[T.R.A.N.C.E.]

Hello everyone. I've been following the thread for some time and the more I learn about Zishan DAP the more appealing it becomes I've given a listen to the xDuoo X10 recently and liked what I heard. Since the X10 is built on the same (almost the same, as Zishan uses 4495 model and D200+ uses 4497 in its super duper edition) AKM 4490 DAC I expect somewhat similar sound on these two. Though the source upgrade is a far-off perspective for me I'm curious about some aspects. I beg my pardon for asking somewhat silly questions but you would oblige me by answering the following questions:
1) Are Zishan DSD and Smart Player D200(+) produced by the same company/designed by the same group of engineers?
2) Do these DAPs have different firmware and UI, features? Or do they have the same architecture of the digital domain (before the DAC) and thus the same firmware?
3) Is this the top vesion among the Zishan DSD and D200 available now?
4) Does D200+ support USB DAC feature?
5) Can D200+ be charged via the USB and what in the world are the switches on its bottom surface?
6) Has anyone (I imply Mr. TRANCE in the first place already tried D200+ with AKM 4497 DAC?
Thank you for your answers and any info provided!

D200+ and Zishan are separate companies and different engineers, different UI, different digital processing. D200+ does not have usb dac or eq. D200+ is charged by usb. The switches on bottom were only on the old version, D200+ only has one switch on the bottom for changing between single ended and balanced. I have ordered 4497 D200+ and will receive it in a couple weeks. Also 4497 is very different to 4490, very different classes of dac, ak4490 is entry level audiophile dac like wm8740,cs4398, es9018k2m, while ak4497 is flagship level like es9038pro.

 

[Frederick Wang]

I reordered zishan player (stock) from the original maker, it just came in, I must say it pairs up beatifully with koss ksc75, just wonderful. I wholeheartedly recommend the combination for a budget setup.

 

[AudioNewbi3]

I reordered zishan player (stock) from the original maker, it just came in, I must say it pairs up beatifully with koss ksc75, just wonderful. I wholeheartedly recommend the combination for a budget setup.

did yours also come with 0.4e stock firmware?

 

[Frederick Wang]

  did yours also come with 0.4e stock firmware?

yep

 

[AudioNewbi3]

  yep

Is the turbo mode gone on yours too?

 

[SimoF]

  normal zishan allows you to change the LPF (Low Pass Filter) opamp (dual channel). the I/V opamp (dual channel) is soldered, not so easy to change.
upgraded zishan allows you to change both opamps, by using dip-8 sockets.
 
stock zishan (well, LPF opamp changed):
 


 
 
upgraded zishan (upgrade 5):
 


 
 
 
Cayin C5 measured 6.36Vrms @ 68Ω, no clipping nor high distortion. I'll measure it again with lower loads (33Ω, 16Ω), when I get time. That's 595mW @ 68Ω, more than 1W for Sine's impedance, if it doesn't clip with them at this power.
Upgraded Zishan measured 6.11Vrms @ 68Ω, no clipping nor high distortion. I'd measure it again with lower loads. 549mW @ 68Ω. More than 1W for Sine, if it doesn't clip nor distort with such load at this power.
Besides, these don't suffer bass roll-off due to coupling caps.
But battery drains off very quickly at that power. And upgraded Zishan shows some more noise than stock Zishan, and gets hotter.
I'll probably get rid of the upgraded Zishan, because I don't own power hungry cans now.

Thanks again; when you'll want to get rid of your Zishan just pm me

 

[neog007]

it makes no sense to remove the turbo mode in the zishan -at least in the normal zishan 699 (4495seq)-. If the Zishan maker thinks the Turbo mode was somewhat a "gimmick" he´d better re-measure the gain levels of each mode in a new firmware instead to remove one of them I think

 

[neog007]

I reordered zishan player (stock) from the original maker, it just came in, I must say it pairs up beatifully with koss ksc75, just wonderful. I wholeheartedly recommend the combination for a budget setup.

are the  koss ksc75 better sounding than the koss porta pro in your opinion?

 

[AudioNewbi3]

Sir @T.R.A.N.C.E. do you know if I can switch the LPF of the Zhisan to the following opamps?

OPA627AU (Converted to Dual Channel)
OPA 2604
OPA 2350
AD 8616
AD 8606
 
Thank-you

 

[Bellyworshipper]

D200+ and Zishan are separate companies and different engineers, different UI, different digital processing. D200+ does not have usb dac or eq. D200+ is charged by usb. The switches on bottom were only on the old version, D200+ only has one switch on the bottom for changing between single ended and balanced. I have ordered 4497 D200+ and will receive it in a couple weeks. Also 4497 is very different to 4490, very different classes of dac, ak4490 is entry level audiophile dac like wm8740,cs4398, es9018k2m, while ak4497 is flagship level like es9038pro.

Thank you very much @T.R.A.N.C.E. for your answer! I guess I just need to wait until you get your D200+ to learn about the DAP more. Wish you get it soon and share your impressions

 

[Frederick Wang]

  Is the turbo mode gone on yours too?

Not on my 699 version

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

 


 
 
 

 
 

 

  are the  koss ksc75 better sounding than the koss porta pro in your opinion?

Don't own porta pro
 
It's interesting ksc75 doesn't sound phenomenal on Breeze SU1 > Stepdance, but with Zishan I just don't want to take them off.

 

[T.R.A.N.C.E.]

are the  koss ksc75 better sounding than the koss porta pro in your opinion?

Personal preference. Portapro is darker sounding, ksc75 is brighter. I prefer the ksc75 drivers as they are more detailed (titanium plated) but are less bassy, but I dislike the ear hooks, so I put the ksc75 drivers on the portapro headband (just take of the ear hooks and it just snaps in to portapro headband after you snap out the portapro driver assembly). This also increases the bass of the ksc75 drivers due to the tighter clamp of portapro headband. Sounds so good.

 

[T.R.A.N.C.E.]

Sir @T.R.A.N.C.E.
 do you know if I can switch the LPF of the Zhisan to the following opamps?


OPA627AU (Converted to Dual Channel)

OPA 2604

OPA 2350

AD 8616

AD 8606

Thank-you

The first two are fine, good audio opamps. But the last three aren't suitable. OPA2350 is CMOS type opamp, they don't sound great for audio, and 5v is the max voltage, same for AD8616 and AD8606, so all three will blow up in zishan and walnut. There is many well documented audio opamps, so why are you looking at these strange opamps?

 

[AudioNewbi3]

The first two are fine, good audio opamps. But the last three aren't suitable. OPA2350 is CMOS type opamp, they don't sound great for audio, and 5v is the max voltage, same for AD8616 and AD606, so all three will blow up in walnut. There is many well documented audio opamps, so why are you looking at these strange opamps?

 
Mah, I just had those OpAmps lying around in my inventory from parts of other portaple amps, so I was curious about swapping them into the Zhisan.

But anyways, once again, I thank-you very much for the valuable information provided! I really appreciate it!

 

[bzfrank]

OPA627 sounds nice in the Zishan. I still prefer the OPA2107 however as it tends to tame the slightly metallic sharpness of the Zishan better.