AK4499 DACs

[the_bat]

Is there a simple DAC available with this chipset?  I don't want or need the Bluetooth connectivity or MQA - just USB and Co-ax SPDIF.

 

Thanks

 

Alan

[semente]

The Topping D90?

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TOPPING-D90-Bluetooth-Balanced-Decoder-Black/dp/B082PVQDG1

[Matias]

Also SMSL M400 although it comes with MQA and bluetooth.

https://shenzhenaudio.com/products/smsl-m400-mqa-dac-ak4499-dsd-decoder

[stefano_mbp]

The Gustard Dac-A22 Dual Ak4499

https://shenzhenaudio.com/products/gustard-dac-a22-dac-dual-ak4499-xmos-solution-native-balanced-decoder

the Gustard A18

https://shenzhenaudio.com/products/gustard-dac-a18-ak4499-balanced-dac-lme49860-6-decoder-with-remote-control

The Singxer SDA6

https://magnahifi.com/singxer-dac-sda-6-ak4499-balanced-dac/

 

[57gold]

These units seem to measure well - like off the charts, or to the far left of the audio science review bar chart - but I wonder how the sound in nice hifi systems like the guys here tend own?  The SMSL and Topping units have incredibly low jitter, distortion...but I wonder how these units will drive amps, how good their output stages are...?

[scintilla]

Not much to wonder really: the D90 sounds great, drives my amplifier (and subwoofer) directly (using splitters on the balanced outputs) with plenty of current and is a superb value. Low risk purchase.

[57gold]

Glad you like the D90.  My son (very frugal) needs a system and believe I'd recommend it to him.

 

Early Mytek adopter myself, so I use a Brooklyn + running my amp directly to nice effect, but it's limited on Mac to DSD128 whereas these newer units could do DSD256.

 

Would be cool to have a review of several of these units in comparison with say Mytek and Auralic (mid priced units straight up, with no additional boxes, gizmos, D2D processors that cost as much or more than these value priced DACs) with observations of relative strengths and weakness in sonic performance.  

 

The Gustard A22 looks like a beast (in a good way) with dual DAC chips and independent digital and analog LPSs in the box.  Had to get a Keces 6amp LPS to fire up the B+ providing a subtle improvement in clarity, flow and bass response.

 

[barrows]

On 9/22/2020 at 1:27 PM, 57gold said:

Glad you like the D90.  My son (very frugal) needs a system and believe I'd recommend it to him.

 

Early Mytek adopter myself, so I use a Brooklyn + running my amp directly to nice effect, but it's limited on Mac to DSD128 whereas these newer units could do DSD256.

 

Would be cool to have a review of several of these units in comparison with say Mytek and Auralic (mid priced units straight up, with no additional boxes, gizmos, D2D processors that cost as much or more than these value priced DACs) with observations of relative strengths and weakness in sonic performance.  

 

The Gustard A22 looks like a beast (in a good way) with dual DAC chips and independent digital and analog LPSs in the box.  Had to get a Keces 6amp LPS to fire up the B+ providing a subtle improvement in clarity, flow and bass response.

 

I had a D-90 here for awhile.  It is a superb DAC for the money.  I had it driving my amp(s) direct, and felt that it lacked a bit running that way, this is not really surprising considering the tiny power supply and low current capability of the opamps driving the output.  This is one DAC where I would recommend pairing it with a good preamp.

[Matias]

On 9/22/2020 at 2:24 PM, 57gold said:

but I wonder how these units will drive amps, how good their output stages are...?

 

Unless your amps have low gain or variable gain, better to get a DAC with multiple gains to maximize SNR. Although not AK4499, check the RME ADI-2 DAC FS v2. I have one connected directly to the amplifier.

https://bit.ly/32X1keE

[lmitche]

While not AKM4499 Dacs, I have had the $499 Topping D70 (AKM4497), $1150 RME ADI-2 (AKM4493) and the $199 Schiit Modius (AKM4493) all here in the past year.

 

Using the balanced outputs, the Topping and the RME DACs sounded lifeless and were returned or re-sold in the first few days of ownership. The RME DAC was especially disappointing as so many here give it great reviews.

