TOPPING DX7 Pro+ - TOPPING DX7 Pro+ ES9038Pro XSMOS XU208 DAC Headphone Amplifier We know well TOPPING due to their high-performance premium devices, not only for the exquisite desktop stacks but also for the portable DAC & AMP. And this time, TOPPING introduces the DX7 Pro+, another successful successor to the widely popular DX7 Pro. Let's learn more about this excellent and highly recommended… Continue Reading
Topping D90LE Without MQA - Topping D90LE (STANDARD No MQA) ES9038PRO Full Balanced DAC High Quality Chips ES9038PRO is ESS's flagship model. With current output architecture and 4-channel design. High-Resolution Music With the support of ES9038PRO and XMOS. D90LE can support 32bit768kHz and DSD512 resolutions, and the data magnitude and resolution are far beyond CD and SACD. Customized German Thesycon driver(Win7 and higher). Bluetooth 5.0… Continue Reading
Topping D90SE MQA - Topping D90SE MQA ES9038PRO Full Balanced DAC High Quality Chips: (MQA D90SE Version)ES9038PRO is ESS's flagship model. The Topping D90SE is a replacement of the D90 MQA. It is a simple revision due to a shortage of chips from AKM manufacturer. Only USB input mode support MQA decoding. High-Resolution Music: With the help of the ES9038PRO and XMOS216 chips, the… Continue Reading Topping D90 MQA - Topping D90 MQA AK4499 Full Balanced DAC High Quality Chips: (MQA D90 Version)AK4499 is AKM's flagship model. With current output architecture and 4-channel design. The D90MQA parallels the channels of the AK4499 in pairs for better performance. Only USB input mode support MQA decoding. High-Resolution Music: With the support of AK4499 and XMOS,D90 can support 32bit768kHz and DSD512 resolutions,and the… Continue Reading Topping D90 Standard Without MQA - Topping D90 (STANDARD No MQA) AK4499 Full Balanced DAC High Quality Chips AK4499 is AKM's flagship model. With current output architecture and 4-channel design. The D90 parallels the channels of the AK4499 in pairs for better performance. High-Resolution Music With the support of AK4499 and XMOS. D90 can support 32bit768kHz and DSD512 resolutions, and the data magnitude and resolution are… Continue Reading
S.M.S.L VMV D1SE - S.M.S.L. VMV D1SE (MQA) High Resolution Audio DAC Use the high-end ES9038RO D/A chip from ESS, which is a DAC chip that reaches the industry's high index. The SNR is as high as 140dB, and the total harmonic distortion plus noise is -122dB. At the same time it is a 32-bit, eight-channel DAC chip,with high resolution and high dynamic frequency… Continue Reading
S.M.S.L M400 MQA - S.M.S.L. M400 MQA High-fidelity MQA audio DAC Support MQA decoding. Flagship DAC chip AK4499, the audio industry's highest performance. The THD+N is as low as 0.000068% (-123dB)! When using A-weighted measurement, it is as low as 0.000058% (-124dB)！ Dynamic range up to 131dB! USB uses the second XMOS XU216,support native DSD and 32bit 768kHz! The clock system uses 2 ACCUSILICON… Continue Reading
RME ADI-2 DAC FS V2 - ADI-2 DAC FS v2 Ultra-Fidelity PCM/DSD 768 kHz DA Converter The ADI-2 DAC includes an improved SteadyClock, a fine-tuned to perfection analog circuitry, new MRC remote control, Extreme Power headphone output and a very special IEM output. It has all the bells and whistles that made the ADI-2 Pro famous, including its perfectly transparent sound signature and full DSP processing… Continue Reading
NAGRA DAC X - NAGRA DAC X The power supply is extremely sophisticated, using ultra-fast silicon carbide rectifier diodes, ultra-low-noise voltage regulators, and a virtual battery made up of a supercapacitor bank three times larger than the one in the HD Preamp. The new HD DAC X includes no fewer than 37 regulated ultra-low-noise individual power supplies. The HD DAC X features AES-EBU, S/P-DIF… Continue Reading
Nagra HD DAC - Nagra HD DAC The HD DAC is the purist interface from the digital world to pure audio excellence. The no-compromise definition reproduces the original sound with total integrity. Its state-of-the-art design concept, linked with high resolution DSD features are married with the Swiss know-how from the professional domain. Conversion The HD DAC is designed to convert a digital signal to… Continue Reading
