Is This ESS Sabre DAC Any Good?

[witchdoctor]

I am buying a media server which comes in two versions. The Popcorn Hour A 500 is $269. The A 500 Pro is $599 but boasts a better DAC, the SABRE32 audio DAC ES9018K2M. The DAC I use now is the one in my Marantz 7702 processor. (DACs: TI PCM 1690 (24-bit/192kHz)). Is it worth getting the Pro for the extra dough?

https://www.cloudmedia.com/?product=a-500-pro

Thanks

 

[NorthStar]

• http://www.esstech.com/index.php/en...mobile-dacs/sabre-hifi-stereo-dacs/es9018k2m/
• http://www.esstech.com/index.php/en/products/sabre-digital-analog-converters/audiophile-dacs/

You don't want to get something that can do high-res multichannel audio?

 

[Kal Rubinson]

• http://www.esstech.com/index.php/en...mobile-dacs/sabre-hifi-stereo-dacs/es9018k2m/
• http://www.esstech.com/index.php/en/products/sabre-digital-analog-converters/audiophile-dacs/

You don't want to get something that can do high-res multichannel audio?

Probably but not for anywhere near that price.

 

[NorthStar]

What would be an affordable unit with multichannel capability Kal? ...With an ESS or AKM 8-chan. DAC

 

[Kal Rubinson]

What would be an affordable unit with multichannel capability Kal? ...With an ESS or AKM 8-chan. DAC

Affordable is a very individual assessment. There are 3(.5) multichannel consumer DACs.
1: miniDSP u-DAC8 ~$300 (USB, no DSD) or miniDSP N-DAC8 ~300 (no DSD, ethernet/AVB input with MacOS)
2: exaSound e28 ~$3400
3: Merging+ NADAC ~$12,000
(0.5: You can stack three Mytek DACs via a USB hub if you use their special ASIO driver. Cost depends on which DAC you choose.)

 

[witchdoctor]

Affordable is a very individual assessment. There are 3(.5) multichannel consumer DACs.
1: miniDSP u-DAC8 ~$300 (USB, no DSD) or miniDSP N-DAC8 ~300 (no DSD, ethernet/AVB input with MacOS)
2: exaSound e28 ~$3400
3: Merging+ NADAC ~$12,000
(0.5: You can stack three Mytek DACs via a USB hub if you use their special ASIO driver. Cost depends on which DAC you choose.)

Thanks guys, it looks like I will go with the basic Popcorn Hour A-500 unit and pass on the pro version.

 

[bmoura]

(0.5: You can stack three Mytek DACs via a USB hub if you use their special ASIO driver. Cost depends on which DAC you choose.)

You can also stack three Playback Designs DSD DACs for Multichannel DSD playback as well.

 

[Keith_W]

You can also stack three Playback Designs DSD DACs for Multichannel DSD playback as well.

Yes, you could do that. You would also have to clock sync them - so the budget would also need to include an external clock generator. Since I already own an MPS-5, I considered doing this when I needed a multichannel DAC.