tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post4352557442111608678..comments2024-03-28T00:31:13.472-07:00Comments on <em>Archimago's Musings</em>: MEASUREMENTS: Oppo Sonica DAC (ESS Sabre ES9038Pro based device)Archimagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08642574001287787545noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-68328869627185058122018-04-27T13:04:59.529-07:002018-04-27T13:04:59.529-07:00Is it officially discontinued? Have they announced...Is it officially discontinued? Have they announced a replacement?Larryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00301882003865440092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-55010437410430126702018-04-27T12:34:54.317-07:002018-04-27T12:34:54.317-07:00Dear Archimago:
I have purchased the Sonica DAC an...Dear Archimago:<br />I have purchased the Sonica DAC and I am very happy with the results.<br />I recently purchased mono-block pre-amps and I have connected the Sonica DAC directly to the Amps. Would the sound quality improve with a pre-amp, or is the Sonica Volume control adequate?<br />Thank youAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17623725483194887664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-35781692521161821822018-03-25T11:25:47.694-07:002018-03-25T11:25:47.694-07:00I guess it shows how small the market really is fo...I guess it shows how small the market really is for audiophile DACs. Perhaps there will be a new model with improvement and more DSP capability.Larryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00301882003865440092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-63502391435715046902018-03-25T10:07:49.003-07:002018-03-25T10:07:49.003-07:00I guess nobody should be surprised that the Sonica...I guess nobody should be surprised that the Sonica has been discontinued.<br /><br />A sad end to a product with so much potentialsteveoatiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16889385846416623954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-53557897996343362532018-03-23T23:02:23.042-07:002018-03-23T23:02:23.042-07:00That's awesome, i'm going to use it as a p...That's awesome, i'm going to use it as a pre-amp too :)Eric Fultonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12319235519585117478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-44516867709765721122017-11-16T13:56:59.339-08:002017-11-16T13:56:59.339-08:00Reply from OPPO:
"The ability to support gapl...Reply from OPPO:<br />"The ability to support gapless playback through the network as well as through attached USB storage is something that we are looking into supporting, but we do not know yet at this time if this is a feature that we can add through a future firmware release.<br /><br />So if gapless playback is a necessary feature for the Sonica DAC, then we would recommend having it vijayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05245020471761067810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-82956901891041858902017-11-16T09:19:17.550-08:002017-11-16T09:19:17.550-08:00So I guess the Sonica doesn't really have a pr...So I guess the Sonica doesn't really have a pre-amp section with a gain stage. <br /><br />Also, lack of gapless playback over DLNA is unforgivable. I've written to OPPO about this. vijayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05245020471761067810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-55488833551358012252017-11-15T08:30:54.868-08:002017-11-15T08:30:54.868-08:00Arcimago,
Thanks for your comments.
Still find i...Arcimago,<br /><br />Thanks for your comments.<br /><br />Still find it hard to believe that the Sonica DAC doesn't have the processing power to do full MQA decoding. My BluSound Node 2 and ifi idsd nano black label both do full decoding, as well as the Meridan Explorer -- all much cheaper than the Sonica.<br /><br />As you say, why market a specialized product if you are unwilling to give steveoatiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16889385846416623954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-43822544422177008932017-11-14T13:06:23.473-08:002017-11-14T13:06:23.473-08:00Thanks, for some reason I thought I read that it h...Thanks, for some reason I thought I read that it had a switching supply. I think men like heavy transformers. Not sure I completely agree with the Benchmark demo. I think high frequency noise wreaks havoc in other ways. But no doubt they've gotten better. As have Class D amplifiers. But still not sure I'd go for Hypex over a big Pass Class A amp unless I needed multiple channels. <br /><Larryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00301882003865440092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-68924758042124339752017-11-14T12:03:07.220-08:002017-11-14T12:03:07.220-08:00I received my Sonica today. Based on archimago'...I received my Sonica today. Based on archimago's measurements, I was really hoping it wouldn't be a noticeable upgrade from the Chromecast Audio, but unfortunately it is. <br /><br />A physical remote would have been useful to switch sources (haven't figured out how to do this with the Sonica app) and control volume because my control point is jRemote for jRiver. <br /><br />vijayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05245020471761067810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-4583188777675215992017-11-13T20:57:56.050-08:002017-11-13T20:57:56.050-08:00Hi Bruce,
