Abyss Headphones is now an authorized dealer for the dCS Bartok DAC with integrated headphone amp, abyss-headphones.com/collections/abyss-electronics/products/dcs-bartok-dac In Europe, eu.abyss-headphones.com/collections/electronics/products/dcs-bartok-dac
@@tthedon2471 … the RME ADI-2 is no where near the Hugo TT2. Unfair to compare due to the price point. RME sounds a smidge flatter than the Mytek Brooklyn Bridge (used as a DAC only). But for its price the RME is really worth owning. I love the PEQ.
@@hushpuppykl well, i use the rme for headphone listening via graham slee solo headphone amp with focal clear professional, as well as totaldac d1-direct as my main dac. before i had the dcs scarlatti.
I own one of these guys with the headphone amp + the XI Audio Formula S w/Powerman. When I use the latter, the Bartok just acts as the DAC. The Formula S has distinctly sharper bass and transients than the Bartok's built in, and it separates the various voices in the track better. Maybe you'd call it 'analytical'? The built-in amp feels much more intimate, and I prefer it for solo human voices and instruments. It's a more relaxed sound. They are different enough that I'm glad I have both, but some days I regret getting it with the amp option, because I mostly use the Formula S. Anyway, with the Phi TCs it brings tears to my eyes and makes me throw my hands in the air with joy. It's that good; that's why it's worth the money. Great tip on the WA33! I'll have to try that next. Incredible that these headphones keep improving with a stack of electronics this high end.
@@chipsnmydip yep! Worth every penny. It's got a better sense of space and sharper textures - exactly what you'd expect. The downside being that it's a tube amp of course. The Formula S though is a genuinely great amp. Just lacking a touch of intimacy in my opinion. Everything seems far away.
My main headphone listening setup is 1266 with this Bartok DAC. Enjoy it all the time. Tested 1266 with Dave but Bartok sounds more layered and pleasant.
@@kchuen haven’t seen or heard the Sennheiser HE1, but I already have a electrostatic speaker, no need to duplicate that experience with the HE1. I think the equivalence to AB1266 would be HiFiman Susvara. Haven’t tried that as well. Tested the Arya, not bad but not as revealing nor as controlled when it come to the bass.
I've tested this DAC/AMP with the Chord Dave and Holo Audio Spring 2 KTE DAC. I personally think the Chord Dave sounds more effortless when listening to music. The Bartok sounds like the Chord Dave and Spring 2 KTE DAC'S put together very musical natural sounding. But like I said with the Dave you hear better separation within the music. The Dave's AMP is okay sounding but my #1 setup is Dave > Euforia OTL AMP > Utopia's. #2 Dave > Violectric V281 > Empyrean
John Darko doesn't agree with you. He likes the DCS better and the headphone amp easily beat the Dave in his opinion and he had both to do direct comparisons. Also consider you get a high quality streamer built in to the DCS and the DAC fully unfolds MQA if you like that. What I like about the Bartok is it has 3 major components built in that I want so that will also save on expensive cables. It's definitely one I'm looking at even at this price.
@@dontcare563 Not saying DCS Bartok is bad it is really good, but with my setup I feel the Dave sound better. But if you move to the DCS Rossini then I would agree. I did an audition with the Bartok, Rossini, with my Woo Audio WA33 Elite with all KR HP tubes and 1266 Phi TC I liked the Dave better, but was hoping to like the Bartok for a ALL IN ONE solution like you said. I find it to be dry and clinical sounding which reminds me of the Benchmark HPA4 headphone amp I had tried. When I tried the WA33 EE > DCS Rossini > 1266 Phi TC = END GAME
@@russb3n BUT the Rossini is MUCH more money than the Dave and you are no longer making fair comparisons. I'm just saying others who have made that comparison don't agree with you. In the end it doesn't really matter since what matters is what sounds best to you. I'm also looking for the best all in one combo. The others who have made that comparison are saying the Dave is very good.