iFi NEO iDSD - The DAC/amp. Reloaded The NEO iDSD is our new 3-in-one DAC/amp. With balanced ‘PureWave’ circuitry, unbeatable hi-res Bluetooth5.0 and MQA, it is the ultimate in hi-res playback. Place it horizontally or vertically to suit its surroundings. The OLED display flips to match orientation. One rotary knob controls functionality. Sleek, sophisticated and versatile. All. Bases. Covered. Enjoy the NEO iDSD as… Continue Reading
iFi PRO iDSD - Pro iDSD Desktop DAC There’s no wrong way to enjoy your music as long as you’re enjoying it, so we’ve created the Pro iDSD reference grade DAC and amp combo to be the centerpiece for whatever strikes your mood. In this upgraded version of Pro iDSD we have switched out the 2.5mm output for the 4.4mm, added a little more… Continue Reading
Hidizs S9 Pro - Hi-Res Audio Certified Hi-Res Audio certification is a design proposed and defined by Sony and recognized by JAS (Japanese Audio Association) and CEA (Consumer Electronics Association), requires the capability of audio devices to handle the digital resolution more than 24-bit/96kHz, for the purpose of performance extreme music quality and original sound reproduction. ESS9038Q2M DAC Clean yet transparent. Excellent bass with… Continue Reading
FiiO K5 PRO - Desktop DAC and Amplifier High-performance DAC: AK4493 USB decoding chip：XMOS XUF208 coaxial/optical/RCA line-in 6.35mm (1/4 in.) headphone out/RCA line-out low, medium, and high gain 768K/32Bit and DSD512 decoding AKM AK4493EQ DAC chips The K5 Pro is equipped with AKM’s AK4493EQ DAC chips - known for its smooth, pleasant yet detailed sound due to its high signal-to-noise ratio and low distortion.… Continue Reading
FiiO K9 PRO ESS - FiiO K9 PRO ESS igh performance DAC ES9038PRO*2 | THX AAA 788+ Tech | App control Dual femtosecond clocks | QCC5124 Bluetooth chip | Truly balanced design Supports LDAC/aptX Adaptive/aptX HD | Dual voltage linear transformer Wide connector selection Electricity is the mother of sound Electricity is the mother of sound, so special attention was paid to optimizing the K9… Continue Reading
Chord Qutest - Qutest is our ‘pure’ DAC (it does not contain headphone amplification or rechargeable batteries like some of its range stablemates) and is designed to improve sound quality in the home. It is the latest evolution of our most affordable standalone DAC, the multi-award-winning 2Qute, which it directly replaces. Qutest, which is a What Hi-Fi? Star of CES 2018, is based… Continue Reading
Chord Hugo TT 2 - Chord Hugo TT 2 Hugo TT 2 has been radically redesigned from the ground up, not only with beautiful new casework by Chief Designer, John Franks, but with 5x the processing power of the original Hugo TT and double that of the multi-award-winning Hugo 2. Hugo TT 2 distils over 20 years of digital development by Rob Watts and takes… Continue Reading
Chord DAVE - DAVE is the most advanced DAC we have ever made. It features the very best conversion technology available, using proprietary techniques never seen before, making DAVE the most advanced DAC/preamp amplifier in the world. DAVE stands for ‘Digital to Analogue Veritas in Extremis’, a moniker that best reflects the product’s capability; a device so advanced and with so few compromises,… Continue Reading
Cambridge Audio DacMagic 200M - DacMagic 200M Digital to Analogue Converter Digital audio is brilliant, but it needs to be analogue audio before you can hear it. And the way it ends up sounding depends entirely on how you convert the digital audio files stored on your computer, on CD or from your favourite streaming service. DacMagic 200M performs the digital-to-analogue conversion perfectly every time, letting… Continue Reading
Benchmark DAC3 HGC - Benchmark DAC3 HGC - Digital to Analog Audio Converter A New Reference - Going Beyond the Legendary DAC1 and DAC2 The DAC3 is Benchmark's newest 2-channel D/A converter featuring the new ESS Technologies ES9028PRO converter chip. The DAC3 converter has lower THD and THD+N noise than Benchmark's DAC2 converter. Benchmark's DAC1 and DAC2 D/A converter families have been the reference to… Continue Reading
Ayon Sigma DAC - Ayon Sigma DAC – Vacuum Tube DAC – Volume Control Finest, award winning, Vacuum Tube DAC – at ANY Price! Ayon Audio is pleased to introduce the superb audiophile “Sigma,” a digital/analog converter. The Sigma is also prepared for computer playback and general DSD professional audio use. The single-ended output stage and a differential gain stage are composed of a… Continue Reading
