HeyManslowdown97
500+ Head-Fier
It’s negotiable. The DSD Pro has a HIGH ceiling for modifications to maximize its output power and has better noise-to-audio —signal ratio THD + Noise because of the AK4497 is the best on the market (& the world) until it’s dethroned by its predecessor the Ak4499.
Not liking the sound signature of a chip is one thing. However, there’s no denying it’s high performance.
It’s important because 99% of the audiophile market right now is obsessed with low impedance (which all it takes is removing/lowering resistance on the dac with hot air soldering). So stock dap is at 22 ohms can go down to 10 ohms or to 5 ohms or below (you get the idea)
However lowering the impedance will NOT power all iems and frequency response is mainly correlated with the file and quality of the files and how good the clocks/semiconductor chip can read those files if there qualitative errors, etc.
It’s also always best to know your iems specs set by the manufacture to match them with a particular dap you want them to perform with specs but the Ear Test always rules. Music is subjective and lab test is only important when it interferes with performance.
Some iems and high ohms earphones/headphone require voltage/current requirements must be met in order to power them. It’s just a fact and has nothing to do with a portable dac charts! It’s the same for certain op amps which require a +/- voltage Requirement will affect its performance.
Personally feel that there’s too many people who are laser focused on this one particular area and negligent things like audio signature and sensitivity to increase clarity and soundstage that’s more of an issue as to why they aren’t enjoying music as much.
As far as “xenophobia” comments I’m not gonna get into the geopolitics about sanctioned countries and will say that buying these Chinese daps you are essentially buying a zombie player that’s only self worth is based on whether or not the Semiconductor/important parts are real and how it’s circuited and If it works with the firmware. Europeans, Americans, Australians, Japanese, etc demand higher standard regulatory bodies for quality assurance and quality control to prevent hazards, etc!
People who buy counterfeit op amps for instance may sound “ok” and when used in this application isn’t a matter of life and death BUT I wouldn’t trusted them in medical devices, defense systems, etc.
Genuine parts do make their way to countries like Russia via the black market but it’s hard to know if the modification you see for third party non-western DIYaudio sites are really using genuine parts, etc and when looking at their economy Russia isn’t well known for producing top notch electronics or its components unless it’s exported Kalashnikovs. The Russian economy is smaller than that of Italy’s is made off exports like petroleum, Arms Deal for proxy wars in the Middle East, State-run Fake news factories and buying western assets like Real Estate to get their money outside of a corrupt oligarchy illegitimate democratic state . This has been well documented in the West and it’s factually correct.
That’s my two cents anyway.
Last edited:
