Douk Audio DAC Q11. Dual DAC Chips & Swappable Op-Amps? How cool is that? Let’s dig around inside! I had a lot of fun listening to and playing around with this very unique and affordable DAC. It has an ESS Sabre chipset, it has an AKM Velvet Sound chipset, it has swappable op-amps! Very cool. Douk Audio DAC-Q11: amzn.to/4gnjzxt. If you wish to join the channel and become a member please click here: www.youtube.com/@OldGuyHifi/membership
Thank you. It seems that some in our hobby are impatient and don't want to wait. I am with you. Listen and get used to the sound before you make any changes. Thx so much for the comment and view.
I had 2 burson v7 vidids laying around, which cost 170, same as this dac. I needed something to put them in but didn't wanna break the bank. So i bought this dac, haven't listened to it with the stock op amps as i switched the v7 in right out of the box.... and i gotta say, amazing. I own several dacs and this with the v7 vivid is spectacular. For the money this dac is the absolute best iv ever had and for a multitude of reasons!
Thanks for this video. I picked up a Douk Q11 and went to ali express and picked up 2 SX52B Full Discrete Dual Op Amp Modules. Easy to swap... now this unit sounds sublime for $30 upgrade. Initially I bought it as a toy to use with my Hifiman ef600 just for fun, but after the swap I find myself listening to the ess side of the Q11 for a change of pace and subtle details. Cheap things like this make the hobby fun.
Bill, Truer words have not been spoken. Fiddling with this stuff is so fun. With the barrier to entry being so low we can fool around and if something blows up no biggie. I am going to order some of those SX52Bs right now. Thx for the good comment.
@@OldGuyHifi Ed, I have an oddball question... maybe I'm confused or this is an anomaly. After swapping op amps to this SX52B it seems I can play either dac just switching with the remote, or both at the same time. I've got rca running from output 1 into the single side rcas of my amp. Nothing is plugged into output 2. I don't remember being able to do this before... the sound changes are apparent in the lower end so it genuinely sounds like the akm side is playing when selected, and the sound thins a bit in midrange when I select the ess side... then when I select the akm and ess option it sounds blended but I only have rcas plugged into output 1?? This ability only seems to have happened after the op amp swap... am I confused or is this part of the design? I was under the impression each dac had its own dedicated output side. You are literally the only person I know to ask so any help is greatly appreciated!
@@Bill-ps2wt Bill, despite what some other reviews have said there is no blended mode. It is either the AKM or the ESS on their individual RCA outs. What I think is happing is something I suspected and eluded to in my review. The swappable op-amps only effect the AKM side. There are two separate op-amps soldered to the board adjacent to the ESS chip. I have OPA1656's in my Q11 and because I don't listen to the ESS side I haven't noticed an issue. I will try tonight. You might want to swap the old 5532s back in and see if the issue goes away. It could be the SX52Bs. I ordered 4 for myself and will check them when they get here but there is always a chance the chips could be substandard or knock offs. Swap back in the old ones and let me know what happens.
I don't think you can run two DAC chips off a single pair of op-amps. That's what thought since I found those other two op-amps soldered to the board by the ESS chip
@@OldGuyHifi I really appreciate your reply, I'm really not sure what is happening, at this point all I can say is regardless of the issue or actually lack thereof, it still sounds good so I'll chalk it up to a win 😄
I'm glad you got a chance to play with this dac, I thought it looked very interesting too. I really liked your review of it better than other reviews I've seen. Excellent job, Ed.
Thanks remember! Vinyl dynamic range is about 70db so lower in audirvana about -3db-5db before amplification can help put it it alignment with how we one listened to Vinyl only
@@OldGuyHifiAudiohalics recently did a live stream proving -3 decibel concept work it's been a defect for more than 20 years in DAC design.... ESS chip digital glare can be mitigated.. they proved it go look for yourself
Great rundown, and BTW, Klemmer is one of my favs and that album is stunning! I have the half speed pressing that is fantastic! FYI - from DOUK - "There are 3 working modes with 2 different sound effects, supporting simultaneous output of AK4493 or ESS9038Q2M to groups 1 and 2, or AK4493 output to group 1 and ESS9038Q2M output to group 2."