@@dontcare563 MQA is not all that unless you want to add distortion to your setup. Now using it with any DCS product you should be fine, because DCS said we will only do MQA if it’s our way. And I to watch Darko allot and he was using Empyrean and another okay headphone. I had the Empyrean which was really good and anyone getting into this hobby would be my first choice for them easy to power plays with all DAC’s with ease. I’m using the 1266 Phi TC and Susvara’s which both are hard to power to get there FULL POTENTIAL out of them, and yes you can use the Bartok which I did but was 60% of there capability. I’ve owned everything and tried everything just because someone is saying this is the thing to buy then they get a free one doesn’t mean that product is best for everyone. Unless DCS will send me one free of charge then I would erase message. 😋
I WOULD LOVE A 10 VIDEO EDUCATIONAL PLAYLIST. maybe even different than podcast format. Choose the basics of Audio then get into the dirty like noise. Episode one you can teach what is an Amp an DAc and how they function. Then one on resolution then one on currents and power. Impedance episode. Like all the info needed to comprehend all of your content. Almost like a "we recommend watching these before watching our podcast''. Feel like youd gain a HUGE fan base because your ability to explain a topic without being demeaning is brilliant, 10-30 minute episodes. up to 20 ep. first few short and sweeet almost made for YT/too simple for you guys. then last 10 go as far into detail as you can. Write a script and it'll stay coherent. You have the knowledge but going off the top sometimes is not best for educating
i can watch these for hours and hours and hate when there is a topic they're too scared to touch because it takes a certain knowledge. So tell viewers "we are talking about "xyz" if its getting confusing our episode "xyz" from our "Abyss Audio School Playlist" will go into more detail... watch it then comeback here for more context
I used to think that the TT2 was my stopping point for dacs. That was until I auditioned the Bartok. It is really expensive but my god does it sound incredible.
@@klewja On the DCS forum as well as by high end reviewers, there seems to be a consensus that a high end pre-amp significantly improves sound into power amps feeding speakers.This suggests that the BArtok , though very transparent and detailed, perhaps still has an element of harshness from its in built pre-amp.
It'd be fun if you do Flux lab fa10 pro and schiit bifrost 2 combo that costs 1550 total.. 😁 It's my goal if I somehow earn enough for 1266. I'm certain I won't be able to spend more than 2000 after spending 5000 on a headphone. And that day won't come very soon either. 😂 And congrats on growing by more than 50% after the airpods max video! ❤️
Chord Dave vs. dCS Bartok vs. Holo May Kitsune vs. EMM Dv2 vs. MSB Diamond vs. Berkeley Audio Reference vs. Rockna Wavelight vs. Denafrips Pontus/Terminator vs. Lampizator Pacific vs. Audio Note Dac5 vs. Accuphase DC950 vs. Ypsilon Dac 100 vs. Esoteric vs. Sonnet Morpheus vs. Mola Mola Tambaqui... = Ultimate Dac shootout
I'll tell you now that the DV2 is on a level beyond most of these except Lampizator, Audio Note and maybe Berkeley reference, but they are all very different. I actually replaced my Bartok with a DA2 that I got at huge discount and am very happy with it.
nice to hear you also used it out to speakers... however, you didn't mention much about that experience (source materials, outputs used...etc.) Guess i'd just like to hear how it sounds w/ DSD out to a preamp. anyway, nice "use w/ headphones" review.
The better DCS Vivaldi DAC with external clock sounds better...Bartok is just ok. For this money the Mola Mola Tambaqui is better @13k. I also like the Lampizator's too and have a Lampizator Baltic but the Bartok might be a tad better then my cheaper 5 grand solution...That's my 2 cents. At this level they are all pretty decent.
Don't forget that this also has network streaming build in. So it's the equivalent of the DCS Network Bridge, with a TOTL DAC and HPA. No f*cking cables to buy. OMG. So appealing.
And that's low-end/ entry level... This DAC reminds me of my watch. My watch is on the “low end” and it costs 23kUSD. There are “high-end” watch from the same brand house that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. And this DAC has its high end unit that cost over 150k.
DCS is extremely expensive, but still is somewhat taste dependent. For the BMW level money I'd rather have something less analytical like MSB, Lampizator, or EMM Labs.
@@chipsnmydip What kind of headphones you have? I was almost going to get Abyss 1266 but did not. Got an entry level audiophile headphones of focal Celestee and Chord Mojo. They do more than the job for me for now - I use them while traveling with my iPad Pro
@@crisyorke1328 I have Meze Empyrean and Audeze LCD-XC. They are probably pretty forgiving and easy to drive in terms of planars. Also on order is Abyss Diana TC... I do still like Beyerdynamic stuff.
