlab.com
mazian's avatar
mazian
348 posts
 
Yes merosen that is the seller but I got an email from them a couple of weeks back and they had it on sale for $1499
mazian's avatar
mazian
348 posts
 
Just a follow up the Denafrips Pontus and the mhdt Orchid and Pagoda were some of the DACs that the Lotus 5 beat hands down.
hilde45's avatar
hilde45
4,784 posts
 
The Hans Beekhuyzen Channel "Quite often I see people seeking for the cheapest digital to analog converter using a given DAC chip. For they think that the DAC chip is the only factor influencing the sound quality. Well, they couldn’t be further from the truth…"
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MonWnHnWHTc
daledeee1's avatar
daledeee1 OP
512 posts
 
Thanks very much for the suggestions.  Since I never owned a DAC can anyone explain R2R, multibit, or anything else that applies.  So far the D90, Denafrips(backordered at least 8 wks) and Sabaj D5 all look good at a reasonable price.  I have a Schiit amp but don't know if a DAC from them would match the three above(at comparable price)

Also, I started out at ASR but found some threads that talked about numbers but don't even mention sound characteristics. 
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