AKM makes the best DACs

@milpai You have made some unwarranted comments in regard to myself.

I in fact stated in that thread a desire for more comparative reviews of 005 dac. I also stated I was seeking less favorable perspectives on particular aspects of said dac performance.

And I constantly punch against US and Japanese equipment, wow! I happen to own Audio Technica tt, Jelco tonearm, Denon cartridge. As for US equipment, I own Klipschorns, Modwright phono stage, BPT power conditioner, Cardas cabling, Merlin speakers, Conrad Johnson amp, Harman Kardon tt,  many NOS tubes, Coincident Statement pre and 845 SET, Canadian, ok not US, but close enough, ok.  I happen to own one piece of Chinese equipment, certainly many internal parts of virtually all my equipment Chinese sourced.

My comments in regard to Chinese equipment have been solely limited to either business models or cost of labor. I am not a fan boy of any particular manufacturer, country of origin or topologies for that matter. Subjectivist of the highest order!

Please be accurate when making certain claims against people.

Recently switch from an older DAC using ESS 9018 chip to a more recent one using AKM 4493.  I am happy with the result though the change is not huge, it does seem more pleasant.

After that I have simply said that this discussion is kind of pointless, imho, because, as I have said, there are many good sounding different dacs or players with different types of chips or technology (architecture or call it as you may like)

Completely agree with this statement @alexatpos . That is why I am also seeking the Okto DAC8 stereo, which is ESS chip based. Unfortunately they are high in demand.

Also, I am not going to address anything other than the topic being discussed here. People can open other topics for other discussions.

@milpai 

For some reason you are discussing posts appearing on another thread.  I don't know why you are doing it here rather than there: "But when there was a communication issue on the manufacturer side that some one reported, you guys pounced on such posters, acted as mediators and tried to resolve the issue. To me that raised a red flag. The product must be good - but the manufacturer is responsible for communication and getting issues resolved."  

I went over the section I think you are referring to and have only to tell you that there was no "communication on the manufacturer side."  The manufacturer is essentially a one man shop that does no marketing at all and sells all he can make.  His only outside communications seem to be in support of his customers' technical needs.  A problem did arise with the merchant Shenzhen, but please don't confuse them with the manufacturer.  If you'd like to discuss this further I'd suggest a PM.

Just for the record, most of my system: amp, preamp, TT, phono pre, etc., is manufactured here.  I tend to buy where the value is. 

Finally you write, "Great details and separation means thrilling to one person, while sounding sterile and lifeless to another."  A really fine DAC, like live acoustic sound, is not subject to this sort of trade-off.

@milpai 

You might want to ask sns about the Okto DAC8.  He has one and thinks very highly of it.