Singxer SDA-6

[patatras]

Hello
First of all, I would like to thank SwissBear for creating this discussion about the Singxer SDA-6.
Indeed this dac was released about 9 months ago and there is no listening report on the net about it, apart from that of SwissBear here and on a French forum (forumhifi.fr).
The information is very poor. Astonishing!

 

I have been using a Singxer SU-2 for 5 months which gives me excellent results with a dac Topping D70.
My source is a pc with an Intel I9 9900K microprocessor with Roon, HQPlayer and Diretta. Power supply is provided by Sean Jacob.

The Singxer SU-2 and SDA-6 configuration interests me a lot because I will be able to run this new dac in NOS and therefore bypass the internal filters in the dac. HQPlayer will thus operate in complete transparency.
This will also allow me to convert the pcm to dsd 1024.
I will also do some 10MHZ external clock tests.

I hope to receive SDA-6 next week.

I will do a listening report, but there is at least 200 hours of burning with Mundorf capacitors ...

 

About the SU-2 it is very easy to supply it properly: there are 2 cards (signal processing and power supply) connected by a cable. Just unplug the connector and plug in a very neat 5V linear power supply instead, respecting the polarity.

 

Pierre

[patatras]

Hi fmzip

 

My motherboard is a Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Pro with 8 Go memory DDR4 3200 Mhz, Intel I9 9900K (8 cores, 3,6 Ghz up to 5 Ghz), Windows Server 2019 Standard, Roon and HQplayer.

I decided to run this server at 4,2 Ghz.

The ventirad is a Noctua I don't power with the motherboard but with an external power diy.

This pc is powered with units from Sean Jacob and HDplex 400W.

The transformer is a 450W Toroidy Supreme.

 

Yes this pc is very silent because the ventirad run slowly.

 

I recently added Diretta with a second pc (mini pc) for the target.
The connection between the server and the mini pc is made by local network.
The connection between the mini pc and the Singxer SU-2 is in usb (Audiocadabra Xtrimus cable).

 

Pierre

[patatras]

Hi etane

I am using D70 with SU-2 and it works fine. I am also waiting for a SDA-6 and hope to receive this unit this week.

I'll report how it sounds.

Pierre

[patatras]

Hi all,

 

I have a little perspective now with the SDA-6. Its break-in is in progress (around a hundred hours completed), but at least 200 are needed for the Mundorf capacities of this Pro version.

 

The orange display is pleasant, easy to read, but it is impossible to lower its intensity or turn it off. It is not dramatic, but rare.

 

The device is well finished, and seems to be of good quality, like the SU-2 interface of the same brand.

 

I listened very carefully, very targeted, in several sessions, with very varied files, some of which I use as a test and that I know more than by heart.

What emerges from all this is that I find (on my system) this really excellent dac: a very wide bandwidth, a lot of detail, fluidity, transparency, a chiseled high without being aggressive, deep bass and solid, a wide and precise soundstage in 3 dimensions (if the recording allows it), a dynamic of good quality.

 

I tested the inputs USB and I2S, but not the others as I convert the PCM to DSD, and the other inputs do not allow input of DSD 256 or 512 into the dac. I used the RCA and XLR outputs.

Both the USB and I2S inputs are excellent. I will have a little preference for I2S, but isn't that due to the presence of the SU-2 upstream in this case, which is a remarkable interface? It adds an ounce of substance, of presence perhaps, of aeration, but for me you have to be attentive to perceive it. The quality of the USB input reminds me of that of the Terminator, exceptional, that I had before the D70.

 

By adding a good external clock as SwissBear does, we can gain even more quality. I am not (yet) seriously equipped in this area.

 

I was hoping to be able with Hqplayer to listen to my files in DSD 1024 with the SU-2, but it is unplayable (big frying in addition to the music). Pity! I'm disappointed.

 

In USB as in I2S this dac has the advantage of operating in NOS mode (not disengageable), which eliminates the filters internal to the machine. This simplifies his work focused on conversion and avoids superimposing his filters on those of HQplayer which are more elaborate.

 

I also have a much cheaper dac (twice) whose reputation is well established, the Topping D70 in its first version (without bluetooth or MQA). The output stage of this dac consists of AOP. That of the Singxer, in its pro version, of discrete components with a class A assembly, no feedback, as well as Mundorf capabilities. They each use a recent AKM chip.

 

What about the confrontation? Well, surprisingly, they're close and I had a hard time figuring out their differences. Each time I found the SDA-6 better, and coming back to the D70 it was no longer true! ... In these cases is not it the head that carbides?

 

I will simply say, to summarize, that in the end, the SDA-6 seems to me to deliver more natural music, breathing a little more fully, with a little more flexibility and therefore musicality. I expected more because of the really different output stages.

 

Astonishing this D70, its reputation is not usurped (apart from its recessed usb input).

Obviously the D70 has the advantage of a good break-in while the SDA-6 is very young. This perhaps explains such a close match.

 

Pierre

[patatras]

I am amazed that one can criticize material that one does not have, or that one has not listened to carefully, and that one can make negative judgments about it.

Reducing the noise induced by the USB is a great thing, but that does not preclude another improvement with a high quality external clock.

In addition, it is not only the precision of the clock which is important, but also the noise phase at 1hz and at 10hz in particular.

I am in contact with audiophiles who own 10mhz external clocks and who say how much this brings to their very high level system.

A priori I therefore agree with SwissBear on this subject.

Besides, I ordered an external 10mhz clock whose specifications are close to Mutec's Ref10 and which costs much less. As soon as it is received, I will connect it to my SU-2 and SDA-6 to listen carefully to the result.

I will be able to speak about it knowingly, and not on the basis of baseless assumptions.
I will communicate these results on this forum.

 

Pierre

[patatras]

Pro version :there is a "p" in the serial number. 

 

Pierre 

[patatras]

 I received my 10Mhz Afterdark external clock (Emperor Double Crown). Its noise phase is -118db at 1hz and -142db at 10hz.

 

What is the contribution to the SDA-6 (with Roon, HQPlayer and Diretta) ?

 

First of all, I started to burn it  for a week 24 hours a day to see the benefits ...

 

which are more air and material, more definition. It's not huge, but it's there. 

It must be said that the clocks of the pro version of this dac are of a very high level and that the bar is set very high.

 

On the SU-2 interface the progress is more noticeable. In addition, we gain smoothness, musicality, remarkable fluidity, a wider and deeper stage, splendid timbres.

Thus equipped, this Singxer duo produces high-class music on my system.

 

I prefer SU-2 with SDA-6 (I2S) than SDA-6 alone.

 

It's hard not to get addicting! 

 

Pierre