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Sabaj D5: the DAC that is unquestionably a digital to analog converter
Jul 17, 2019 at 1:34 PM Post #77 of 298
Out of interest did anybody manage/try the Hdmi i2s connection with either a singxer su-1 or Gustard u-16?

I received the Sabaj d5 this morning and out of the box redbook pcm works via i2s (singxer su-1) but I'm not having much look with upsample dsd.
 
Jul 17, 2019 at 4:23 PM Post #78 of 298
After only 30min listening I will say the D5 has the best straight from PC USB playback quality I've ever heard - and I've heard a lot of DACs <$500. Typically I use Jplay w/ Kernel Streaming through HiFi Cable software when I listen to Tidal because default W10 output doesn't sound very good. For a dac to sound this good through default settings is really impressive. After a while I will use coaxial input, which is the next best input next to i2s (IME).
 
Jul 18, 2019 at 9:10 AM Post #79 of 298
wushuliu said:
After only 30min listening I will say the D5 has the best straight from PC USB playback quality I've ever heard - and I've heard a lot of DACs <$500. Typically I use Jplay w/ Kernel Streaming through HiFi Cable software when I listen to Tidal because default W10 output doesn't sound very good. For a dac to sound this good through default settings is really impressive. After a while I will use coaxial input, which is the next best input next to i2s (IME).
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I have actually not used the USB. I have only used the Coax and optical so far both with my LKS USB to SPDIF converter. Sound is great.
 
Jul 18, 2019 at 11:51 AM Post #81 of 298
Impressions so far: line out to external amp is preferable to the headphone out, at least with my Massdrop 58X. Internal headamp is smooth and non-offensive but kind of flat. Presentation using either output is fuller and smoother than the typical budget ESS dac. Most importantly this is the least amount of digititis I've heard in a stock budget stock ESS dac. I could easily live with this as a permanent usb dac. Trade-off is possibly some micro-detail loss compared to previous dacs. Coax update still to come, and then comparison with my own diy/modded cheap but cheerful dac.

Edit: I switched out the 58X for Senn 599s. The 58X are relatively new to me, whereas I've had the 599s for a while now and they're what I used for my dac comparisons the last few years. With the 599s back in the mix I gotta say I am *really* impressed with this dac. They have never sounded this good. Solid, punchy bass, clear mids and even the somewhat less refined highs (compared to the 58X) are clean.

I anticipate any measurement of this DAC to show a very low noise floor.

For the record, previously owned dacs include (but not limited to): Topping D50, SMSL SU-8, Hifimediy ES9038Pro, Sabaj Da3, IFI iDAC 2, Signtek, Fiio D3 (modded), Dragonfly Red, ODAC.
 
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Jul 20, 2019 at 2:39 AM Post #82 of 298
Very interested in this unit. I'm looking to buy an amp/dac in the <$500 range and I'm considering the Monolith 788, Fostex HP-A4BL (though I've read is underpowered) and now this Sabaj. Anyone has compared the D5 to the 788 or A4BL?
Thanks and subscribed
 
Jul 20, 2019 at 3:38 AM Post #83 of 298
MarCo7 said:
Very interested in this unit. I'm looking to buy an amp/dac in the <$500 range and I'm considering the Monolith 788, Fostex HP-A4BL (though I've read is underpowered) and now this Sabaj. Anyone has compared the D5 to the 788 or A4BL?
Thanks and subscribed
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I think the monolith has the most power via XLR-4. The Sabaj uses 9038Pro chip, the monolith ak4493. Few people have used the D5 yet but it seems good to go.
Which headphones will you be driving? If they are not crazy needy I think it doesn't really matter which you get of these two.
 
Jul 20, 2019 at 5:11 AM Post #84 of 298
Baten said:
I think the monolith has the most power via XLR-4. The Sabaj uses 9038Pro chip, the monolith ak4493. Few people have used the D5 yet but it seems good to go.
Which headphones will you be driving? If they are not crazy needy I think it doesn't really matter which you get of these two.
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Thanks for the reply. I agree that there's not much info on the D5 yet. I understand that the D5 has a single 9038 chip while the 788 has dual AKs.
My main hp's are Sendy Aiva, which though might not seem to need lots of power, do scale up well. I'm looking for a unit that I'll keep for a long while since I don't tend to buy components very often.
 
Jul 20, 2019 at 9:42 AM Post #85 of 298
MarCo7 said:
I'm looking for a unit that I'll keep for a long while since I don't tend to buy components very often.
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You could wait for ASR review of the Sabaj, just to see if it has no serious defects, in which case the Sabaj is very good value. The 788 is more expensive but has very good power output with the THX module it features. One major negative on the monolith 788, is that analog inputs are digitized which sucks, making it only really good/high-fidelity when using digital inputs.
 
Jul 20, 2019 at 8:43 PM Post #86 of 298
Baten said:
You could wait for ASR review of the Sabaj, just to see if it has no serious defects, in which case the Sabaj is very good value. The 788 is more expensive but has very good power output with the THX module it features. One major negative on the monolith 788, is that analog inputs are digitized which sucks, making it only really good/high-fidelity when using digital inputs.
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Good point on the D/A conversion of the 788. Their prices seem pretty much in the same ballpark, at least thru Amazon, so I think I'll get the first one (788 or D5) I can catch on sale. I imagine the D5 will be on the big Nov. sale and I'm going to be checking monoprice for the 788. I did see that they have open-box units for a discount...
One more question, if I may: the D5 doesn't have any EQ/DSP features? I didn't see any mention of it in the photos.
 
Aug 10, 2019 at 1:36 AM Post #90 of 298
maxxevv said:
Looks like the DA5 is coming out a winner in measurement performance !

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...rements-of-sabaj-d5-dac-amp.8337/#post-210677


SoTA performance levels at a very, very attractive pricepoint. Just needs a wireless connection option and it would be perfect !
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there were 3 things that I was looking for and hoping that D5 delivers:
1 - SINAD excellent
2 - channel balance perfect
3 - the ESS hump is there is charts but my listening shows no detectable sibilance for fatigue so who cares.
 
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