 

The Modius is anything but lifeless, it has great top end, mids and upper bass, with a wide and deep sound stage.  However it lacked texture in mid and lower bass. While not one note bass, bass detail that was definitely missing. However for $199 the Modius SQ is a fantastic DAC and beats the Chinese AKM DACs hands down.

 

The Modius DAC was powered by two Uptone Audio LPS1.2s one on the rear DC input and the other on the USB VBUS line. I only listened to the Modius balanced outputs. The stock SMPS was never used.

[taipan254]

Agreed with @lmitche - the Modius, for the money, is great. I use it with a curious cable out of my laptop, feeding the Magnius via Cardas Iridium XLR interconnects, with balanced out into Audiquest NightOwl Carbons. It is a humble set up for my work desk, but I've really been enjoying it. I don't recommend the Magnius for SE outs, though Modius sounds good on SE out into a more capable single-ended amp (which, again, Magnius is NOT). 

 

Just my two cents. 

[57gold]

limtche & barrows - Thanks for the input on these units ability to drive amps.  Been spoiled by a Theta Gen Va, then a Wadia 861i then the Myteks, which all have strong output capabilities to dynamically drive an amp.  

 

Guessing that the Gustard A22 unit with twin LPSs and discrete analog output would be the best of the above for these purposes.  I only listen to digital files play don one DAC so no need for a preamp with channel switching to serve as attenuator of a strong output signal.

[bogi]

I think the requirements of the OP fulfills Gustard A18 with AK4499 available for $560 on Amazon.

https://soundnews.net/sources/dacs/gustard-a18-dac-review-outstanding-performance-and-value/

https://www.audio “science” review/forum/index.php?threads/wolfs-measurements-of-gustard-a18-dac.13781/

 

[al2813]

I want to pul the trigger on an AK4499 DAC. I was about to get the Topping D90, but now seeing the Singxer SDA-6 from a company that got great feedback on thier USB interfaces. Anyone tried this one - connected directly to a power amp in my case (Hypex Ncore).

[OldBigEars]

I had high hopes for my Topping D90, based on the many positive reviews it has received.  Tried hard to love it and configured it various different ways, including the highly recommended DSD 256.  USB, Coax - played with all the settings etc. The sound detail was impressive - especially using DSD mode - but the music sounded soul-less.  I never found it enjoyable listening for long periods and sent it back after 30 days.  Replaced it with a Qutest and it was instant joy.

[al2813]

And what about the Gustard A22 - I am looking at it very closely - especially as I use my DAC as a pre amp (at least for now)

[lmitche]

7 hours ago, OldBigEars said:

I had high hopes for my Topping D90, based on the many positive reviews it has received.  Tried hard to love it and configured it various different ways, including the highly recommended DSD 256.  USB, Coax - played with all the settings etc. The sound detail was impressive - especially using DSD mode - but the music sounded soul-less.  I never found it enjoyable listening for long periods and sent it back after 30 days.  Replaced it with a Qutest and it was instant joy.

All the AKM DACs auditioned here sound lifeless as well, except for the Schitt Modius, which tried but just couldn't get the bass right.

 

I agree the Qutest sounds good. In that price range it would be fun to hear the latest Yggy as well.

[mevdinc]

7 minutes ago, lmitche said:

All the AKM DACs auditioned here sound lifeless as well, except for the Schitt Modius, which tried but just couldn't get the bass right.

 

I agree the Qutest sounds good. In that price range it would be fun to hear the latest Yggy as well.

Of course, not all AKM based DACs will sound the same and much depends on the implementation.
My experience with my AKM based Lindemann DSD 20 DAC is anything but lifeless.
I have been using it with my active system with great satisfaction.

[barrows]

57 minutes ago, lmitche said:

All the AKM DACs auditioned here sound lifeless as well, except for the Schitt Modius, which tried but just couldn't get the bass right.

It is very, very important to understand that the AKM 4499 DAC chip uses an entirely different topology versus all of AKM's previous DAC chips.  All previous AKM chips (4493, 4497, etc) are voltage output designs and the 4499 is a current output design.

It would be a huge mistake to judge the sound quality of the 4499 by what one has heard from ANY other AKM based DACs.

