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Next best exponential DAC quality level?

I recently did a shoot out of three DACs using my Hint6 + routing each of the other DACs to analog input on the Hint6:

(1) Hint6: ESS Sabre32 -- Integrated 

(2) SMSL M500: ES9038PRO D/A   ~$400 

(3) Khadas ToneBoard(v1): ESS ES9038Q2M - ~$99

I played the same song passages on Amazon Music and was able to cycle through each Hint6 input corresponding to each DAC.

The result?  Very small difference in terms of rendering.  Maybe a more open sound stage with better overall balance using the Hint6 DAC.  The Khadas was more bass / midrange pronounced w/ a more narrow soundstage.  However, I wouldn't suggest that any were head-and-shoulders "better" over the others.  In fact, they were all pretty decent with only small nuances (certainly not worth the price differences.   

I decided to keep the Khadas for my small headphone listening area. 

But it got me thinking - how much would one have to spend to realize an exponential difference in quality?  Is the Khadas that good, or is DAC technology differences more nuanced than I originally thought (meaning, we're paying 10x for only 5% better).  

 

128x128martinman
jjss49's avatar
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jjss49
6,610 posts
 

seems like we have some same ol same ol losers back with yet another username, post-expulsion for the umpteenth time... oh well... the holidays’ grace period was nice while it lasted -- trolling / argumentation for its own sake is back in full force...

let's watch 'cindy's' post count skyrocket in the next week or two after 'she' joined, er, today... 

larry5729's avatar
larry5729
1,001 posts
 

A tech rep from the Harmon Luxury Group came out to our house to diagnose my system.  While he was there he played my system at 35% volume and compared a song played on Tidal and Qobuz.  I couldn't believe the added detail when hearing the same song on Qobuz.  The volume increased when he switched to Qobuz.  I asked him why and he told me the increased resolution acts like increasing the volume because of the added resolution.  I am now researching Qobuz to see if they offer the libraries offered by Tidal.  So far, most of what I have in my Tidal library is available on Qobuz.  I have a few hours left to continue my research then decide.

soix
8,725 posts
 

DAC chips are so good today, that you can make a DAC for a few hundred dollars that is better than human hearing will ever be. 

Rrrrriiiiiiight.  Maybe better than your hearing, but not most humans.  Plus, for a few hundred dollars you’re gonna get a crap power supply and output stage, but I guess those little details don’t concern you at all.  Go figure.  Please go back to ASR where you clearly belong. 

lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,393 posts
 

Those who don't use tubes assume a tube DAC, or tubes in general, are always syrupy and full of distortion. Topology and tube selection matter; it's very possible for a Dac using tubes to sound detailed and neutral.  I've heard some SS Dacs that have a warm presentation, not reproducing music realistically.

What should be compared is sound signature of a Delta Sigma Dac vs a multibit or ladder Dac. Not tubes vs SS. 

 

cindyment's avatar
cindyment
351 posts
 

I couldn't believe the added detail when hearing the same song on Qobuz.  The volume increased when he switched to Qobuz.  I asked him why and he told me the increased resolution acts like increasing the volume because of the added resolution.

This is poppy cox. Odds are it was a different mix, the TIDAL levelling is lower than Qoboz or set lower or your DAC is doing something due to the MQA of TIDAL. The added detail is because Qoboz was louder. When you play louder, there is more detail as there is a bigger difference between the signal and noise.

 

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