Yes. I have the MFSL Gold Ultra disc version. I knew about the DAC outputs and mentioned them. The misunderstanding is that some have said you can blend the two chips to a single output which is not true. Thx my friend.
Another fun, inexpensive bit of kit given a great test by you Ed. Thanks for another review. Your sub numbers are going great. I predict 10K within the next 6 weeks.
I love your videos Ed! You know you hit the big time when you have your own theme song! BTW I switched my Marantz 2220b to my living room and I am using my HK 3370 in my large listening room. Great stuff!
It wouldn’t necessarily be a product for me, but it is a compelling little unit. Two DACs in one box, perhaps even different opamps per DAC. You could even set it up so one is tailored to one genre and one to another of your faves. You could connect to two different inputs on your preamp and simply switch between them. Great idea at a great price point.
Great job, Ed. I’ve seen this dac around. Interesting to be able to switch dac chips and roll opamps at that price. It’s a cool device. I have an ESS Geshelli J2 that was produced while the AK factory was down. It isn’t glarey at all but it’s Geshelli.
Thank you for your time and efforts sharing this content with us all. However, having just got an SMSL D1se DAC at a steal, which is night and day difference to my Loxjie D40 Pro, I really don't think I need equipment the feeds my FOMO or ADHD with all these options. Take care, my friend.
Ed that DAC will perform better with a cleaner power supply... Pro tip# enable volume control in Audirvana lower it about -3db if it doesn't lower or eliminate the digital glare please let me know... Pro tip # 2 the most expensive component in Audio is the power supply if the Q11 has a better power it will sell for $600-$1200
John, Double check. I think it is a Cirrus Logic CS4398. Which I believe is a carry over chip set from when Cirrus bought Wolfson. Wolfson made some great chips. I mean really good. Let mew know if I am incorrect. Thx.
@@OldGuyHifi Hey! I wish I could share a photo! Sorry, I think you are right! My brain was remembering the DAC chip in their c-dac 15.3 CD player. There are 2134 op amps on the DAC board and a large CM6631A chip as well. The other chips are harder to read. I love that you show the internals!
I’m so glad you did this video! I mentioned in your CXA81 mkii video that I have the CXA81. I’ve wondered what a different dac would sound like and have been hemming and hawing over maybe buying this. I’ll likely pick one up, just to see if spending more on a geshelli labs dac would be worth it, or if I’ll even notice all that much. Thanks!
Andy, It is a good little unit. I do think it better than the built in DAC on the CXA81. You can change its sonic signature by just switching chips or rolling op-amps. which kind of future proofs you. Let me know what you choose to do. Thanks so much for the comment.
Excellent video, thanks. Is it necessary to swap 2 op amps if you only listen to 1 of the 2 DAC chips (i.e. only the AKM chip)? The Geshelli J2S only takes 1 op amp for the single ended outputs; you only need 2 if you're using the balanced outputs.
You have to swap both chips on the Douk. The J2S has different configuration as it only has a single chip and therefore the power supply can pick up the slack. On the Douk both chips get power all the time so the extra op-amp is needed to make up for that. On the balanced side of the J2S there are two additional op-amps (TI-OPA1656) soldered to the board to provide some additional gain prior to the swappable op-amps. Clear as mud, right? Thanks for the great question.
I have one. I bought it mainly for volume control on my older pre-amps with no remote. So far it sounds good. Haven't changed the opp amps yet. I don't know if I will or not.
