occamsrazor Posted September 10, 2016 Share Posted September 10, 2016 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) Mac Mini > RME ADI-2 DAC > Hypex Ncore monoblocks > ATC SCM-11 speakers & C1 subwoofer Link to comment
Panelhead Posted September 10, 2016 Share Posted September 10, 2016 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. 2012 Mac Mini, i5 - 2.5 GHz, 16 GB RAM. SSD, PM/PV software, Focusrite Clarett 4Pre 4 channel interface. Daysequerra M4.0X Broadcast monitor., My_Ref Evolution rev a , Klipsch La Scala II, Blue Sky Sub 12 Clarett used as ADC for vinyl rips. Corning Optical Thunderbolt cable used to connect computer to 4Pre. Dac fed by iFi iPower and Noise Trapper isolation transformer. Link to comment
occamsrazor Posted September 10, 2016 Author Share Posted September 10, 2016 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. Mac Mini > RME ADI-2 DAC > Hypex Ncore monoblocks > ATC SCM-11 speakers & C1 subwoofer Link to comment
bogi Posted September 10, 2016 Share Posted September 10, 2016 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 i7 11850H + RTX A2000 Win11 HQPlayer ► Topping HS02 ► 2x iFi iSilencer ► SMSL D300 ► DIY headamp DHA1 ► HiFiMan HE-500 Link to comment
rns Posted September 10, 2016 Share Posted September 10, 2016 Exciting times with the new chips about to hit the market in these new products. Thanks for sharing. ryan [MacBook with Audirvana+ -- WW Plat USB -- W4S DAC2 -- WW Silver IC -- C2300 NOS Telefunken blue tips -- WW Silver IC -- Mc252 -- 803S] + [dual Fathom F113 v2] + [WW Silver PC's] Long term goals, one piece at a time Link to comment
PhilR Posted September 11, 2016 Share Posted September 11, 2016 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.. Synology DS1515+ > PS Audio P10 > Innuos Zenith Mk II running Roon Core > IsoRegen/LPS-1 > Lyngdorf TDAI 2170 > Tekton Double Impact Speakers Link to comment
occamsrazor Posted September 12, 2016 Author Share Posted September 12, 2016 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 Mac Mini > RME ADI-2 DAC > Hypex Ncore monoblocks > ATC SCM-11 speakers & C1 subwoofer Link to comment
occamsrazor Posted September 12, 2016 Author Share Posted September 12, 2016 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? Mac Mini > RME ADI-2 DAC > Hypex Ncore monoblocks > ATC SCM-11 speakers & C1 subwoofer Link to comment
bogi Posted September 12, 2016 Share Posted September 12, 2016 Ak4497eq dac i7 11850H + RTX A2000 Win11 HQPlayer ► Topping HS02 ► 2x iFi iSilencer ► SMSL D300 ► DIY headamp DHA1 ► HiFiMan HE-500 Link to comment
Ric Schultz Posted September 15, 2016 Share Posted September 15, 2016 This has me drooling. I would do a mod on one for free just to get to hear it! Link to comment
occamsrazor Posted September 29, 2016 Author Share Posted September 29, 2016 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 Mac Mini > RME ADI-2 DAC > Hypex Ncore monoblocks > ATC SCM-11 speakers & C1 subwoofer Link to comment
Cooler Posted February 16, 2017 Share Posted February 16, 2017 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... dCS Network Bridge | Audio Note DAC2 Signature | Audio Note M5 Preamp | Audio Note Empress Silver Monoblocks | Audio Note AN-E/Spe HE Speakers Link to comment
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