AKM's new "VERITA" AK4490EQ 120dB 768kHz/32-bit 2ch New Generation Premium DAC
Posted 15th June 2015 at 09:47 AM by hollowman
Supposedly, Astell and Kern are using this in their latest AK-380 high-end/high-$ DAP:
I proto'd this DAC recently (along with AKM's new premium ADC)....what can I say ... I'm floored! This is the best digital I've ever heard to date.
Some hold-outs of antiquated multi-bit DAC religiosity may never be able to step outta their cognitive dissonance -- or warm-fuzzy nostalgia -- 'cause of their loss of virginity with their first loves (= classic R2R multi-bit) oh G A W D ... memories are so precious ... man -- I'm lookin' at my Philips CD650 and gettin' misty-eyed ....WAKE UP DUDE!!!
Folks, this is 2015 and technology does EVENTUALLY improve (tho', it takes time and is often 3 steps fwd, 2 back).
Unless Philips decides to revamp their TDA or SAA lines, AKM's your ticket ... or go on vero-boarding those R2R dinosaurs
Total Comments 6
Comments
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What in the sound is better than your DIY efforts? Let's hear how it sounds man - with example music you listened with.Posted 16th June 2015 at 06:44 AM by abraxalito
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I stay with my TDA1540 (Revox B225), Human hearing only capable of 18 bit. Technically and matematichly most 24 bit dacs deliver 18-20 bit in a lab. So dont see much of the advantage to change. but nice to see such a new tech DAC.
SoPosted 17th June 2015 at 03:59 AM by danico
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The real point is whether this DAC overcomes to a larger degree a common problem of S-D chips, that of loss of low level detail and treble quality unless they are heavily conditioned, exercised before doing serious listening.
It seems to have a variation on the switched capacitor filtering circuitry at the output, which may be a key factor in perceived improvement - rather than anything to do with nominal number of bits.Posted 18th June 2015 at 01:49 AM by fas42
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It's hard hard to see outside the DIY box, just as it's hard to see outside the audiophile box.
FOLKS ... look ...major designers/manufs of DAC ICs (AKM, TI, Cirrus, AD, etc.) are NOT blind/deaf to the subjective audio characteristics (many of these majors have audiophiles as senior designers). Further, they've got the resources for R&D -- the best test instruments and skills-sets -- to come up with the best price/performance products. Look from the objective side: Classic multi-bit can't match modern D-S is metrics/specs.
If D-S was really as poor-sounding as many in diy(audio communities) claim, it would've been weeded out long ago (like early CD players and hard-sounding brick walls). I.e., we'd still have R2R, or we'd have some other conversion architecture.
Over time ( esp. among the DIY, budget-audio and objectivist communities), a kind of locked-in syndrome has pathologized these gated communities. Maybe they -- many are older and immensely nostalgic, or romanitc, as noted in the Revox B225 comment above -- remember early single-bit DACs, which were not so great (but what about that 1-bit Optimus CD-3400??)
The common-to-DIYers belief that classic multi-bit is high n' mighty is flawed. But if you polish the multi-bit turds enough (great output section, lotsa PS regulation, etc.), you can make any claim you want about any DAC.Posted 27th August 2015 at 08:45 AM by hollowman
Updated 27th August 2015 at 08:49 AM by hollowman -
Yes, ...
This ain't your grandpa's single-bit DAC. It's MODERN delta-sigma (with a hybrid approach: partial multi-bit).Quote:Originally Posted by fas42
The real point is whether this DAC overcomes to a larger degree a common problem of S-D chips, that of loss of low level detail and treble quality unless they are heavily conditioned, exercised before doing serious listening.
It seems to have a variation on the switched capacitor filtering circuitry at the output, which may be a key factor in perceived improvement - rather than anything to do with nominal number of bits.
Nevertheless, it's hard to know exactly how/why a modern DAC improves SQ over prev. generations. The "salesman"/brochure specs -- 32bit, 768khz, etc. -- is probably mostly for show.
Real-world reasons (for SQ upgrades) may be a chip's improved internal layout and/or improved material composition (= better solid-state physics).
Evolution and improvements in topology-simulation software, chip manuf. machines, etc., all make important diffs. (Apple and Samsung have lot riding on the same machines/technologies and processes that make DACs).
But trying to sell your chip on such vagaries as improved manuf. machines or better material physics is not so sexy as a short and sweet "120dB 768kHz/32-bit".Posted 27th August 2015 at 09:04 AM by hollowman
Updated 27th August 2015 at 10:39 AM by hollowman -
Plenty of claims, no listening description of the DAC you're so in love with....Posted 27th August 2015 at 11:05 AM by abraxalito