@@chipsnmydip Wow, not bad! I ordered LCD 3F and HD800 few years back but didn’t have stock back then. Focal Celestee would do. I wanted to get T1p seeing that it’s quite affordable (also made in Germany) but I reckon that I would be traveling and moving places quite a lot so I’ll stick with the Celestee. I have grado SR225 and Velodyne vTrue
@@chipsnmydip I like my headphone to produce warm, balanced, slightly forward and layered music. I’m not really a fan of wide soundstage and bass heavy headphones. I like them natural sounding
@@bikemike1118 Hardly that much better when the Chord measures far better and wins the RMAF HiFi press best DAC award two years in a row over even the dCS Vivaldi (and measures better than that too).
Who needs a car or a expensive hobby like motorcycles etc when you can have this instead. How do I say this ncely...you guys have had this top shelf dac/streamer/preamp and headphone amp and not even used the streaming portion with the app? It's terrible one box solution to your system or just to your favorite headphones. And if you have tidal and use this to decode mqa, it does it better than any dac out there. I'm not a mqa fan but the folks at meridian that developed mqa decoding implement it inside all dcs dacs. Trying to figure out why it makes more a difference through Dcs dacs than others like a mytek dac. Feels like a missed opportunity to try it streaming capabilities. You should report back on it with another follow up video. I feel sorry for folks who hear this dac and have to go back to what their using. It sorta ruins ya !
Abyss Headphones is now an authorized dealer for the dCS Bartok DAC with integrated headphone amp,
abyss-headphones.com/collections/abyss-electronics/products/dcs-bartok-dac
In Europe, eu.abyss-headphones.com/collections/electronics/products/dcs-bartok-dac
When my money tree starts producing a steady crop I will have to pick one of these up.
Whoever said money didn't grow on trees, is growing the wrong kind of trees.
Got cute kids? Get them to set up a lemonade stall. 😬
@@hushpuppykl that is as slippery a slope as they come.
@@Krmpfpks … darn slippery and steep!
😂
I'd be interested in hearing about the Chord TT2 and perhaps the Hugo 2 as well for a portable source
Hugo 2 is amazing, got mine couple weeks ago and its unbelievably good, you can't go wrong with it
@@MeteoraEra But how is the Hugo 2 drive the abyss? sounds well? It's not like TT2
so is the rme dac
@@tthedon2471 … the RME ADI-2 is no where near the Hugo TT2. Unfair to compare due to the price point. RME sounds a smidge flatter than the Mytek Brooklyn Bridge (used as a DAC only).
But for its price the RME is really worth owning. I love the PEQ.
@@hushpuppykl well, i use the rme for headphone listening via graham slee solo headphone amp with focal clear professional, as well as totaldac d1-direct as my main dac. before i had the dcs scarlatti.
Love the red on the Diana
I own one of these guys with the headphone amp + the XI Audio Formula S w/Powerman. When I use the latter, the Bartok just acts as the DAC. The Formula S has distinctly sharper bass and transients than the Bartok's built in, and it separates the various voices in the track better. Maybe you'd call it 'analytical'? The built-in amp feels much more intimate, and I prefer it for solo human voices and instruments. It's a more relaxed sound. They are different enough that I'm glad I have both, but some days I regret getting it with the amp option, because I mostly use the Formula S. Anyway, with the Phi TCs it brings tears to my eyes and makes me throw my hands in the air with joy. It's that good; that's why it's worth the money.
Great tip on the WA33! I'll have to try that next. Incredible that these headphones keep improving with a stack of electronics this high end.
Hey, just wondering a year on if you got to try a WA33 vs the Formula S?
@@chipsnmydip yep! Worth every penny. It's got a better sense of space and sharper textures - exactly what you'd expect. The downside being that it's a tube amp of course. The Formula S though is a genuinely great amp. Just lacking a touch of intimacy in my opinion. Everything seems far away.
@@mmattb Nice! Thanks. Do you feel the WA33 is able to keep up with the speed and dynamics of SS for modern music?
My main headphone listening setup is 1266 with this Bartok DAC. Enjoy it all the time. Tested 1266 with Dave but Bartok sounds more layered and pleasant.
Have you tried Woo Audio WA234 with 1266?
Can I have some of your money?
That’s around half the price of the Sennheiser HE-1 or the Hifiman Shanghai-la. Have you holstered to them before?