After hearing the AKM 4499 in direct DSD mode (sending the DSD input straight to the chip's conversion stage, bypassing the onboard DSP and modulator) I am a strong believer that a fantastic DAC could be made wiht this chip for solely DSD 256 input.  I do not think that DAC has been produced by anyone, yet, but I would not be surprised to see a really good high end company achieve this (not from the Chinese pretenders though...)

[matthias]

24 minutes ago, barrows said:

After hearing the AKM 4499 in direct DSD mode (sending the DSD input straight to the chip's conversion stage, bypassing the onboard DSP and modulator) I am a strong believer that a fantastic DAC could be made wiht this chip for solely DSD 256 input.  I do not think that DAC has been produced by anyone, yet, but I would not be surprised to see a really good high end company achieve this (not from the Chinese pretenders though...)

 

Agree,

but caused by the recent AKM factory fire there might be a worldwide shortage of all highend AKM DAC chips.

 

Matt

[w1000i]

On 9/22/2020 at 3:45 PM, stefano_mbp said:

The Gustard Dac-A22 Dual Ak4499

https://shenzhenaudio.com/products/gustard-dac-a22-dac-dual-ak4499-xmos-solution-native-balanced-decoder

the Gustard A18

https://shenzhenaudio.com/products/gustard-dac-a18-ak4499-balanced-dac-lme49860-6-decoder-with-remote-control

The Singxer SDA6

https://magnahifi.com/singxer-dac-sda-6-ak4499-balanced-dac/

 

 

 

Singxer SDA-6

Could the be the best build with great USB input implementation that is galvanic isolated and high quality preamp output.

[fmzip]

Has anyone tried the SDA6 yet?

[SwissBear]

Hi, 

 

I have not listened to it yet. I currently have a Singxer SU-2, with a Mutec REF10 as a master clock, connected to either a Matrix Audio x-Sabre or a Topping D90. 

What I really appreciate with the SU-2 is the very good galvanic isolation of the USB input, and the capability of the product to apply a high precision clock signal to the i2s flow it is creating. Clocking/Reclocking is a skill of their engineering team and they know how to do it for sure.

 

I am very interested in this new DAC from Singxer. It has very good measurements: https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&u=https://www.l7audiolab.com/f/measurementreview-of-singxer-sda-6/

 

It also has a design which is compliant with the requests of @barrows in terms of direct DSD implementation (NOS mode for DSD): https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&u=http://singxer.com/pd.jsp?id%3D81

 

On top of the galvanic isolation which I can judge from my SU-2 and the capability of the designers to implement a good programming of their FPGA to process a high precision clock, this DAC seems to offer at a very reasonable price all what I would expect from such a product... ie this NOS DSD mode, the well designed analog output stage, aso...

[fmzip]

I have an LKS MH-DA004 DAC which I have very much enjoyed. Although the Sabre DAC's are VERY revealing!

 

Thinking about maybe trying this one out to see how it sounds. 

[pavlos]

On 11/7/2020 at 11:15 PM, barrows said:

It is very, very important to understand that the AKM 4499 DAC chip uses an entirely different topology versus all of AKM's previous DAC chips.  All previous AKM chips (4493, 4497, etc) are voltage output designs and the 4499 is a current output design.

It would be a huge mistake to judge the sound quality of the 4499 by what one has heard from ANY other AKM based DACs.

After hearing the AKM 4499 in direct DSD mode (sending the DSD input straight to the chip's conversion stage, bypassing the onboard DSP and modulator) I am a strong believer that a fantastic DAC could be made wiht this chip for solely DSD 256 input.  I do not think that DAC has been produced by anyone, yet, but I would not be surprised to see a really good high end company achieve this (not from the Chinese pretenders though...)

Fully agree with you !!!

 

The I/V conversion and the output stage is where you can win (read: not spoil) or loose (read: spoil) the sound.

I have the chance to check the Topping D90 - it has completely lost in my system against two ESS-based DACs. The D90 sounded matt and lifeless.

That is why I am desperately looking for opinions about Singxer SDA-6 and Gustard A22 DACs - only these two have advanced discrete output stages.

 

Have a look here - SwissBear has just put some light on the Singxer SDA-6 DAC: