Well I'm not one to flee people but I don't see a point to sell them for 50 if 200 is considered fine for example. I'm getting a Z4 so I don't need 4 daps and the ES9038 sounds just as good as the dual AK4497 while eating a little less battery.
The Zishan dsd's corner
Damn, para EQ is not working on dual ES9038 DSD, probably the same on the Z4
I guess I won't get rid of the dual AK4497 then
I guess I won't get rid of the dual AK4497 then
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Actually it does work, just not for dsf and very high res flacs, there must be a frequency limit like 48k
Ok this is pretty weird, all the 180EQ folder is full of Rockbox paraEQ setups, but that's now how the zishan works.
It seems to be a para EQ, because the "Q" value impacts it, but we can use the 10 bands unlike rockbox's 3+2 bands setup.
What's more, the precut does nothing.
So the best way to go about this imo is to reorganise https://github.com/iwalton3/AutoEq/...lips SHP9500/Philips SHP9500 ParametricEQ.txt like this :
eq enabled: on
eq band 0 cutoff: 93
eq band 1 cutoff: 105
eq band 2 cutoff: 383
eq band 3 cutoff: 644
eq band 4 cutoff: 1041
eq band 5 cutoff: 2231
eq band 6 cutoff: 3534
eq band 7 cutoff: 4496
eq band 8 cutoff: 5670
eq band 9 cutoff: 10000
eq band 0 q: 6
eq band 1 q: 7
eq band 2 q: 17
eq band 3 q: 20
eq band 4 q: 18
eq band 5 q: 25
eq band 6 q: 60
eq band 7 q: 60
eq band 8 q: 26
eq band 9 q: 7
eq band 0 gain: -98
eq band 1 gain: 0
eq band 2 gain: -57
eq band 3 gain: -63
eq band 4 gain: -79
eq band 5 gain: -25
eq band 6 gain: -52
eq band 7 gain: -82
eq band 8 gain: -132
eq band 9 gain: -84
That is, organise by frequency so the in-device EQ looks ok, it doesn't reorganise itself
And take the highest gain value ( here it was 6.8 so 68 in the file) put it at 0 and substract it from all other values to avoid clipping
It seems to be a para EQ, because the "Q" value impacts it, but we can use the 10 bands unlike rockbox's 3+2 bands setup.
What's more, the precut does nothing.
So the best way to go about this imo is to reorganise https://github.com/iwalton3/AutoEq/...lips SHP9500/Philips SHP9500 ParametricEQ.txt like this :
eq enabled: on
eq band 0 cutoff: 93
eq band 1 cutoff: 105
eq band 2 cutoff: 383
eq band 3 cutoff: 644
eq band 4 cutoff: 1041
eq band 5 cutoff: 2231
eq band 6 cutoff: 3534
eq band 7 cutoff: 4496
eq band 8 cutoff: 5670
eq band 9 cutoff: 10000
eq band 0 q: 6
eq band 1 q: 7
eq band 2 q: 17
eq band 3 q: 20
eq band 4 q: 18
eq band 5 q: 25
eq band 6 q: 60
eq band 7 q: 60
eq band 8 q: 26
eq band 9 q: 7
eq band 0 gain: -98
eq band 1 gain: 0
eq band 2 gain: -57
eq band 3 gain: -63
eq band 4 gain: -79
eq band 5 gain: -25
eq band 6 gain: -52
eq band 7 gain: -82
eq band 8 gain: -132
eq band 9 gain: -84
That is, organise by frequency so the in-device EQ looks ok, it doesn't reorganise itself
And take the highest gain value ( here it was 6.8 so 68 in the file) put it at 0 and substract it from all other values to avoid clipping
InvisibleInk
Headphoneus Supremus
That's interesting. I don't know if I'll get the ESS version of the DSDs, but that's valuable info. Thanks.
I just recently got the Z4. I tried adding my 180EQ folder to the microSD card I'm using with it, but the Z4 didn't like it. The OS choked on start up caching the TF card, displaying a garbage folder on screen. The Z4 has these non-standard fixed-band values that don't seem to be able to be customized at all, aside from adjusting the sliders. As it is right now, I view the Z4's EQ feature a GIANT step back from the DSDs'.
Honestly I don't see the point of adding 180 bad EQ presets to the device, you either want to correct some earphones or you don't need it, and even then given it doesn't work on some formats I don't think I'll bother further.
It's still miles better than my fiio m3 "pro" that only has fixed frequencies pseudo EQ mind you, and it won't drive a TO600 nor a HE400i 2020.
It has literally 0 impedance and no noise floor when using iems otoh.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you want to drive hungry cans or earbuds and are not keen on getting a second phone + e1da dongle, the zishans can't be beat for the price.