@@kchuen haven’t seen or heard the Sennheiser HE1, but I already have a electrostatic speaker, no need to duplicate that experience with the HE1. I think the equivalence to AB1266 would be HiFiman Susvara. Haven’t tried that as well. Tested the Arya, not bad but not as revealing nor as controlled when it come to the bass.
Would be very interested to hear your evaluation of the Linear Tube Audio Z10e amp and the Bartok with your 1266 and Diana Phi headphones.
Love the new intro. Less DMS and more unique
Those red Dianas look interesting. Would like to hear your headphones but there are no shops selling them in Hong Kong...
I’d buy a phi with red cans if viable for shipping to UK
Can you review the Sony HAP-Z1ES music server too? dCS is too rich for my blood. I do like it though.
Please do DENAFRIPS TERMINATOR-PLUS + DENAFRIPS ARTEMIS HEADAMP!
Great video and I hate you guys, this is now #1 on my list to pair with the Diana Phi. Keep up the great work!
You guys are really good!
Can you talk more about Ayre Acoustics DACs / Amps?
Please discuss moon HA430 used with Diana Phi, Chord TT2 Dac.
What is the device again that DMS said around the 8:15-minute mark? I want to check out that device pairing with this.
It would be great to hear more this recommended highend dac/streamer options for 1266. Plus some of your test tracks you would be using.
Test track #1 AC/DC track #2 AC/DC etc.. I have to give the Abyss guys a hard time because that’s all they say for music.
Make 2k subs. Blow past 3k a few days later.
Nice.
It was because of the Apple AirPods Max video.
came back to this video after watching the Lina reveal :)
Where would you put this headphone amp section compared to your Woo JPS or Formula S headphone amps?
I've tested this DAC/AMP with the Chord Dave and Holo Audio Spring 2 KTE DAC. I personally think the Chord Dave sounds more effortless when listening to music. The Bartok sounds like the Chord Dave and Spring 2 KTE DAC'S put together very musical natural sounding. But like I said with the Dave you hear better separation within the music. The Dave's AMP is okay sounding but my #1 setup is Dave > Euforia OTL AMP > Utopia's. #2 Dave > Violectric V281 > Empyrean
You can't buy the V281 new any more can you? Really unusual look to it which I like, but it seems to have disappeared from their site.
John Darko doesn't agree with you. He likes the DCS better and the headphone amp easily beat the Dave in his opinion and he had both to do direct comparisons. Also consider you get a high quality streamer built in to the DCS and the DAC fully unfolds MQA if you like that. What I like about the Bartok is it has 3 major components built in that I want so that will also save on expensive cables. It's definitely one I'm looking at even at this price.
@@dontcare563 Not saying DCS Bartok is bad it is really good, but with my setup I feel the Dave sound better. But if you move to the DCS Rossini then I would agree. I did an audition with the Bartok, Rossini, with my Woo Audio WA33 Elite with all KR HP tubes and 1266 Phi TC I liked the Dave better, but was hoping to like the Bartok for a ALL IN ONE solution like you said. I find it to be dry and clinical sounding which reminds me of the Benchmark HPA4 headphone amp I had tried. When I tried the WA33 EE > DCS Rossini > 1266 Phi TC = END GAME
@@russb3n BUT the Rossini is MUCH more money than the Dave and you are no longer making fair comparisons. I'm just saying others who have made that comparison don't agree with you. In the end it doesn't really matter since what matters is what sounds best to you. I'm also looking for the best all in one combo. The others who have made that comparison are saying the Dave is very good.
@@dontcare563 MQA is not all that unless you want to add distortion to your setup. Now using it with any DCS product you should be fine, because DCS said we will only do MQA if it’s our way. And I to watch Darko allot and he was using Empyrean and another okay headphone. I had the Empyrean which was really good and anyone getting into this hobby would be my first choice for them easy to power plays with all DAC’s with ease. I’m using the 1266 Phi TC and Susvara’s which both are hard to power to get there FULL POTENTIAL out of them, and yes you can use the Bartok which I did but was 60% of there capability. I’ve owned everything and tried everything just because someone is saying this is the thing to buy then they get a free one doesn’t mean that product is best for everyone. Unless DCS will send me one free of charge then I would erase message. 😋
Could you demo Trafomatic Audio Primavera or Vivo flagship tube amp
YES PLEASE 🙏
SS HP Amp suggestions: Burson Soloist 3XP, Flux FA-10 (non pro), iFi Ican Pro, cayin iha-6, Violectric V281, Audio-gd Master 9, Wells Audio Milo, SimAudio Moon 430 HA, Monoprice Liquid Gold, Topping A90 (DMS already did this), Benchmark HPA4, SPL Phonitor X, Pass Labs HPA-1, Bryston BHA-1, Rogue RH-5, Mcintosh MHA150
I WOULD LOVE A 10 VIDEO EDUCATIONAL PLAYLIST. maybe even different than podcast format. Choose the basics of Audio then get into the dirty like noise.