That's very interesting that you feel the stock opamps are good enough that the Sparkos aren't necessary. (I wonder how you'd feel if the Sparkos were much less expensive). I'm still leaning towards the Aune x8 VIII with Sparkos. I'm guessing that's got to be better than my current e30 by topping and Tone 2 Pro by Khadas. Maybe this Douk can better them. Again as I've mentioned I'm looking for a deeper soundstage with more 3d depth. Would you mind letting us know what profession you used to be in? Thanks from one old guy to another
I don't think it is wise to spend the money on the Sparkos on this level of DAC as good as it is. The differences were so subtle. On a higher performance DAC the difference are still not night and day but are certainly more discernable. I would advocate for getting a unit like a Geshelli J2S and then roll the op-amps. I was in the audio world for many years. I was in retail audio, Pro audio and worked for several large audio manufacturers. My last position was as Exec. Sales Director for a 100 year old Japanese opto-electronics company. I retired last year. Thanks for asking.
Honestly, only if it is in the recording. Let me modify that statement. On the AKM side no on the ESS side it did exhibit that glare that I don't on endlessly about. Not sibilance though. Thx
@@OldGuyHifi I think crispier should be reserved for potato chips and not sonic characteristics. A lot of reviewers describe sound as being crispy instead of being crisp.
Awesome Ed loved it again. Great to be able to switch from ESS to AKM platforms, what an idea. How about the difference from digital source? I hear people going on and on about timing issues and jitter. In any case would you say there's a difference if you use this with a Wiim source compared to Cambridge Audio? Purely sonic, not about user experience. I guess it's hard /impossible to be able to hear any difference that came from the digital domain... BTW: does this have a SMPS power brick and if yes, would you say changing to linear could improve the performance? Thanks!!!
Good to hear from you again. In my experience there is a big sonic difference between the WiiM, iFi, Bluesound, Volumio, Heos, and Playfi, and the Cambridge Stream Magic gear. My understanding is that many of those devices have very inexpensive and poorly implemented oscillator clocks and suffer from a lot of jitter and timing issues. I have several viewers who have gone from WiiM/Bluesound, et, al, to the MXN10 and said the difference was night and day. I can hear a big difference as well. That's why I returned the WiiM pro I previously reviewed and did not care for the Blue OS in the NAD C700. How the device re-times the incoming digital signal, applies jitter reduction and noise shaping makes a huge difference. Same concept as using a re-clocker or a DDS on a DAC. Does that answer your question. Let me know please. Thank you.
Great review. What is the advantage of the DIP8 risers? Can you point me to where you bought yours from? I’m not sure which to order. Thanks for a great channel.
The Dip 8 risers have far more robust pins then the chip itself. They can be plugged and unplugged frequently without damage to the pins. I found some on eBay here: www.ebay.com/itm/393249386684?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=unzbbxborng&sssrc=2047675&ssuid=MQsvogM1QM6&var=662173920615&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY Let me know how it goes. Thank you.
Thx for review. I want to use another dac with Bluetooth to pass signal through optical to douk.Does the Bluetooth pass song data without changing quality or first dac affect it?
Why not just use the DAC you have? My guess is your current set up is fine. Bluetooth has the lowest resolution of digital music. The Douk can't improve that. Thx.
@OldGuyHifi i have DAC with Bluetooth supporting LDAC but curious if signal send through Bluetooth then from first Dac to another then amplifier affect the signal or digital information of the song is passed to second DAC to be processed.
No. It doesn't. I am not sure that is a real issue at this price point. I find all those filters and sound color settings to have little to effect on the sound. Great question. Thx for watching.
@@OldGuyHifi very true especially today all the DAC"s performance is so far beyond our human abilities. Maybe I should get pure silver cables that will change the sound {{laughs}} .
@@OldGuyHifi but on the screen says: AKM+ESS. THAT is one of the modes . There are three of them. There is a sound test of all three modes, here on RUclips.
@@Jil8840 Yes it does says that but that is just showing both chips are active on their individual RCA outputs. Each chip has a discrete RCA out. It is not possible to have two separate chips output on a single RCA. It is all explained in the review. You can output both chips at the same time on their individual RCA outputs on separate cables. Period. The sound test is flawed. It doesn't work that way. I even said so in the video. I use product and check it thoroughly. It would seem some reviewers apparently don't. Thx.
