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Post by julesd68 on Feb 18, 2019 19:26:44 GMT
I thought it would be useful to have a thread for new DACs as and when they are released. Please feel free to add anything interesting that's new to the market. I have read about a new Topping D70 which will be their top spec DAC. I believe price will be around 600 bucks. If it is a serious step up from my D30 I will be very interested.  |
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Post by MartinT on Feb 18, 2019 21:50:40 GMT
There's the mysterious LKS MH-DA004Mini (with single ESS 9038 chip) marked as Musetec Audio. It's on the Shezhen site but not LKS' own!  Price is $899. |
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Post by julesd68 on Feb 20, 2019 0:44:17 GMT
A first DAC / headphone amp from Focal.
Nice looking design.  |
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Post by julesd68 on Mar 2, 2019 17:54:17 GMT
This SMSL VMV D1 is an interesting top of the range DAC for around 1K. Been out a few months, I've only just come across it. Seems to measure exceptionally well from what I can see. www.smsl-audio.com/productshow.asp?id=146MartinT - on paper, how do you think it compares to your LKS? It doesn't have i2S.  |
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Post by MartinT on Mar 2, 2019 18:09:25 GMT
Understanding that measurements say almost nothing about a DAC, the SMSL seems to have the right components: dual ESS9038 DACs and separate PSU. Knowing them, it'll be well designed. Can't say anything more without hearing one.
Don't forget the Audio-GD range and LKS.
There's competition among the Chinese!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2019 19:20:00 GMT
A first DAC / headphone amp from Focal.
Nice looking design. Interesting that it is made by Micromega and badged as a Focal. Why would they have not chosen to go for a Naim design given there owned by the same company, very intersting. |
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Post by MartinT on Mar 2, 2019 22:14:20 GMT
Not a DAC in itself, but the Chord mScaler is an upsampler to match the Hugo DAC. Price is "if you need to ask..."  |
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New DACs
Mar 3, 2019 0:28:24 GMT
via mobile
Post by julesd68 on Mar 3, 2019 0:28:24 GMT
Understanding that measurements say almost nothing about a DAC, the SMSL seems to have the right components: dual ESS9038 DACs and separate PSU. Knowing them, it'll be well designed. Can't say anything more without hearing one. Don't forget the Audio-GD range and LKS. There's competition among the Chinese! I perhaps naively thought (this digital lark still being new to me) that it would be a good starting point to look at DACs that measure well. But it's interesting that I have read very poor measurement reports on Schiit DACs yet some people absolutely swear by their top units. Audio-GD got absolutely slated by the same reviewer. If the LKS had measured poorly would you have gone ahead with the purchase? So another question might be what would you look at beyond measurements to aid your purchase? Dual chips, separate PSU, anything else? This measurements mullarkey seems to be a big grey area when it comes to DACs. |
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Post by MartinT on Mar 3, 2019 11:46:43 GMT
There are very few reviews of the LKS, none of them professional. Which means there are no measurements to go by.
For me, I got my clues from lots of informal reviews. That aided what I could glean about it: dual 9038 implementation; multiple power supply lines; discrete output stage; I2S inputs and XLR outputs; femtoclock; use of specialist components where important; Good build quality; responsive support; thriving community.
The Audio-GD R2R DACs have a large following on Head-Fi so I wouldn't write them off based on one bad review.
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Post by mattspl on Mar 3, 2019 14:03:35 GMT
There’s a new Dac from Matrix Audio. Looks quite nice. matrix-digi.com/en/products/321.htmlI have the Matrix Quattro Dac, although no longer use it as I got a new Dac/cd player. The Quattro looks like a Benchmark Dac1 and performed very well into a few different active speakers over the years since I bought it. |
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Post by julesd68 on Mar 3, 2019 17:18:12 GMT
The SMSL VMV D1 looks an interesting proposition to me and I like the fact that all the design goes on a 'pure DAC' - there aren't lots of extra facilities which I don't personally need. There is a distinct lack of info around at the moment but have just found this review on a Japanese blog which I hit the translate button for. Of course a lot gets lost in translation but it appears to be a generally very favourable review. blog.livedoor.jp/headphone_metal/archives/52400792.htmlPrice wise I have seen it for as low as £860 on ebay which is a healthy discount off normal price but the ad is a bit concerning - it states - This is a High-End DAC.Users must have relevant experience.WTF??  |
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Post by MartinT on Mar 3, 2019 17:20:02 GMT
Heh, heh. Didn't you know you had to be certified to buy a high end DAC?  |
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Post by julesd68 on Mar 3, 2019 17:24:13 GMT
I'm tempted to message them to ask what experience they deem 'relevant' ... |
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Post by MartinT on Mar 3, 2019 17:29:48 GMT
I would guess, more seriously, that they are fed up with clueless people buying a DAC and asking all sorts of stupid questions because they don't understand what a DAC does and does not do.
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Post by julesd68 on Mar 5, 2019 22:49:17 GMT
Another dual ES9038PRO! This time from Gustard - their flagship X26 and available now. Guess what, it costs the same as most of the other top Chinese DACs - around $1100.   |
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Post by John on Mar 6, 2019 5:04:54 GMT
I read a few good mini-reviews on this unit
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Post by MartinT on Mar 6, 2019 6:17:21 GMT
Gustard seem to know what they are doing, another small Chinese company making good things.
That round control looks a bit Ayre-like.
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Post by julesd68 on Mar 6, 2019 14:56:58 GMT
I read a few good mini-reviews on this unit I haven't been able to find any John - if you remember where they are could you post details? |
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Post by MartinT on Mar 6, 2019 15:00:11 GMT
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Post by julesd68 on Mar 6, 2019 15:02:01 GMT
Am keeping an eye on that thread Martin but nobody has got their hands on one yet to assess as far as I can see ...
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