Episode one you can teach what is an Amp an DAc and how they function. Then one on resolution then one on currents and power. Impedance episode. Like all the info needed to comprehend all of your content. Almost like a "we recommend watching these before watching our podcast''. Feel like youd gain a HUGE fan base because your ability to explain a topic without being demeaning is brilliant, 10-30 minute episodes. up to 20 ep. first few short and sweeet almost made for YT/too simple for you guys. then last 10 go as far into detail as you can. Write a script and it'll stay coherent. You have the knowledge but going off the top sometimes is not best for educating
DMS BRO HELP ME
i can watch these for hours and hours and hate when there is a topic they're too scared to touch because it takes a certain knowledge. So tell viewers "we are talking about "xyz" if its getting confusing our episode "xyz" from our "Abyss Audio School Playlist" will go into more detail... watch it then comeback here for more context
Next video... Mytek Manhattan 2 vs dcsBartok for DACs comparison
IMO, Manhattan II has a better HP amp. DCS is the better DAC, but Mytek is faster and more dynamic.
What about lumin x1?
wondering if they would do a cheaper headphone? like 1500€ would be nice..
Great review. Subbed. Thank you.
I feel like maybe there's no good reason to spend $17k on a dac. 🤔
I used to think that the TT2 was my stopping point for dacs. That was until I auditioned the Bartok. It is really expensive but my god does it sound incredible.
Except if you want goosebumps, chills and tears.
@@klewja On the DCS forum as well as by high end reviewers, there seems to be a consensus that a high end pre-amp significantly improves sound into power amps feeding speakers.This suggests that the BArtok , though very transparent and detailed, perhaps still has an element of harshness from its in built pre-amp.
Miracle oil for your ears. rofl
It'd be fun if you do Flux lab fa10 pro and schiit bifrost 2 combo that costs 1550 total.. 😁
It's my goal if I somehow earn enough for 1266. I'm certain I won't be able to spend more than 2000 after spending 5000 on a headphone. And that day won't come very soon either. 😂
And congrats on growing by more than 50% after the airpods max video! ❤️
Chord Dave vs. dCS Bartok vs. Holo May Kitsune vs. EMM Dv2 vs. MSB Diamond vs. Berkeley Audio Reference vs. Rockna Wavelight vs. Denafrips Pontus/Terminator vs. Lampizator Pacific vs. Audio Note Dac5 vs. Accuphase DC950 vs. Ypsilon Dac 100 vs. Esoteric vs. Sonnet Morpheus vs. Mola Mola Tambaqui... = Ultimate Dac shootout
Since you mentioned Denafrips, I wiuld suggest the Audio-gd R7HE to come to the test queue. Possible?
Would rather see the Metrum Acoustics Adagio or Pavane in there in place of the Morpheus TBH.
@@johnratcliffe6438 Were just picking nits at this point..
@@aceofspades6667 High level for sure.
I'll tell you now that the DV2 is on a level beyond most of these except Lampizator, Audio Note and maybe Berkeley reference, but they are all very different. I actually replaced my Bartok with a DA2 that I got at huge discount and am very happy with it.
i hear both AC and background hiss
from Bartok?
Hiiii
nice to hear you also used it out to speakers... however, you didn't mention much about that experience (source materials, outputs used...etc.)
Guess i'd just like to hear how it sounds w/ DSD out to a preamp.
anyway, nice "use w/ headphones" review.
This is a top shelf DAC
@@ABYSSHeadphones - thanks for the touch back.
Just get an AM DAC/1.
