AK4493S / AK4490R Advanced VELVET SOUND Technology Developer's Interview

[hmscott]

Hi, I happened to see a new Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM) DAC video released on AKM and on Youtube minutes ago, , along with technical specifications, AKM has released the AK4493S and AK4490R DACs, as new products under the VELVET SOUND brand.

We interviewed the developers about the latest evolution of VELVET SOUND technology.
https://www.akm.com/us/en/products/audio/audio-dac/

AK4493S/AK4490R: Velvet Sound HiFi DACs by AKM
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AK4493SEQ NEW 123dB 768kHz / 32-bit 2 channel Premium DAC
https://www.akm.com/us/en/products/audio/audio-dac/ak4493seq/

AK4490REQ NEW 120dB 768kHz / 32-bit 2 channel Premium DAC
https://www.akm.com/us/en/products/audio/audio-dac/ak4490req/

Has anyone seen any new development using the new AKM DAC chips?

PS: If there is a better thread to post this news, please move it there, Thank you!

 

[dunring]

I've heard there wouldn't be new products with them announced until January. Probably the lead time to implement it. I've got a Topping d10b and so happy with it I can wait it out. Happy to see them back in production though. Had a lot of AKM DACs that sounded great for the price point.

 

[SilverEars]

Personally, didn't like the AKM sound. I would even take ESS over AKM. I found ESS to sound more defined. AKM sounds kinda smudged.