@@OldGuyHifibut there are many Dacs that use two different chips working together, are they different in construction than this one? For example : Topping E30 II DAC Preamp - 2 x AK4493S e E30 II uses two sub-flagship chips AK4493S of VELVET sound technology from AKM. AK4493S is an updated version of the previous AK4493. Two AK4493S in parallel can achieve better performance and responsiveness than a single chip
@@Jil8840 Those are the same chips with the same power requirements, same architecture, same pin outs. In the Q11 the output for the AKM chip is 1.8 volts and 2 volts for the ESS chip. They are incompatible. I agree about the AKM chips as they are my favorite Delta-Sigma chips. BTW, the 4493S is the 5 volt mobile version of that chip. It is not an upgrade. The bigger brother AKM4499/4191 Hybrid Multi-Bit Switched resistor chips are a real game changer. Thx.
@@OldGuyHifi Musical StarStreams… there is a Wikipedia page (of course). Do you remember how we might have listened in Chicago back in the 80s? Perhaps I listened when I was in school down in Champaign.
@@OldGuyHifi Sure… in the early 80’s, WDAI transitioned from “Disco DAI” (which itself had been the flashpoint culminating in Steve Dahl’s Disco Demolition) to an adult contemporary format WRCK (which might have carried Musical StarStreams) before then merging with WLS to become WLS-FM (ironically later the home to Steve Dahl).
I won't tolerate anyone disparaging a product based on its country of origin. My guess is that you own a lot of things made in China. You could have phrased that better. Believe me, I have no love for the PRC. BTW, It does use the AKM4493 chip. For someone starting out it may be their best choice. It is in no way a knock off of Genos designs. I own a Geshelli J2S AK4499 which I love. I have a Dayzee in for review. I would not compare a Geshelli unit to something at this price. Rolling op-amps has been around for a longtime especially in the pro audio world. That's how Andrew Sparks got started. Please let's just focus on the gear and its price v. performance. Thank you.
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
Douk Audio DAC Q11. Dual DAC Chips & Swappable Op-Amps? How cool is that? Let’s dig around inside! I had a lot of fun listening to and playing around with this very unique and affordable DAC. It has an ESS Sabre chipset, it has an AKM Velvet Sound chipset, it has swappable op-amps! Very cool. Douk Audio DAC-Q11: amzn.to/4gnjzxt. If you wish to join the channel and become a member please click here: www.youtube.com/@OldGuyHifi/membership
Listen to what you’ve purchased for two months before upgrading is such solid advice. Thanks for another honest review Ed.
Thank you. It seems that some in our hobby are impatient and don't want to wait. I am with you. Listen and get used to the sound before you make any changes. Thx so much for the comment and view.
I had 2 burson v7 vidids laying around, which cost 170, same as this dac. I needed something to put them in but didn't wanna break the bank. So i bought this dac, haven't listened to it with the stock op amps as i switched the v7 in right out of the box.... and i gotta say, amazing. I own several dacs and this with the v7 vivid is spectacular. For the money this dac is the absolute best iv ever had and for a multitude of reasons!
I never thought I'd live to see the day that op-amps became the new vacuum tubes.
Kinda nuts isn't it? Thx.
Thanks for this video. I picked up a Douk Q11 and went to ali express and picked up 2 SX52B Full Discrete Dual Op Amp Modules. Easy to swap... now this unit sounds sublime for $30 upgrade. Initially I bought it as a toy to use with my Hifiman ef600 just for fun, but after the swap I find myself listening to the ess side of the Q11 for a change of pace and subtle details. Cheap things like this make the hobby fun.
Bill, Truer words have not been spoken. Fiddling with this stuff is so fun. With the barrier to entry being so low we can fool around and if something blows up no biggie. I am going to order some of those SX52Bs right now. Thx for the good comment.