Tube HP Amp suggestions: ZMF Pendant, Feliks Audio Elise, Auris HA2, Cayin HA300, Dragon Inspire IHA-1 , Ultrasonic Oblivion, Woo WA22, ampsandsound Mogwai SE, Yamamoto HA-03, Audiovalve Luminare , Eddie Current Balancing Act/ Aficionado , LTA Linear Tube Audio Z10, EAR HP4 , Apex Teton , Manley Absolute amp, DNA Stellaris , Moth si2A3, VIVA EGOISTA 845, trafomatic primavera
Hi I have the Feliks Audio Euforia and it does not drive Abyss, the Cayin HA- 6 A perhaps???
@@yoramdiamand wow I’m surprised the Euphoria is not enough.
I'd really like one of these. but it's almost £15K in the UK. FML.
The better DCS Vivaldi DAC with external clock
sounds better...Bartok is just ok. For this money the Mola Mola Tambaqui is better @13k. I also like the Lampizator's too and have a Lampizator Baltic but the Bartok might be a tad better then my cheaper 5 grand solution...That's my 2 cents. At this level they are all pretty decent.
I think Lamps look hideous though, and that's an issue when you're spending so much. How it sounds must equal how it looks.
Don't forget that this also has network streaming build in. So it's the equivalent of the DCS Network Bridge, with a TOTL DAC and HPA. No f*cking cables to buy. OMG. So appealing.
The Vivaldi DAC+Clock combo may sound better, but it's also £39,000 vs "only" £15,000. Even in the high-end, these are leagues apart in pricing.
And that's low-end/ entry level...
This DAC reminds me of my watch. My watch is on the “low end” and it costs 23kUSD. There are “high-end” watch from the same brand house that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. And this DAC has its high end unit that cost over 150k.
DCS is extremely expensive, but still is somewhat taste dependent. For the BMW level money I'd rather have something less analytical like MSB, Lampizator, or EMM Labs.
@@chipsnmydip What kind of headphones you have? I was almost going to get Abyss 1266 but did not. Got an entry level audiophile headphones of focal Celestee and Chord Mojo. They do more than the job for me for now - I use them while traveling with my iPad Pro
@@crisyorke1328 I have Meze Empyrean and Audeze LCD-XC. They are probably pretty forgiving and easy to drive in terms of planars. Also on order is Abyss Diana TC... I do still like Beyerdynamic stuff.
@@chipsnmydip Wow, not bad! I ordered LCD 3F and HD800 few years back but didn’t have stock back then. Focal Celestee would do. I wanted to get T1p seeing that it’s quite affordable (also made in Germany) but I reckon that I would be traveling and moving places quite a lot so I’ll stick with the Celestee. I have grado SR225 and Velodyne vTrue
@@chipsnmydip I like my headphone to produce warm, balanced, slightly forward and layered music. I’m not really a fan of wide soundstage and bass heavy headphones. I like them natural sounding
how much better is it over Chord DAVE?
THAT much better... The Chord apart from that gets the award for the world’s ugliest design
@@bikemike1118 Hardly that much better when the Chord measures far better and wins the RMAF HiFi press best DAC award two years in a row over even the dCS Vivaldi (and measures better than that too).
@@rustygates3367 are you getting off by measurements…or do you listen to music? Measurements are for novices only!!
@@bikemike1118 I've auditioned both the the DAVE and Vivaldi. The DAVE just hits the spot.
🤦♂️
Theirs more expensive DACS than this one!!!
First! 😅
Who needs a car or a expensive hobby like motorcycles etc when you can have this instead. How do I say this ncely...you guys have had this top shelf dac/streamer/preamp and headphone amp and not even used the streaming portion with the app? It's terrible one box solution to your system or just to your favorite headphones. And if you have tidal and use this to decode mqa, it does it better than any dac out there. I'm not a mqa fan but the folks at meridian that developed mqa decoding implement it inside all dcs dacs. Trying to figure out why it makes more a difference through Dcs dacs than others like a mytek dac. Feels like a missed opportunity to try it streaming capabilities. You should report back on it with another follow up video. I feel sorry for folks who hear this dac and have to go back to what their using. It sorta ruins ya !
That "richness" you are referring to is the orders of magnitude more distortion on the dCS over the DAVE...in the end...not a good thing.
I take it you have links to measurements of both DAC’’s?
We did a video on distortion, ruclips.net/video/x56ptqI76GI/видео.html