[NehPets]

Isn't the ak4493 in this better all around than the ak4495 in the dx120?

Dx120 seems to only have a single DAC too....

If the price is similar I think this wins on the spec sheet... Wish I could get both....

One. or fewer, DAC chips can work just fine.

 

[abitdeef]

How many dacs does it take to change a lightbulb? And how many is two many? That’s what I’d like to know.

 

[maira]

One. or fewer, DAC chips can work just fine.

Less than one? I doubt that... .

 

[NehPets]

Less than one? I doubt that... .

Zero DAC chips is the minimum you require to do digital-to-analogue conversion; just ask Chord, PS Audio, etc.

 

[maira]

Zero DAC chips is the minimum you require to do digital-to-analogue conversion; just ask Chord, PS Audio, etc.

lol

 

[Soham Sengupta]

Zero DAC chips is the minimum you require to do digital-to-analogue conversion; just ask Chord, PS Audio, etc.

even chord has one dac chip in their dac/amps (their own in-house custom fpga dac chip). Who said that they don't use a dac chip in their products? (Although I might be mistaken)

 

[Alcophone]

even chord has one dac chip in their dac/amps (their own in-house custom fpga dac chip). Who said that they don't use a dac chip in their products? (Although I might be mistaken)

That's the joke, it's an FPGA (i.e. a very generic chip), not a DAC chip.

 

[Soham Sengupta]

That's the joke, it's an FPGA (i.e. a very generic chip), not a DAC chip.

oh i see...thanks man

 

[maira]

it's an FPGA

As far as i know you need something to convert digital to analog. FPGA doesnt do that.

 

[Alcophone]

As far as i know you need something to convert digital to analog. FPGA doesnt do that.

True. Chord's DACs use something they call a Pulse Array for that. Not entirely unlike DSD in principle. Here's an explanation: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/watts-up.800264/page-9#post_12586725

 

[maira]

True. Chord's DACs use something they call a Pulse Array for that. Not entirely unlike DSD in principle. Here's an explanation: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/watts-up.800264/page-9#post_12586725

There website says: "Chord Custom FPGA DAC".

https://chordelectronics.co.uk/product/hugo/

So its no aftermarket DAC chips. But to say they have no DAC (chip) is a bit missleading ... .

 

[Alcophone]

There website says: "Chord Custom FPGA DAC".

https://chordelectronics.co.uk/product/hugo/

So its no aftermarket DAC chips. But to say they have no DAC (chip) is a bit missleading ... .

*Their
The whole thing is a DAC. At its heart, there is an FPGA, which is a general purpose chip, not an off-the-shelf DAC chip (and also not a custom DAC chip). That FPGA is driving a Pulse Array, which is what produces the analog signal. That's my rough understanding, I find half of what Rob Watts says more confusing than enlightening, which probably says more about me than him.
Getting a bit off-topic, though, so I'll leave it at that.

 

[SciOC]

The only dac model does mean nothing.
They should prepare it right,

It don't understand this viewpoint. It's like saying engine size in a sports car doesn't matter, only the transmission and powertrain matters.

Sure, you could make a pretty awesome car with an inline 4 cylinder and the right engineering, and conversely make a pile of crap with 4 liter twin turbo v8, but you have a lot more potential the one of those choices.

 

[Astrogoth]

At the higher price point Shanling had better deliver sound quality higher than the M3s or few people will buy the M5s. Logic.

 

[abitdeef]

At the higher price point Shanling had better deliver sound quality higher than the M3s or few people will buy the M5s. Logic.

Have they announced the price yet?