Ayon S10-II Signature - Ayon S-10 II Vacuum Tube Streamer – Vacuum Tube Network Player DAC – Preamp – Analog Inputs The Real Benchmark in Network Players For over 4 decades, Ayon Audio has been handcrafting world class vacuum tubes and vacuum tube audio equipment, setting the benchmark and new standards for high end audio performance. Altruistic reliability, product durability, Ayon Iconic design and… Continue Reading
Auralic Vega G1 - VEGA G1 Streaming DAC Years in the making, the VEGA G1 Streaming DAC turns the classic AURALiC VEGA into a state-of-the-art device with the power to invigorate your digital audio experience. A longtime favorite for its beautifully musical sound, VEGA isn’t just a DAC anymore — it’s also a full-featured streamer capable of connecting to local and online sources of… Continue Reading
Auralic Altair G1 - ALTAIR G1 Digital Audio Streamer The new ALTAIR G1 distills AURALiC's proprietary technologies and features in to a high-performance DAC and streamer built to exacting standards within a substantial aluminum case. As an entry point to the AURALiC ecosystem, the ALTAIR G1 offers a comprehensive number of features and functions. Music can be sourced from virtually any source - locally stored… Continue Reading
Audiolab M-DAC+ - M-DAC+ Digital-to-Analogue Converter The new M-DAC+ is a high-performance, multi-purpose audio DAC (Digital-to-Analogue Converter) for home use, designed to sit on a desk or table, or integrate into a hi-fi system. It incorporates a highly specified, audiophile-quality digital preamplifier and Class A output stage for connection to a power amp and speakers (the output can be fixed for those who… Continue Reading
Aqua La Voce S3 - The new S3 Discrete | La Voce to the next level Designed to provide absolute modularity, the La Voce S3 is a pure R2R ladder - FPGA-based DAC without digital filter. It has a sign-magnitude ladder converter. The absence of digital filtering means no processing of the input signal. The original digital samples are translated to the reproduced sound, preserving… Continue Reading
Aqua La Scala MKII - New Optologic Conversion System A never ending story: upgrading to the Optologic DAC Again, La Scala D/A converter proves that an instant classic does not mean a product whose destiny is to become obsolescent, like most of the products in the high-end world. After the first appearance in the flagship Formula DAC, the proprietary D/A conversion system developed by Aqua… Continue Reading
Aqua Formula xHD - The new Formula xHD Rev. 2 The Optologic R2R conversion system aqua believes that the more musical D/A conversion system is based on the circuit usually identified as "resistor ladder". This technology has been substituted in the mass-market by the so-called sigma-delta converters. The sigma-delta converter is a near-completely digital circuit and for this reason it can be can be… Continue Reading
APL HiFi DSD-AR - The DSD-AR is the new most affordable junior member of our digital products family. Just like its bigger brothers, the DSD-AR is specifically made for those enthusiastic audiophiles who search for a natural and analogue-like digital audio reproduction offered by an all-solid-state DAC design. It is an all-hand-made boutique, designed and built with the best possible audio quality in mind for its… Continue Reading
Accuphase DC-37 - The DC-37 inherits the outstanding technology of the DC-901 and DP-720, while opening a new chapter in ultra-advanced and innovative digital signal processing technology. It features an MDSD type D/A converter that achieves straight conversion of the DSD signal and supports 5.6448 MHz (1-bit 2-channel DSD) sources. In keeping with this development, the HS-LINK interface has also been upgraded to… Continue Reading
GUSTARD DAC-X26 PRO MQA - Functions and features: 1. Use two ESS company ES9038PRO digital to analog conversion chips. 2. USB uses XMOS's xCORE-200 series 16 core XU216 processor, supports native DSD and 32 bit PCM. 3. Use 2 American ACCUSILICON femtosecond crystal oscillators as the global master clock. 4. The digital processing system uses Intel's ALTERA's large high speed CPLD logic array chip. 5. USB… Continue ReadingThe reviews of USB DAC below are mainly focused on compatibility with linux audio distro using Music Player Daemon (MPD). The USB DAC must support PCM and DSD.
