ESS, Burr Brown, etc.. Do you have a favorite DAC chip? Video.

[Ar9Jim 6,436]

 

 

I can hear a difference but can't say that one is better sounding. I like them both.  To my ears the Burr Browns had a bit more weight in the midrange and less pronounced highs. Sort of like a Telefunken 12AX7 tube vs a Mullard.  Speaker play a big role. I've noticed some of the horn loaded speaker customers, tend to like the Mullards. I suspect the Burr Brown chip may be popular in that market segment as well for the same reason.  Do you have a preference? What type of tweeter is in your speaker? Horn, ribbon, dome, etc..

 

I'm using a DAC with an ESS chip and speakers with soft dome tweeters and also Magnepans with ribbon tweeters.

Edited June 18 by Ar9Jim

[Ar9Jim 6,436]

On another topic, could bench measurements detect an issue with either chip that would explain the difference in their sound, or would they both measure essentially perfect?

 

My guess would be that both are essentially perfect, but none the less, the difference is there..  This blows big holes in the measurement based forums and the "hear by number" recommendations. 

 

Don't believe your lying eyes?  Some sites are telling followers to not believe their lying ears, just the same.  More cult than science. 

Edited June 18 by Ar9Jim

[4krow 5,591]

Way back in time, when I was still buying CD players, I had one that I especially liked made by Musical Fidelity. They claimed that the reason for some of great sound was due to the BB chip. What the number was I forget, seems like 1418 , but I really don't remember. I do know that I enjoyed that player until it had problems that I was unwilling to pay for. The music was especially clear, maybe the reason that they called it the 'X-Ray'.

[Kurt 2,049]

I've heard a Bluesound Node, which used Burr Brown chips and it sounded quite good to me.  I almost bought a Node 2i because of it (then I got this wild idea I'd build myself a streamer using a raspberry pi to save money....and well, that's a story for another day).   I know that Bluesound has switched to the ESS chip in their Node X.  Most online critics seem to like the change.  But, I've not heard a Node X or anything with an ESS chip in it.  The general consensus of online listeners (not measurers) seems to be that the Burr Brown chips are "warmer" sounding than the ESS, with the AKM somewhere in between.  I really don't know what all that means. 

 

But, I do like the Schiit DAC's I've used with AKM chips.  The tweeters I have are probably considered on the "bright" side given I mainly use Infinity speakers with the emit ribbon tweeters.

Edited June 22 by Kurt

[Daddyjt 8,747]

I prefer the sound of the ESS (Oppo).  some criticize it as “clinical”, and perhaps that’s true.  I’ve also had significant experience with Wolfson (Cambridge Audio), and found it very pleasing as well….

[Daddyjt 8,747]

In doing a bit of research, it appears that Cambridge Audio is now using the ESS Sabre DAC, and has abandoned the Wolfson DAC - in their streamers at least.  I would be curious to hear the ESS chip in a Cambridge unit…

[radtraveller 264]

All the sigma deltas sound harsh to me. 
Clear? sure...

But I still prefer R2R

 

Just sounds better to me.