@@OldGuyHifi Ed, I have an oddball question... maybe I'm confused or this is an anomaly. After swapping op amps to this SX52B it seems I can play either dac just switching with the remote, or both at the same time. I've got rca running from output 1 into the single side rcas of my amp. Nothing is plugged into output 2. I don't remember being able to do this before... the sound changes are apparent in the lower end so it genuinely sounds like the akm side is playing when selected, and the sound thins a bit in midrange when I select the ess side... then when I select the akm and ess option it sounds blended but I only have rcas plugged into output 1?? This ability only seems to have happened after the op amp swap... am I confused or is this part of the design? I was under the impression each dac had its own dedicated output side. You are literally the only person I know to ask so any help is greatly appreciated!
@@Bill-ps2wt Bill, despite what some other reviews have said there is no blended mode. It is either the AKM or the ESS on their individual RCA outs. What I think is happing is something I suspected and eluded to in my review. The swappable op-amps only effect the AKM side. There are two separate op-amps soldered to the board adjacent to the ESS chip. I have OPA1656's in my Q11 and because I don't listen to the ESS side I haven't noticed an issue. I will try tonight. You might want to swap the old 5532s back in and see if the issue goes away. It could be the SX52Bs. I ordered 4 for myself and will check them when they get here but there is always a chance the chips could be substandard or knock offs. Swap back in the old ones and let me know what happens.
I don't think you can run two DAC chips off a single pair of op-amps. That's what thought since I found those other two op-amps soldered to the board by the ESS chip
@@OldGuyHifi I really appreciate your reply, I'm really not sure what is happening, at this point all I can say is regardless of the issue or actually lack thereof, it still sounds good so I'll chalk it up to a win 😄
I'm glad you got a chance to play with this dac, I thought it looked very interesting too. I really liked your review of it better than other reviews I've seen. Excellent job, Ed.
Thank you so much John.
Thanks, I learned something today that no other reviewer mentioned until today; that ESS vs AKM is a voltage operated vs a current operated DAC chip.
I am glad you got something out of one of my videos. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Thanks remember! Vinyl dynamic range is about 70db so lower in audirvana about -3db-5db before amplification can help put it it alignment with how we one listened to Vinyl only
Thank you so much for supporting the channel. I do appreciate it.
@@OldGuyHifiAudiohalics recently did a live stream proving -3 decibel concept work it's been a defect for more than 20 years in DAC design.... ESS chip digital glare can be mitigated.. they proved it go look for yourself
Another balance and educational video. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us. 💜
Thank you for the kind words.
Great rundown, and BTW, Klemmer is one of my favs and that album is stunning! I have the half speed pressing that is fantastic!
FYI - from DOUK - "There are 3 working modes with 2 different sound effects, supporting simultaneous output of AK4493 or ESS9038Q2M to groups 1 and 2, or AK4493 output to group 1 and ESS9038Q2M output to group 2."
Yes. I have the MFSL Gold Ultra disc version. I knew about the DAC outputs and mentioned them. The misunderstanding is that some have said you can blend the two chips to a single output which is not true. Thx my friend.
Another fun, inexpensive bit of kit given a great test by you Ed. Thanks for another review. Your sub numbers are going great. I predict 10K within the next 6 weeks.
Daz, Thank you for your support and 🤞your prediction comes true.
I love your videos Ed! You know you hit the big time when you have your own theme song! BTW I switched my Marantz 2220b to my living room and I am using my HK 3370 in my large listening room. Great stuff!
Thanks Mike. Keep me post on that HK and your thoughts.
Hi Ed. Top of your game here. A lot going on but they way you lay it out even I understand it. Well done.
Thanks Chris.
It wouldn’t necessarily be a product for me, but it is a compelling little unit. Two DACs in one box, perhaps even different opamps per DAC. You could even set it up so one is tailored to one genre and one to another of your faves. You could connect to two different inputs on your preamp and simply switch between them. Great idea at a great price point.
I was very impressed with the concept. Damn thing sounds decent too. I like the AKM side best. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
Thanks
Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.
