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
canibefrank OP
406 posts
 
hmmmm
dougsat
374 posts
 
Canibefrank 
If you want to hear the AKM chips Velvet Sound with a small investment you may want to try The Schiit Modi 3 for $100.
Nothing to lose. I am very impressed with its overall quality and sound. As a matter of fact I bought 2!
canibefrank OP
406 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
djones51
4,947 posts
 
For a time the Modi 3 was the best measuring DAC Schiit built. Not sure about the other new ones I think they started using the APx555 anyalizer to improve their products. 
213runnin
914 posts
 
That is not accurate, they didn't use the APX555 to improve their products.  They have one of the godfathers of DAC design, Mike Moffat, who started making them in the early 90's.  I've owned several of their dacs, and presently own the Gungnir and Modi Multibits.  I enjoy them both, the musical and organic sound of both is quite enjoyable.  Specs do not tell one how a component will sound

The Modi 3 was a statement by Schiit, and an acknowledgement that some audio hobbyists ignore their ears and put specs and other numbers first.  Topping has built up a forum to market their dacs and spread the  numbers and "science first" school of thought.

For anyone reading this, if you want to be able to hear the differences in dacs and other components, your system MUST be able to demonstrate the nuances.  Speakers and pre amps are most critical for this, and speaker cables as well.  


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