DAC to the Future

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Fretless
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Re: DAC to the Future

Unread post by Fretless »

Fun thing on AliExpress is that you can 'win' discount coupons (valid for a short time). I managed to get an extra 5 dollars off my DAC and that plus the free shipping has kept the price down to 94 Euros.

Now to hope that the thing works on arrival. :epopc:

Upstairs:
VinylPro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a {x2)
Little Bear MC2 + AQ NightHawk
Downstairs:
VinylLogic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 & PSU - BMUAiyima A07 MAX + Arcam One
HP: Allo DigiOne + Sabaj A10d + AQ NightOwl
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Mission 760 + Monolith 887 + German Maestro GMP 450
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George Hincapie
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Re: DAC to the Future

Unread post by George Hincapie »

AliExpress is excellent. I get a lot of my fishing lures from there :)
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Digital
Audial S5 • Pi2AES 2.0

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Re: DAC to the Future

Unread post by antonio66 »

Let's hope they don't keep you waiting.
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slinger
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Re: DAC to the Future

Unread post by slinger »

Talking of AliExpress, I'm giving serious consideration to one of these

Image
Amps - NVA P50, AP30, A40, Stanislav Palo Tube Headphone Amp BB 85
Speakers - Monitor Audio Silver RX2
Cables - NVA LS1+LS3, SSC, Gotham S/PDIF, IBRA Optical
Digital - NAD C516BEE, SONY ST-SDB900 DAB TUNER, TEAC UD-H01 DAC
Analogue - Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Esprit SB, Graham Slee Gram Amp 2 Phono
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Re: DAC to the Future

Unread post by Fretless »

Seen that too, Slinger. Was comparing it to the Topping D50, although that needs an external PSU.

Breeze / Weiliang have something similar as well.

Upstairs:
VinylPro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a {x2)
Little Bear MC2 + AQ NightHawk
Downstairs:
VinylLogic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 & PSU - BMUAiyima A07 MAX + Arcam One
HP: Allo DigiOne + Sabaj A10d + AQ NightOwl
Office: Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith 887 + German Maestro GMP 450
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George Hincapie
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Re: DAC to the Future

Unread post by George Hincapie »

Which DAC is that with the twin toroidal supplies?

*edit* I missed the link, sorry. So dual AK chips? Looks nice for the money.
Headphone Amplification
Linear Tube Audio MZ3

Headphones
HifiMan Sundara • HiFiMan Arya Stealth Edition • ZMF Vérité Closed Ltd (Stabilised) • ZMF Atrium Open Ltd (Hawaiian Koa) • ZMF Aeolus Ltd (Mexican Bocote)

Digital
Audial S5 • Pi2AES 2.0

Cables
Forza Audio Works • Blue Jeans • DH Labs • Periapt

Power
Farad • Tomanek

Sources
Roon • Tidal • Qobuz
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slinger
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Re: DAC to the Future

Unread post by slinger »

Fretless wrote: ↑Tue Sep 03, 2019 4:28 pm Seen that too, Slinger. Was comparing it to the Topping D50, although that needs an external PSU.

Breeze / Weiliang have something similar as well.
If you look closely at that pic the case is actually marked "Weiliang".
Amps - NVA P50, AP30, A40, Stanislav Palo Tube Headphone Amp BB 85
Speakers - Monitor Audio Silver RX2
Cables - NVA LS1+LS3, SSC, Gotham S/PDIF, IBRA Optical
Digital - NAD C516BEE, SONY ST-SDB900 DAB TUNER, TEAC UD-H01 DAC
Analogue - Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Esprit SB, Graham Slee Gram Amp 2 Phono
Cans - Grado SR80, ATH-M50X
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Fretless
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Re: DAC to the Future

Unread post by Fretless »

Going blind. 8-)

Upstairs:
VinylPro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a {x2)
Little Bear MC2 + AQ NightHawk
Downstairs:
VinylLogic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 & PSU - BMUAiyima A07 MAX + Arcam One
HP: Allo DigiOne + Sabaj A10d + AQ NightOwl
Office: Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith 887 + German Maestro GMP 450
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Re: DAC to the Future

Unread post by antonio66 »

Looks good, guess you've got to decide between that, the Topping and SMSL.
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slinger
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Re: DAC to the Future

Unread post by slinger »

antonio66 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 03, 2019 5:59 pm Looks good, guess you've got to decide between that, the Topping and SMSL.
The Topping or the SMSL was pretty much it until I looked at AliExpress. The SMSL M-8 and the Topping D50 both use dual ES9038Q2M chips, which is the "cut-down" version of the ES9038 PRO. Stepping up to the Pro version makes for more expensive options, plus I rather fancy trying out the AK4497. It's supposed to be easier to implement than the ES9038, which means that the manufacturer should be able to get a decent sound with less hassle. Were it a straight shoot-out between the two "names" though I'd have plumped for the SMSL as I've had a lot of their stuff and it's never let me down, whereas the one Topping amp I tried out I didn't like at all.

But... it's much more exciting buying blind, isn't it? :lol:
Amps - NVA P50, AP30, A40, Stanislav Palo Tube Headphone Amp BB 85
Speakers - Monitor Audio Silver RX2
Cables - NVA LS1+LS3, SSC, Gotham S/PDIF, IBRA Optical
Digital - NAD C516BEE, SONY ST-SDB900 DAB TUNER, TEAC UD-H01 DAC
Analogue - Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Esprit SB, Graham Slee Gram Amp 2 Phono
Cans - Grado SR80, ATH-M50X
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