It's finally here guys. The new ESS 9038PRO. Game changing DAC chip!
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Until he test drives it, there's not much he knows about it. They didn't even publicly release the data sheet yet. The SDM/SRC is much improved over the 9018. Also 8 options now, with greater customization abilities. The "clock gearing" isn't to accept slower clock speeds, it's an energy saving feature. It "gears down" the clocking in the core to reduce energy consumption.
Every aspect of the design has been improved. It also has the THD compensation feature. Many of these features, especially when used with the companion LDO, will make it much easier and cheaper to build a better sounding DAC.
But as far as using with HQplayer, the AKM4497 has the DSD direct mode which bypasses a lot of junk in the chip. But, perhaps it's done so well in the 9038pro that it doesn't matter. You need a volume control somewhere in the chain, so it might be the least compromise to use the internal chip volume control over analog.
With all due respect I know this is 'Blizzard's Corner', but how about a bit of a reality check here. You state above that Miska who is a developer of your beloved HQ Player can't know about the new DAC chip until he test drives it. However you already felt justified to declare at the beginning of this thread, "Another state of the art innovative product was unveiled along with the ESS 9038pro chip. Used together, this is going to take DAC quality to levels beyond what we are used to now in the $10000+ range, into the sub $1000 range.", "we have the biggest news in the last 10 years of digital, and by far the best DAC chip ever built released", and " Just put a decent output stage behind it, and you'll have an exceptional game changing DAC." Don't you see any problem with such declarations when you haven't tried or heard this new DAC either, or don't your own rules apply to you?
Maybe you should read what I'm talking about with my posts before coming over here to try to make me look stupid.
Jussi doesn't know much about this chip. Only the brief description on the ESS website. They didn't even release the data sheet yet.
What I was referring to was the LDO that was designed by ESS to be used together with the chip. Where did you read anything about HQplayer??
And how do you know what I know about this chip?
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I have read your posts and I see a clear double standard, but it's your corner so do as you see fit. Sorry for the intrusion with my perspective, now back to your regularly scheduled programming...
Your perspective made on misinterpreting my post, and absolute lack of knowledge of what I know? Thanks for the contribution.
The 9018 supported lower clock speeds than 100Mhz as well. The Resonessence Mirus has a 50Mhz clock. They haven't even unveiled max resolution support with this chip yet to the general public.
I didn't read the whole thread (just catching up with WBF). 140 dB is only 22 bits, sheesh, how lame is that? 
This looks like a very impressive product, lot of features in the architecture, lot of the sorts of things designers trade off against complexity and SWAP, but it looks like they did them all!
This looks like a very impressive product, lot of features in the architecture, lot of the sorts of things designers trade off against complexity and SWAP, but it looks like they did them all!
I didn't read the whole thread (just catching up with WBF). 140 dB is only 22 bits, sheesh, how lame is that?
Yeah, Best chip yet by far! It was 8 years in the works by a team who had much more for resources and experience to work with than they had 10 years ago while developing the 9018. This isn't just a small update here!
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