Gustard A20H DAC with dual AK4497EQ

[occamsrazor]

Seems there's a new Gustard A20H DAC/Pre coming out soon with dual AK4497EQ chips, seems pretty interesting:

 

Other Forum link

 

Google Translate link

 

 

(hat tip to Head-Fi post)

[Panelhead]

I think this company has it together. I replaced a Dac with dual Sabre 9018 with one using AK4396 and feel it is an improvement.

Heard many here say the Sabre dacs have a "sound". Always thought this is implementation. My tricked out Dac with latest Sabre Dac has the house "sound".

Might swing for one of these.

[occamsrazor]

Some interesting times in the top-end-chip, not-so-high-end-price DAC world... Somewhere in that original forum link I think I read it may be announced next week. And then there's the Oppo Sonica DAC with the ESS ES9038PRO chip on the horizon too. Of course all is in the implementation, but they both seem promising. My main concern about the AKM chip is whether it will support USB HID volume control which I find super useful. That said many ESS-based DACs don't support it even though the chip itself does.

[bogi]

It will include discrete and true balanced headamp with both unbalanced and balanced headphone connectors:

 

MAX POWER (rms) balance

32Ω 2400mW

150Ω 530mW

300Ω 266mW

600Ω 133mW

 

MAX POWER (rms) Single-Ended

16Ω 1200mW

32Ω 600mW

150Ω 133mW

300Ω 67mW

600Ω 33mW

[rns]

Exciting times with the new chips about to hit the market in these new products. Thanks for sharing.

[PhilR]

This looks really interesting. DSD512, I2S connectivity, preamp & headphone amp. If I'm reading the translated forum page correctly, it will come in under $1000..

 

 

 

 

[occamsrazor]

Another thread posted on that forum:

 

https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&prev=search&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=zh-CN&u=http://www.erji.net/forum.php%3Fmod%3Dviewthread%26tid%3D1945823%26extra%3Dpage%253D1&usg=ALkJrhjGtYv34sr51jeYfy1yBkON-dhl0g

 

Seems to say it's now officially listed and retail price is 4,580 RMB, being about $685. I think this is the listing on TaoBao:

 

https://world.taobao.com/item/538446561794.htm#detail

 

https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=https%3A%2F%2Fworld.taobao.com%2Fitem%2F538446561794.htm%23detail&edit-text=&act=url

[occamsrazor]

Interesting that it supports DSD512 (which the AK4497EQ does) via i2s, but USB is DSD256. Anyone know why? Is this a limitation of the XMOS chip?

[bogi]

Ak4497eq dac

 

[Ric Schultz]

This has me drooling. I would do a mod on one for free just to get to hear it!

[occamsrazor]

Some user impressions. I can't make much out with Google Translate but there's some more pretty pictures....

 

 

http://www.erji.net/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=1948746

 

 

http://www.erji.net/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=1946064

[Cooler]

Currently thinking between gustard A20H and Musical paradise MP-D2

+ gustard A20H

1. Can buy in the city i live, without additional taxes/custom fees

2. 2 year warranty and store cares about all possible problems

3. A little bit "better" chip Dual AK4497EQ is used (how better, no idea, just higher number)

4. Can buy it and return in 30 days without any reason.

5. DSD512 only with IIS, i will use USB with microRendu

 

- gustard A20H

1. No tubes and no possible tweaks (change tubes, capacitors)

 

 

+ musical paradise mp-d2

1. Tubes and possible tweaks

2. More warm sound because of the tubes

 

- musical paradise mp-d2

1. Direct order in China, taxes/custom fees may be a lot (its Germany babe)

2. Possible problems with repair/returns, have to pay a lot taxes again

3. Maybe used worse chip AK4490 (dont know, just lower number)

4. Impossible to listen and return it back in 30 days.

5. 1 year warranty, all possible problems on me.

6. Price may be 1300+ euro with taxes against 965 euro for gustard

 

Looks like the choice is obvious, but tubes and warm sound...