Best native DSD DACs for use with HQPlayer?

[ffk (Doctors Practice. Plumbers Perform.)]

Odd. That one worked for me.

[dabassgoesboomboom]

AK4499EX chip

PCM1536 and DSD1024 on USB input !

Need to see the user manual if manufacturer has allowed user to enable DSD Direct mode

Digitally controlled analogue volume control looks good

DAART Yulong Aquila III PCM1536KHz DSD1024 Light Luxury of Personal Preamp...

[Pro_ruei_Yan]

“ Digitally controlled analogue volume control”
may not support DSDD?

New DAC&headphone amplifier which built with ak4499ex will be launched by Gustard.
The matrix relay volume may be used on this product.

[dabassgoesboomboom]

@Pro_ruei_Yan

“ Digitally controlled analogue volume control”
may not support DSDD?

Yes i wrote:

@dabassgoesboomboom

Need to see the user manual if manufacturer has allowed user to enable DSD Direct mode

[dabassgoesboomboom]

@Pro_ruei_Yan

New DAC&headphone amplifier which built with ak4499ex will be launched by Gustard.

There’s already Topping and SMSL using AK4499EX

But this Yulong is first to offer PCM1.5 MHz and DSD1024 on USB input

[Rugby (aka Daniel or Big Dan)]

@dabassgoesboomboom

enable DSD Direct mode

There is a DAC Only Mode, so maybe.

[dabassgoesboomboom]

Yeh Id seen that but wouldn’t spend USD999 on a maybe.

Can’t find the user manual yet

I’ll email Yulong.

[Rugby (aka Daniel or Big Dan)]

Keep us posted as I too am curious.

[dabassgoesboomboom]

At the moment there isn’t really something at the USD1000 mark, that actually performs better than the SMSL D-6 - that I’ve seen anyway.

You need to go to Holo Spring line to better it, at over 10x the price

So this could be interesting - still too many unknowns at this stage.

A USD1000-1200 DSC2/3 could fit perfectly there @jussi_laako

[jussi_laako (Jussi Laako (Signalyst))]

@dabassgoesboomboom

A USD1000-1200 DSC2/3 could fit perfectly there @jussi_laako

I just still don’t have time nor money to become a hardware manufacturer too. And such price level would be really challenging. Something in 10 - 25 k€ range could be more feasible for low sales volume things.

But I’d really prefer not to become a hardware manufacturer.

[Sebastian_Tomita (Sebastian Tomiță)]

Those prices would place you in the snake oil territory (price wise). I’m glad you’re not pursuing that idea.

[jussi_laako (Jussi Laako (Signalyst))]

I don’t think it has to do with snake oil. Sales volumes drive pricing quite a lot.

Building my DSC1 DAC prototype cost me around 1500€ per unit in materials. Took me couple of days to assemble solder it together, that is around 2000€. This doesn’t include yet any casing, just bare boards. Or anything for the time spent on design work. To make it finished product, I would have needed number of prototype rounds and about year of time. So we are talking maybe about 350 k€ up-front investment. If I would sell 100 of such, it would be 3500€ per unit to break even on development cost.

On typical audio device, about 10% of the final sales price is BOM.

[musicjunkie917]

@Sebastian_Tomita

I’m glad you’re not pursuing that idea.

Clearly you have not investigated the cost of professionally designing, developing, testing, manufacturing, marketing, and then selling a product like a low unit sales specialized DAC for even a modest profit.

I think we are better off buying a DAC like the Holo Audio May and just using the DSD section of the DAC than having Jussi spend a lot time on a DAC that does not have broad appeal.

[Sebastian_Tomita (Sebastian Tomiță)]

@jussi_laako

I don’t think it has to do with snake oil. Sales volumes drive pricing quite a lot.

I was actually saying that pricing a DAC that high might make people think that you’re doing business in the style of Chord Electronics, dCS and others. Those DACs are mass produced and yet cost a fortune.

[Sebastian_Tomita (Sebastian Tomiță)]

I agree with the last part.

[dabassgoesboomboom]

@musicjunkie917

I think we are better off buying a DAC like the Holo Audio May and just using the DSD section of the DAC than having Jussi spend a lot time on a DAC that does not have broad appeal.

The problem (big time first world problem) problem is without Jussi’s deep involvement (or his own design) we may never see a DAC that performs spectacular at DSD256 but also does not go backwards (or improves?) in performance going to DSD512 and DSD1024 across all measurements

Even if such was limited to DSD256, something with no wideband (uncorrelated) noise humps plus spectacular audio band performance, still doesn’t exist

It’s possible someone else will do it but Holo and T+A don’t tick this box yet

[dabassgoesboomboom]

I see Pavel is no longer developing DSC2

Somehow Star PureDSD (linked above) featuring DSC2 can sell for a couple thousand euros

We need someone to take over the design and let them continue with the manufacturing side, which they can do cost effectively

Hopefully one day that someone comes otherwise the project stalls forever

[musicjunkie917]

@dabassgoesboomboom

The problem (big time first world problem) problem is without Jussi’s deep involvement (or his own design) we may never see a DAC that performs spectacular at DSD256 but also does not go backwards (or improves?) in performance going to DSD512 and DSD1024 across all measurements

Is this something that @jussi_laako has said the upper end Holo Audio DACs (Spring 3 and May) have a problem with that he could address in his own design?

[dabassgoesboomboom]

Not sure if Holo DACs but he did write publicly (AS Forum) that he knows how to design a DAC that does what I mentioned above

Affordable DAC That Doesn't Resample High Rate DSD? - Page 3 - DAC - Digital to Analog Conversion - Audiophile Style

But probably could tweak the Holo to do it too

We’re all getting old - time is running out for such a DAC

[Moy]

Here’s a new business line for @jussi_laako DAC Tune Up !