Great job, Ed. I’ve seen this dac around. Interesting to be able to switch dac chips and roll opamps at that price. It’s a cool device. I have an ESS Geshelli J2 that was produced while the AK factory was down. It isn’t glarey at all but it’s Geshelli.
Geno right? The guy's a genius.
@@OldGuyHifiHe is.
Great video, full of passion and useful tips. Nice to see some good common sense in this hobby!
Raphael, Thank you for the kind words. I am grateful. Thanks for watching.
Thank you for your time and efforts sharing this content with us all. However, having just got an SMSL D1se DAC at a steal, which is night and day difference to my Loxjie D40 Pro, I really don't think I need equipment the feeds my FOMO or ADHD with all these options. Take care, my friend.
Thank you sir.
I have that Klemer LP and the sax sounds very realistic.
How fun! 🎉
Ed that DAC will perform better with a cleaner power supply... Pro tip# enable volume control in Audirvana lower it about -3db if it doesn't lower or eliminate the digital glare please let me know...
Pro tip # 2 the most expensive component in Audio is the power supply if the Q11 has a better power it will sell for $600-$1200
seems like a fun unit. Others may have reviewed it, But you Edified it when the top came off.🥳
Thanks my friend.
Loving your videos! The Music Hall a30.3 integrated amp is using the Burr Brown 2134 op amps.
John, Double check. I think it is a Cirrus Logic CS4398. Which I believe is a carry over chip set from when Cirrus bought Wolfson. Wolfson made some great chips. I mean really good. Let mew know if I am incorrect. Thx.
@@OldGuyHifi Hey! I wish I could share a photo! Sorry, I think you are right! My brain was remembering the DAC chip in their c-dac 15.3 CD player. There are 2134 op amps on the DAC board and a large CM6631A chip as well. The other chips are harder to read. I love that you show the internals!
I’m so glad you did this video! I mentioned in your CXA81 mkii video that I have the CXA81. I’ve wondered what a different dac would sound like and have been hemming and hawing over maybe buying this. I’ll likely pick one up, just to see if spending more on a geshelli labs dac would be worth it, or if I’ll even notice all that much. Thanks!
Andy, It is a good little unit. I do think it better than the built in DAC on the CXA81. You can change its sonic signature by just switching chips or rolling op-amps. which kind of future proofs you. Let me know what you choose to do. Thanks so much for the comment.
Excellent video, thanks. Is it necessary to swap 2 op amps if you only listen to 1 of the 2 DAC chips (i.e. only the AKM chip)? The Geshelli J2S only takes 1 op amp for the single ended outputs; you only need 2 if you're using the balanced outputs.
You have to swap both chips on the Douk. The J2S has different configuration as it only has a single chip and therefore the power supply can pick up the slack. On the Douk both chips get power all the time so the extra op-amp is needed to make up for that. On the balanced side of the J2S there are two additional op-amps (TI-OPA1656) soldered to the board to provide some additional gain prior to the swappable op-amps. Clear as mud, right? Thanks for the great question.
I have one. I bought it mainly for volume control on my older pre-amps with no remote. So far it sounds good. Haven't changed the opp amps yet. I don't know if I will or not.
It sounds really good with the OE op-amps. Just enjoy. Thx.
Great video, very informative!
Thank you so much for your view and comment.
That's very interesting that you feel the stock opamps are good enough that the Sparkos aren't necessary. (I wonder how you'd feel if the Sparkos were much less expensive).
I'm still leaning towards the Aune x8 VIII with Sparkos. I'm guessing that's got to be better than my current e30 by topping and Tone 2 Pro by Khadas. Maybe this Douk can better them. Again as I've mentioned I'm looking for a deeper soundstage with more 3d depth.
Would you mind letting us know what profession you used to be in?
Thanks from one old guy to another
I don't think it is wise to spend the money on the Sparkos on this level of DAC as good as it is. The differences were so subtle. On a higher performance DAC the difference are still not night and day but are certainly more discernable. I would advocate for getting a unit like a Geshelli J2S and then roll the op-amps. I was in the audio world for many years. I was in retail audio, Pro audio and worked for several large audio manufacturers. My last position was as Exec. Sales Director for a 100 year old Japanese opto-electronics company. I retired last year. Thanks for asking.
