2. digital
  3. 157412-112191

TOPPING D90MQA AK4499

https://www.ebay.com/i/114013045351?ul_noapp=true

I am currently using a full balanced SMSL SU-8 with the 9038 ESS Sabre chips. Do you think that I could actually hear the difference between these DACs? Any improvement? I can not truthfully discern any improvement in sound between the SMSL unit and the 100 dollar DAC I used before, a PreSonus USB Audiobox recording and playback DAC meant for home recording with a 96K Cirrus chip. I do use balanced cables and a Re-Clocker along with Audirvana and powered monitors

and there is the Gustard A22 with DUAL AKM4499 and MQA - MQA coming this month
a bit more kit at $1150

I am tempted for the Topping D90MQA and with the savings over the Gustard trying a Schiit Freya +



canibefrank

Showing 5 responses by canibefrank

canibefrank OP
407 posts
 
No SU-8 does not do MQA
canibefrank OP
407 posts
 
@djones51    

could you notice any difference in the presentation AKM velveeta sound vs ESS swashbuckling Sabre chip? I was hoping there might be a bit of the old holygrafik soundstage and a ribbon tweeter tie-me-down effect. wot.
canibefrank OP
407 posts
 
hmmmm
canibefrank OP
407 posts
 
hmmm hmmmm
perhaps looking at the Freya + without a change in DAC is in order
with the PreSonus USB DAC and a Wyred4Sound reclocker the hifi sounded righteous
canibefrank OP
407 posts
 
@213runnin

i garee...if you already have a sports car that does 200Km per hour, dou you need one that does 250Km per? But in a very limited listening pre-sales environment, if you start with technological excellence then you at least got that limit out of the way. Myself, I use balanced powered XLR monitors so I have to start there. In the future I will go to some tubes-amp-preamp...
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