[ahmadfaizadnan]

Don't forget to share your thoughts on it once you get it. I also love the digital volume control and handy remote. Having a smaller footprint is also wonderful. The Yggy needs to be on 24/7 to sound best but that's not the requirement for the X-Sabre Pro.

Sure. I'll do it once I have it in hand

 

[MattSPL]

What are people's thoughts on the silver vs black finish on the pro?

 

[purk]

I have the black and it is wonderful to look at. silver looks nice too though.

 

[MattSPL]

I have the black and it is wonderful to look at. silver looks nice too though.

Yes I think I'd have to choose black.
What else have you owned or compared the Pro to? I've had a Quattro for years now.

Cheers
Matt

 

[purk]

You should have gone back and read my posts.

Own/owned

Iggy
ECP prototype DAC
NAD M51
W4S DAC-2
Eximus DP1
Oppo HA-1
Oppo 105

Loaner:
Matrix Quattro
Matrix X-Sabre
Violetric DAC

 

[MattSPL]

You should have gone back and read my posts.

Own/owned

Iggy
ECP prototype DAC
NAD M51
W4S DAC-2
Eximus DP1
Oppo HA-1
Oppo 105

Loaner:
Matrix Quattro
Matrix X-Sabre
Violetric DAC

Thanks, that's quite a collection you've had to compare the Pro with.

 

[Cobold]

I am looking for a comparision to the L.K.S. Audio MH-DA004 Dual ES9038PRO DAC.
This got a lot of praise too.

 

[MINORISUKE]

I am looking for a comparision to the L.K.S. Audio MH-DA004 Dual ES9038PRO DAC.
This got a lot of praise too.

As an owner of X-Sabre PRO, I am also interested in this comparison.
The biggest advantage of X-Sabre PRO that cannot be seen in other similar products is its "sync" mode.
MH-DA004 always uses the internal 100MHz TCXO to run the ES9038PRO chips.
There is an overheating problem reported in CA.

 

[project86]

As an owner of X-Sabre PRO, I am also interested in this comparison.
The biggest advantage of X-Sabre PRO that cannot be seen in other similar products is its "sync" mode.
MH-DA004 always uses the internal 100MHz TCXO to run the ES9038PRO chips.
There is an overheating problem reported in CA.

Yes, the sync mode is really significant.

Also the lack of overheating or other glitches.

 

[Cobold]

Audio-GD now uses the new ES9038 Pro too.
They write about a large advantage of the dual to the single operation.

Quote from Audio-GD
"The different between dual ES9038 Pro and single ES9038 Pro is large:
The different not only the DNR, but the dual ES9038 Pro working under mono mode,
the channel crossing is improve and offer a larger and exact sound stage."

Thats one reason I wonder how good Matrix X-Sabre Pro with single Chip can be in comparision.

 

[project86]

It's tough to say. You'd basically have to have each designer build two prototypes - a single version and a dual DAC version - then listen and compare benefits/drawbacks of each. Based on my experience, some designs to in fact benefit from multiple chips, while others sound great with a single chip. It's all about the implementation. I happen to know of several cost-no-object DACs where the designer specifically told me they got best results from a single chip. Adding another would have been easy, but they felt a single chip was best.

Keep in mind that the ES9028 and ES9038 already have 8 channels internally. So the Matrix X-Sabre Pro is essentially running "quad mono" or 4 "DACs" per stereo channel. Does it benefit from doubling that? Maybe, maybe not.

My favorite DAC ever is the Resonessence Labs Invicta Mirus Pro which runs dual ES9028 chips. But close behind that is the BMC UltraDAC which runs a single chip of the older ES9018.

Given his statement on running dual ES9038s, I wonder why Kingwa always used a single ES9018 in his prior Sabre-based designs?

 

[MINORISUKE]

.....
Keep in mind that the ES9028 and ES9038 already have 8 channels internally. So the Matrix X-Sabre Pro is essentially running "quad mono" or 4 "DACs" per stereo channel. Does it benefit from doubling that? Maybe, maybe not.
.....

According to an interview article with Mr. Dustin Forman of ESS, the ES9038PRO contains x4 DACs on each channel, the toal of which is x32, the ES9028PRO x1 DAC.
This means a use of a single chip ES9038PRO in stereo mode runs x16 DACs in parallel.

 

[project86]

According to an interview article with Mr. Dustin Forman of ESS, the ES9038PRO contains x4 DACs on each channel, the toal of which is x32, the ES9028PRO x1 DAC.
This means a use of a single chip ES9038PRO in stereo mode runs x16 DACs in parallel.

Link to that interview? Because I've got the ES9038 datasheet right here and it clearly says "8-channel Audio DAC".

I'm guessing it's a misunderstanding though. The 9038 quadruples the number of output stages per channel, which improves specs for THD+N and dynamic range. At its heart though, it is just building on the ES9028 core. Incidentally, this is why the ES9028 can work as a drop-in upgrade on (most) existing ES9018S-based designs, while the E9038 can't. The existing I/V stages just won't work.

 

[MINORISUKE]

Link to that interview?
.....

It is an on-line Japanese magazine. Search "dustin forman es9038pro phileweb" and use a translator if necessary.
He says ES9038PRO is an 8-channel audio DAC with x4 DACs in each channel. How can he tell a misleading story? In his interview, he used the word "32 DACs" as well.

 

[project86]

Thank you. I will read up when I get a moment and see what it says. My money is still on a translation issue or misunderstanding, but we'll see.

I do know Dustin Foreman (not that we're buddies or anything but we've spoken on the phone) and I can clarify if need be.