@@OldGuyHifi No kidding. I assumed you were a pro.
I lived in Japan for 30 yrs. That's one reason my SS is so low
Thank you....🙂👌🍀🖖🎶🌞🏖👋
From another " old guy"🤭
Personally, where do you make the old man cut off ?!? Really clear, interesting and enjoyable review !! Thanks. Bill from Northeast France !!!
According to my wife, I have always been old. I am glad you are enjoying the channel. Thx.
Enjoyed your straight-forward review! Is sibilance an issue
Honestly, only if it is in the recording. Let me modify that statement. On the AKM side no on the ESS side it did exhibit that glare that I don't on endlessly about. Not sibilance though. Thx
Thank you for saying “crisper” rather than “crispier”.
Is crispier even a word? Kind of like "irregardless?"
@@OldGuyHifi I think crispier should be reserved for potato chips and not sonic characteristics. A lot of reviewers describe sound as being crispy instead of being crisp.
Awesome Ed loved it again. Great to be able to switch from ESS to AKM platforms, what an idea.
How about the difference from digital source? I hear people going on and on about timing issues and jitter.
In any case would you say there's a difference if you use this with a Wiim source compared to Cambridge Audio?
Purely sonic, not about user experience. I guess it's hard /impossible to be able to hear any difference that came from the digital domain...
BTW: does this have a SMPS power brick and if yes, would you say changing to linear could improve the performance?
Thanks!!!
Good to hear from you again. In my experience there is a big sonic difference between the WiiM, iFi, Bluesound, Volumio, Heos, and Playfi, and the Cambridge Stream Magic gear. My understanding is that many of those devices have very inexpensive and poorly implemented oscillator clocks and suffer from a lot of jitter and timing issues. I have several viewers who have gone from WiiM/Bluesound, et, al, to the MXN10 and said the difference was night and day. I can hear a big difference as well. That's why I returned the WiiM pro I previously reviewed and did not care for the Blue OS in the NAD C700. How the device re-times the incoming digital signal, applies jitter reduction and noise shaping makes a huge difference. Same concept as using a re-clocker or a DDS on a DAC. Does that answer your question. Let me know please. Thank you.
@@OldGuyHifi awesome, thanks for taking the time to answer so elaborate and comprehensive!
this is so much easier than the aune magic dac to swap amps.
Great review. What is the advantage of the DIP8 risers? Can you point me to where you bought yours from? I’m not sure which to order. Thanks for a great channel.
The Dip 8 risers have far more robust pins then the chip itself. They can be plugged and unplugged frequently without damage to the pins.
I found some on eBay here: www.ebay.com/itm/393249386684?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=unzbbxborng&sssrc=2047675&ssuid=MQsvogM1QM6&var=662173920615&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
Let me know how it goes. Thank you.
Thx for review. I want to use another dac with Bluetooth to pass signal through optical to douk.Does the Bluetooth pass song data without changing quality or first dac affect it?
Why not just use the DAC you have? My guess is your current set up is fine. Bluetooth has the lowest resolution of digital music. The Douk can't improve that. Thx.
@OldGuyHifi i have DAC with Bluetooth supporting LDAC but curious if signal send through Bluetooth then from first Dac to another then amplifier affect the signal or digital information of the song is passed to second DAC to be processed.
Can you use OPA1612 or muse ?
I don't know. I did try those. I would think so. Thx.
Hello, can I plug an Android tablet into this dac?
Yes so as long as it is USB out. You will want to get the app USB Audio Pro so you can bypass Androids resampling nonsense.
Thank you for your answer, and yes indeed there is a USB-C port on my tablet
@@brunsbruns1327 You should be good to go.
does this unit have the ability to change the filters on each of the DAC chips ESS and the AKM?
