DAC chips

Are you building your own DAC?  If not then it comes down to how that DAC sounds in your system.  You just cannot go out an buy a DAC based on the chip.  I built a DAC with the Sabre chip.  It will sound nothing like any other DAC with the same chip in it as my DAC has tubes and a 35lb power supply.

Happy Listening.

which ess9038? There are at least three levels I know of.

BB1704U-K 

Unfortunately close to unobtanium these days - so R2R discrete is the way to go like for an example Soekris or Denafrips 

Good Listening 

Peter 

Truth is that the DAC chip is about the least most important question in "how good does a DAC sound?".
So many more important questions.  In my opinion, who cares.
If i absolutey had to choose, cost as a factor, AK.  But i would never, ever make a decision based on that,  But the AK would give me a few more bucks to work on the real design.
G