| Name | DAC | PCM | DSD | MQA | USB BRIDGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accuphase DC-37 | 32Bit/384KHz | DSD128 | NO | ||
| APL DSD-AR | 32Bit/384KHz | DSD256 | NO | ||
| Aqua Formula xHD | Aqua FPGA | 32Bit/768KHz | DSD512 | NO | XMOS |
| Aqua La Scala mkII | Aqua FPGA | 32Bit/384KHz | DSD128 | NO | |
| Aqua La Voce S3 | Aqua FPGA | 32Bit/384KHz | DSD128 | NO | |
| Audiolab M-DAC+ | Sabre ES9018 | 32Bit/384KHz | DSD256 | NO | |
| Auralic Altair G1 | ES9038Q2M | 32Bit/384KHz | DSD512 | NO | |
| Auralic Vega G1 | Custom ESS | 32Bit/384KHz | DSD512 | NO | |
| Ayon S10-II Signature | 2xAK4490 | 24Bit/384KHz | DSD256 | NO | |
| Ayon Sigma DAC | Sabre ES9018 | 32Bit/192kHz | DSD128 | NO | |
| Benchmark DAC3 HGC | ES9028PRO | 32Bit/192kHz | DSD64 | NO | |
| Cambridge Audio DacMagic 200M | ES9028Q2M | 32Bit/768kHz | DSD512 | YES | |
| Chord DAVE | FPGA | 32Bit/768kHz | DSD512 | NO | |
| Chord Hugo TT 2 | Xilinx Artix 7 FPGA | 32Bit/768kHz | DSD512 | NO | |
| Chord Qutest | FPGA | 32Bit/768kHz | DSD512 | NO | |
| FiiO K9 PRO | 2xAK4499 | 32Bit/768kHz | DSD512 | YES | |
| FiiO K5 PRO | AK4493 | 32Bit/768kHz | DSD512 | NO | XMOS XU208 |
| Gustard X16 MQA | Dual ES9068AS | 32Bit/768kHz | DSD512 | YES | XMOS XU216 |
| Hidizs S8 | CS43131 | 32Bit/384KHz | DSD128 | NO | |
| Hidizs S9 | AK4493EQ | 32Bit/768kHz | DSD512 | YES | |
| Hidizs S9 Pro | ES9038Q2M | 32Bit/768kHz | DSD512 | YES | |
| iFi PRO iDSD | 4xBurr-Brown PCM1793 | 32Bit/768kHz | DSD1024 | XMOS XU216 | |
| iFi NEO iDSD | Burr Brown | 32Bit/768kHz | DSD512 | YES | XMOS XU216 |
| iFi Zen DAC | Burr Brown PCM1793 | 32Bit/384KHz | DSD256 | YES | XMOS XU216 |
| Nagra HD DAC | 24Bit/384KHz | DSD128 | NO | ||
| RME ADI-2 DAC FS V2 | AK4493 | 32Bit/768kHz | DSD256 | NO | |
| RME ADI-2 Pro | AK4493 | 32Bit/768kHz | DSD256 | NO | |
| S.M.S.L SU-9 | ES9038PRO | 32Bit/768kHz | DSD512 | YES | XMOS XU208 |
| S.M.S.L M400 MQA | AK4499 | 32Bit/768kHz | DSD512 | YES | XMOS XU216 |
| S.M.S.L M500 | ES9038PRO | 32Bit/768kHz | DSD512 | YES | XMOS XU216 |
| S.M.S.L VMV D1SE | ES9038PRO | 32Bit/768kHz | DSD512 | YES | XMOS XU216 |
| Topping D50s | 2xESS9038Q2M | 32Bit/768kHz | DSD512 | NO | XMOS XU208 |
| Topping D70s | 2×4497 | 32Bit/768kHz | DSD512 | YES | XMOS XU216 |
| Topping D90 STD | AK4499 | 32Bit/768kHz | DSD512 | NO | XMOS XU208 |
| Topping D90 MQA | AK4499 | 32Bit/768kHz | DSD512 | YES | XMOS XU216 |
| Topping DX7 Pro | ES9038PRO | 32Bit/768kHz | DSD512 | NO | XMOS XU208 |
| Zorloo Ztella STD | ESS9270C | 32Bit/384KHz | DSD128 | NO | |
| Zorloo Ztella MQA | ESS9281CPRO | 32Bit/384KHz | DSD128 | YES |