No. It doesn't. I am not sure that is a real issue at this price point. I find all those filters and sound color settings to have little to effect on the sound. Great question. Thx for watching.
@@OldGuyHifi very true especially today all the DAC"s performance is so far beyond our human abilities. Maybe I should get pure silver cables that will change the sound {{laughs}} .
That and a tin foil hat will everything "Audiophile." Thx.
Does this dac have a fixed line output? Or is it always variable output?
Always variable.
@ thank you sir! Does it support dsd over pcm? DoP?
Hi, my I use OPA1642 , OPA1656 and OPA1612 with this dac ?
They should work just fine.
@@OldGuyHifi thank you. I wasn't sure I can use them. I know there are single and dual opamps but that's all I know about 👍
Isn't there an option of both dacs working together??¿????
Yes on their own individual RCA outputs. They cannot be mixed.
@@OldGuyHifi but on the screen says: AKM+ESS. THAT is one of the modes . There are three of them. There is a sound test of all three modes, here on RUclips.
@@Jil8840 Yes it does says that but that is just showing both chips are active on their individual RCA outputs. Each chip has a discrete RCA out. It is not possible to have two separate chips output on a single RCA. It is all explained in the review. You can output both chips at the same time on their individual RCA outputs on separate cables. Period. The sound test is flawed. It doesn't work that way. I even said so in the video. I use product and check it thoroughly. It would seem some reviewers apparently don't. Thx.
@@OldGuyHifibut there are many Dacs that use two different chips working together, are they different in construction than this one? For example :
Topping E30 II DAC Preamp - 2 x AK4493S
e E30 II uses two sub-flagship chips AK4493S of VELVET sound technology from AKM. AK4493S is an updated version of the previous AK4493. Two AK4493S in parallel can achieve better performance and responsiveness than a single chip
@@Jil8840 Those are the same chips with the same power requirements, same architecture, same pin outs. In the Q11 the output for the AKM chip is 1.8 volts and 2 volts for the ESS chip. They are incompatible. I agree about the AKM chips as they are my favorite Delta-Sigma chips. BTW, the 4493S is the 5 volt mobile version of that chip. It is not an upgrade. The bigger brother AKM4499/4191 Hybrid Multi-Bit Switched resistor chips are a real game changer. Thx.
Cool
Try the Philips NE5532, they will surprise you.
If I get a chance I will . Thanks for the suggestion.
Forest on Digital Star Streams… Hah! 🤣
You remember?
@@OldGuyHifi I’m trying to recall more details. Was Star Streams maybe syndicated on some Chicago radio station in the past?
@@OldGuyHifi Musical StarStreams… there is a Wikipedia page (of course). Do you remember how we might have listened in Chicago back in the 80s? Perhaps I listened when I was in school down in Champaign.
@@SteveWille I think it was on WDAI which later became WLS-FM
@@OldGuyHifi Sure… in the early 80’s, WDAI transitioned from “Disco DAI” (which itself had been the flashpoint culminating in Steve Dahl’s Disco Demolition) to an adult contemporary format WRCK (which might have carried Musical StarStreams) before then merging with WLS to become WLS-FM (ironically later the home to Steve Dahl).
bummer not in stock
Did you try the Douk Audio web site?
@@OldGuyHifi No I didn't I will check thank you
a cheap chinese knock-off of American made Geshelli Labs J2S DAC design that already allowed op-amp swaps and comes with an AKM 4493 or 4499.
I won't tolerate anyone disparaging a product based on its country of origin. My guess is that you own a lot of things made in China. You could have phrased that better. Believe me, I have no love for the PRC. BTW, It does use the AKM4493 chip. For someone starting out it may be their best choice. It is in no way a knock off of Genos designs. I own a Geshelli J2S AK4499 which I love. I have a Dayzee in for review. I would not compare a Geshelli unit to something at this price. Rolling op-amps has been around for a longtime especially in the pro audio world. That's how Andrew Sparks got started. Please let's just focus on the gear and its price v. performance. Thank you.