In other news....

[Stuart Polansky]

The first DAC I've seen using the new AKM AK4499EX.

Tempting! It's at a price I can afford.

https://apos.audio/collections/brand-sp ... -convertor

[HAL]

I got the chance to listen to the original AKM AK4499 DAC's in the prototype dspNexus 2x8 digital crossover. Excellent sounding DAC's. They were one casualty of the AKM fab fire. The new version is a two IC set to do what the original one IC version did. Now the analog and digital sections are separate.

The original IC's ran HOT! The test DAC board temp was 104C!

Hopefully the two IC version runs cooler.

[SoundMods]

I got the chance to listen to the original AKM AK4499 DAC's in the prototype dspNexus 2x8 digital crossover. Excellent sounding DAC's. They were one casualty of the AKM fab fire. The new version is a two IC set to do what the original one IC version did. Now the analog and digital sections are separate.

The original IC's ran HOT! The test DAC board temp was 104C!

Hopefully the two IC version runs cooler.

OR -- you install heat sinks to get the heat away from the die.

[Roscoe Primrose]

Chips are probably close enough to the same size as some of the Raspberry Pi chips thar finding heat sinks should be fairly easy....

[HAL]

Will see what happens with the redesign. I had suggested that to the developer.

[Roscoe Primrose]

This one: https://www.amazon.com/Topping-Decoder- ... B0B7M8ZQ63 looks like it might be interesting too...

Roscoe

[HAL]

The AKM AK4493 is what is the stock DAC in the dspNexus. The AK4499 sounded even better in the same system. They are not redesigning the AK4499 DAC board at this point.

Just ordered the E70. Will see if Topping did as well.

[Pelliott321]

I still think how the output stage is designed plays the biggest part on how a DAC sounds.

[Guy]

Everyone, keep us informed on what you find with these units: I'm starting to itch to get one (of either!)

[Stuart Polansky]

I still think how the output stage is designed plays the biggest part on how a DAC sounds.

Maybe.

Last night we auditioned three DACs. My own AK4490, Roscoe's 4495 and an ESS Sabre 9038Q2M hat for Raspberry Pi.

The output circuit topology is exactly the same for the 4490 and 4495. We used the Muses 8920 JFET chip in each.

The 4490 has better power supply regulators, Schotkky diodes, power supply bypass caps, better quality caps and resistors.

The 4490 sounded smoother, richer midrange, bigger soundstage. But the 4495 clearly was lower distortion. Better resolution of inner detail, clearer highs. Just a little harsh.

I think the 4495 with the same parts as my 4490 would be clearly better across the board. Same output stage. No cap coupling.

The ESS DAC was kind of edgy to me, but hey, I've got a pair of V-Cap TFTFs breaking in, so.....But is wasn't bad, just not up to the other DACs.

I think that the power supply and chip are what's most important. At least with simple buffer output stages like these.

Slick

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