And to people who say they need modding, I say unless you have a stock one to A/B, record both and share it, that's gonna be difficult to prove. You can't realistically take 30 minutes to change opamps, put it back together and claim it improved the soundstage, it's humanly impossible to remember how it sounded like at that point.
It is however possible to swap a headphones jack within half a second between a double ak4497, a hidisz s9 pro, and a dual es9038, which I did and didn't hear a difference, which to me points to the fact that high-end DACs are so good nowadays, there's simply nothing to worry about they all sound great, any other variable would have way more impact on the sound, first and foremost how it was recorded.
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InvisibleInk
Headphoneus Supremus
Anybody have one of these units?
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256...00025622637994!sea&curPageLogUid=9OuJQStraHqv
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256...00025622637994!sea&curPageLogUid=9OuJQStraHqv
Yes, I have the 4497
InvisibleInk
Headphoneus Supremus
Is yours the post-fire AK4497EX? I have the pre-fire dual AK4497.
I have the old micro-usb AK4497 aka "dsd pro"
usb-c dual AK4497, and dual ES9038Q2M
I think the sabre has very slightly more treble detail, but I really have to listen carefully at levels that are not sustainable for long to hear it, they all sound the same in "normal" conditions tbh
usb-c dual AK4497, and dual ES9038Q2M
I think the sabre has very slightly more treble detail, but I really have to listen carefully at levels that are not sustainable for long to hear it, they all sound the same in "normal" conditions tbh
XTF1
100+ Head-Fier
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I believe these are unsold items from the old Zishan DSD series. The AK4495 version was discontinued by Zishan a long time ago—I have the one with volume pot and loved it. The AK4497 “DSD pro” was also discontinued when the DSDs was introduced (also discontinued, replaced by the Z4).
As far as I know, AKM has not restarted the production of the AK4495 and AK4497.
XTF1
100+ Head-Fier
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Also have the (uncommon?) DSDs dual CS43198. Compared to the dual ES9038Q2M, I can’t hear a difference.
Actually I made a mistake here, band 0 is a low shelf and band 9 is a high shelf just verified. That's good news but means in this example band 0 should be 105hz, doesn't matter if it's out of order visually in the eq
I got the Z4 today, first impressions are really good.
Pros:
- It sounds the same as the DSD to me (at least SE, haven't tested balanced yet), but having a real dac mode with virtually no delay makes it so much more usable in that mode. Checked a youtube sync test, 0 delay, for real. Great for movies with planars in holidays!
- Sounds on par with the Topping dx3+ I just got with big cans, but that might differ with IEMs.
- No problem caching a 512G SD.
- Doesn't get nearly as warm as the DSD, even when charging + playing
- Ldac works really well but my phone is next to it, haven't tested the range yet.
- "floder" typo is still here, wouldn't be a zishan otherwise.
Cons:
- It's back to using a cold screen, like the OG DSD pro, I prefer warmer screens (ymmv)
- That led, omg it's BRIGHT! Insanely bright. And it blinks while charging on top, really distracting. I'd much rather have it stay on while charging, and turn off when charged like the DSD.
- Having no explorer mode and having to go through play now to access files is a bit clunky, you have to start a song to apply an EQ for example.
Overall it looks like it has everything I need for a nice cozy holiday
Pros:
- It sounds the same as the DSD to me (at least SE, haven't tested balanced yet), but having a real dac mode with virtually no delay makes it so much more usable in that mode. Checked a youtube sync test, 0 delay, for real. Great for movies with planars in holidays!
- Sounds on par with the Topping dx3+ I just got with big cans, but that might differ with IEMs.
- No problem caching a 512G SD.
- Doesn't get nearly as warm as the DSD, even when charging + playing
- Ldac works really well but my phone is next to it, haven't tested the range yet.
- "floder" typo is still here, wouldn't be a zishan otherwise.
Cons:
- It's back to using a cold screen, like the OG DSD pro, I prefer warmer screens (ymmv)
- That led, omg it's BRIGHT! Insanely bright. And it blinks while charging on top, really distracting. I'd much rather have it stay on while charging, and turn off when charged like the DSD.
- Having no explorer mode and having to go through play now to access files is a bit clunky, you have to start a song to apply an EQ for example.
Overall it looks like it has everything I need for a nice cozy holiday
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twopedalwarrior
New Head-Fier
Hoping someone see's this and has a fix or my DSDs is toast. DAC Mode does NOT work. I've flashed .5c & .5d firmware and no iOS/Mac OS/Windows will see it as an audio device. Plays music from the SD Card. Thoughts
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