[chip]

Anyone try this at all?

http://www.hifiwow.com/dac-decoder-digital-to-analog-conveter/es9018-32bit-sabre32-reference-audio-dac-w-cm6631a-usb-input-182.html 

[pelliott321]

it only goes to 192k which is considered a minimum these days.  I recently bought a USB to I2S that is capable to 384k.  I know the Sabre32 is capable of this

[wushuliu]

Anyone try this at all?

http://www.hifiwow.com/dac-decoder-digital-to-analog-conveter/es9018-32bit-sabre32-reference-audio-dac-w-cm6631a-usb-input-182.html 

That's going to be crap probably. Might as well just spend another 100 and get the Audio-Gd 11.32 ES9018.

http://audio-gd.com/Pro/Headphoneamp/NFB1132/NFB11.32EN.htm

[Sparky14]

That's going to be crap probably. Might as well just spend another 100 and get the Audio-Gd 11.32 ES9018.

http://audio-gd.com/Pro/Headphoneamp/NFB1132/NFB11.32EN.htm

I second that.

[chip]

I will have to look at that but I wasn't looking to spend that much.....

[Letitroll98]

That's going to be crap probably. Might as well just spend another 100 and get the Audio-Gd 11.32 ES9018.

http://audio-gd.com/Pro/Headphoneamp/NFB1132/NFB11.32EN.htm

+2 on that.  Audio GD is putting out some stuff that is unmatched in price and quality if you factor in reputation for fast delivery and customer service, he's been around for some time now and doesn't appear to be going anywhere.  No name Chinese products that are just premade boards shoved into a box are crapshoots, you may get a winner, you may get garbage.  His ES9018 implementations are first class with excellent USB boards, something lacking on most products in this price range.  I'm partial to the Dual Wolfson WM8741 products he puts out, but many like the Sabre chip better, different flavors for different folks.  Many of his designs give you a choice of chips in the same basic package with only slight variations in pricing.  And as you go up in price you just get more of the same with better parts and power supplies, so you pick your price range, the chip you like, and order, easy peasy.

[chip]

Is the Audio-Gd 11.32 the cheapest available Dac using the es9018?

[wushuliu]

Is the Audio-Gd 11.32 the cheapest available Dac using the es9018?

Yes. In fact I am not aware of anyone else selling the ES9018 anywhere close to his prices. It's either his stuff or get a portable dac like Dragonfly, IFI, Meridien, etc. He is internet direct and direct shipping from ChinaWhether or not it will sound better than the other dacs I can't say but it's impossible really to beat his prices in terms of what you get for the money.

[jonbee]

Is the Audio-Gd 11.32 the cheapest available Dac using the es9018?

Don't look exclusively at the DAC. The power supply is very important, and it is there the cheaper DACs economize to get very low prices. I own the Audio-GD 11.32 and the EE minidac plus, which both use the Sabre. There is a family resemblance for sure, with the EE being more refined and open sounding overall, but the AGD does not sacrifice the power supply and other components. I think if you want really good sound I wouldn't look cheaper than that unit.
I use the AGD in my office system and it is not as refined or liquid sounding as the EE with Dexa op amps, but very acceptable- better than several more expensive DACs I've used there.

[chip]

http://audio-gd.com/Pro/Headphoneamp/NFB1132/NFB11.32EN.htm

Where is the price on this?

[wushuliu]

http://audio-gd.com/Pro/Headphoneamp/NFB1132/NFB11.32EN.htm

Where is the price on this?

Upper left corner where it says 'Price'. 

[chip]

thanks man...it wasn't in bold so I missed it.....

[JohnR]

Personally I wouldn't buy anything from GD-Audio in that price range. There are like 6 million inexpensive Sabre DACS if you want to just try something out, not 9018 but the same family, see e.g hifimediy.

[wushuliu]

Personally I wouldn't buy anything from GD-Audio in that price range. There are like 6 million inexpensive Sabre DACS if you want to just try something out, not 9018 but the same family, see e.g hifimediy.

Hm, I don't know. this:




vs. this!:



That looks a big headstart by Audio-GD. Of course at $70 the hifimediy is hard to beat.

[JohnR]

One thing I've learnt is that lots of power supply rails doesn't necessarily sound better. I gave away a GD unit here because I disliked it so much. There's gotta be something more. In the end, of course, one can only decide for oneself. I offer only a caution.

[jonbee]

I gave away a GD unit here because I disliked it so much. There's gotta be something more. In the end, of course, one can only decide for oneself. I offer only a caution.

I'm not sure which model you had. They have quite a number of them, using several DAC chips, etc. For my $, the 11.32 is far from the best out there, but the best I've found for little $. I like it better than some much pricier units I've had in that system- and that includes a $1300 Audio-GD NFB-8 monster DAC and a MDHT Havana.
As always, matchups are key- ultimately we have to get a combo that works for each of us.

[gregfisk]

I'm not sure which model you had. They have quite a number of them, using several DAC chips, etc. For my $, the 11.32 is far from the best out there, but the best I've found for little $. I like it better than some much pricier units I've had in that system- and that includes a $1300 Audio-GD NFB-8 monster DAC and a MDHT Havana.
As always, matchups are key- ultimately we have to get a combo that works for each of us.

Wow, That's saying something liking it better than the Havana. I have tried several dacs and while I have moved on in my main rig, I just can't get rid of my Havana and put it in a second system. While it's not the best in transparency and micro detail it a has a warm lush sound that I have yet to here in any other dac. Of course we are all looking for different things from our systems.

[jonbee]

Wow, That's saying something liking it better than the Havana. I have tried several dacs and while I have moved on in my main rig, I just can't get rid of my Havana and put it in a second system. While it's not the best in transparency and micro detail it a has a warm lush sound that I have yet to here in any other dac. Of course we are all looking for different things from our systems.

I found the Havana to be too laid back for my tastes. The A-GD has a sharper, more dynamic sound which I prefer, but the Havana is smoother and easier. Dare I say more analog? I tried various tubes and tweaks and it just didn't do it for me, but that is not an indictment of the piece in general.
As always, taste and matchups rule!

[Early B.]

I have an Audio GD DAC with the Sabre 9018 chip (NFB-1ES), and for the price on the used market (if you could find someone willing to sell theirs), there's no way you're gonna find a better deal. The build quality is outrageous and, as a result, my DAC sounds wonderful. In fact, an upgrade would probably exceed two grand, and I'm being conservative.  I also own an Audio GD amp and preamp.

[JohnR]

I'm not sure which model you had. They have quite a number of them, using several DAC chips, etc.

NFB-12. An updated version was introduced shortly afterwards with switches for the digital filters, and it looks now to no longer be available at all.