Originally Posted by
maverickronin
The DX100 runs the ES9018 in 8 channel mode?
The ES9012 and ES9018 look identical apart from mono and 8 channel support, either the DX100 supports 8 channel via the optical/coaxial out or they just wanted to make a statement by using the ES9018. I believe the Japanese version will support DSD/.DSF, thus the first portable SACD/DSD device since Sony's SACD car stereo, some people like to collect SACD only for the multi-channel recordings, and not for esoteric UHF or 1-bit modulation, so I suppose it makes sense to have the ES9018 there. How 7.1 applies to portable use is another question, but you could always use a Sony or Razer 7.1 surround sound headphone, in theory. =p
(the PS3 7.1 headphone)
Originally Posted by
khaos974 
Do you know how the the ES9023Bis implemented in the AKD-23S and in the ODAC, if you do please explain to me how the implementations are similar.
The measured performance of the ES9023 and the ES9018 aren't even close, enough said.
I think anyone that believes the ODAC has crossed the line into total transparency will most likely believe the AKD-23S has as well, right? so... these two DAC's should sound identical, edit: from that POV.
Likewise, that indicates the Buffalo DAC using ES9018 will sound identical too, there is only one kind of transparency, i.e. the DAC is "not there".
The most apparent differences I can see, the AKD-23S uses a different USB module (HiFace) and the LME49610.
Edited by kiteki - 5/8/12 at 1:47am