I can certainly appreciate your concern ...Hi Bruce,<br />I can certainly appreciate your concern about the lack of an MQA upgrade to the Sonica when the BDP-205 has been given this ability in firmware.<br /><br />While Oppo might feel differently, I agree that if they really want to position the Sonica as a specialized audiophile DAC, they should make every effort to include MQA as a feature - who else is likely going to care after all!?Archimagohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08642574001287787545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-31186718502241246812017-11-12T16:39:09.781-08:002017-11-12T16:39:09.781-08:00I don't have a Sonica. But if I did, it wouldn...I don't have a Sonica. But if I did, it wouldn't bother me if it was not able to decode MQA. However it would be nice to know that it had some extra DSP power for the ability to add other features in the future. <br /><br />I questioned why Oppo didn't design the Sonica DAC with a high quality linear supply instead of the switching supply?<br /><br />From what I've read, seems Larryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00301882003865440092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-55969975044693799732017-11-12T14:58:18.750-08:002017-11-12T14:58:18.750-08:00While I generally think the Sonica is a good produ...While I generally think the Sonica is a good product, it has much more potential. However, Oppo appears to not give the Sonica the attention it gives its blu-ray players. It is my impression that the Sonica and the UDP-205 have similar audio sections. The UDP-205 just received beta firmware that allows it to decode MQA files. Similarly, the UDP-205 and 203 are usable as Roon endpoints and thesteveoatiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16889385846416623954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-37696424002057552742017-10-13T18:11:15.097-07:002017-10-13T18:11:15.097-07:00OK, thanks. Yes, I'd be most interested in XL...OK, thanks. Yes, I'd be most interested in XLR out being used as a pre too and measuring the output of the dac in doing that. Whether a dScope or AP. <br /><br />Your last sentence though is probably the key! Most of this stuff can't be picked out in a true scientific controlled test. Jasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02772176966296126966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-58885654786624816472017-10-13T11:27:01.419-07:002017-10-13T11:27:01.419-07:00Lots of differences between those 2 devices! I wou...Lots of differences between those 2 devices! I would not pick one over the other based on say just the measured output from the XLR analogue for example.<br /><br />If the question is; which DAC chip has better measurements in terms of resolution between the ESS ES9038Pro vs. AKM AK4490? Then probably the ESS would win with lower noise floor.<br /><br />Having said this, the AKM has a volume Archimagohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08642574001287787545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-41297147539953661112017-10-13T07:32:48.810-07:002017-10-13T07:32:48.810-07:00Thanks for the review. Which is the better measur...Thanks for the review. Which is the better measuring dac, Oppo Sonica or the Teac NT-503?Jasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02772176966296126966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-47922433747049001012017-09-22T01:56:15.581-07:002017-09-22T01:56:15.581-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.harada57https://www.blogger.com/profile/06015023155124017905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-84521898302374716562017-08-02T07:48:14.145-07:002017-08-02T07:48:14.145-07:00Sorry, just saw it's ESS9038Q2M not ESS9038PRO...Sorry, just saw it's ESS9038Q2M not ESS9038PROjacobaccihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12580479634083669984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-67206338582406250362017-08-02T07:46:50.635-07:002017-08-02T07:46:50.635-07:00Single ended seems ok for a unit measuring 103mm s...Single ended seems ok for a unit measuring 103mm square ..<br />:-)<br />This is what John Westlake had to say about his baby in the MDAC thread on pinkfishmedia:<br /><br />"Its a good little DAC, Dual ESS9038Q2M, Multi regulated PSU, Polypropylene capacitors and precision MELF resistors etc... but you have to consider its small size and theres only so much that can be squeezed into such asjacobaccihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12580479634083669984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-31679052364642110142017-08-02T07:36:40.669-07:002017-08-02T07:36:40.669-07:00Thanks for the heads up!
Interesting specs indeed...Thanks for the heads up!<br /><br />Interesting specs indeed. I'll keep it on the radar for sure. I did have a quick look online and see that it only has single-ended RCA outputs... Hmmm, seems a shame given they've gone all the way with the high-end DAC chip and dual mono design!!!Archimagohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08642574001287787545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-19977374544559857142017-08-02T07:26:50.165-07:002017-08-02T07:26:50.165-07:00Hi Archimago
Excellent review, thanks.
Is the Pro-...Hi Archimago<br />Excellent review, thanks.<br />Is the Pro-Ject Pre Box S2 Digital on your radar?<br />- also ES9038PRO based<br />- MQA unfolding in Hardware<br />- headphone amp<br />- developed by John Westlake<br />- 350 Euro<br />At that price quite a package.jacobaccihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12580479634083669984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-29699705678637637502017-06-29T14:06:18.156-07:002017-06-29T14:06:18.156-07:00I've seen a couple other reviews that say it&#...I've seen a couple other reviews that say it's okay but nothing special. I expected better.<br /><br />IMO, when they decided to use the flagship DAC IC from ESS, they should have used a linear supply in this DAC. Or at least have provided an external DC power input so people can tweak and perhaps improve the performance.Larryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00301882003865440092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-6849008402384897172017-06-25T22:29:14.261-07:002017-06-25T22:29:14.261-07:00Hello
Archimago
Do you compare this dac with an R...Hello<br />Archimago <br />Do you compare this dac with an R2R dac like Audio-GD S19?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14094147802568493197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-22086982285652681602017-06-15T08:06:41.903-07:002017-06-15T08:06:41.903-07:00That's nice Techland, remind me, which ADC is ...That's nice Techland, remind me, which ADC is that you're using?<br /><br />Again, I don't think for human consumption, we really need that kind of ultimate resolution. Especially for real music where the noise floor of the recordings themselves are essentially never complete "silence".<br /><br />To be able to measure reasonably closely spaced frequency anomalies down Archimagohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08642574001287787545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-53423772671790217752017-06-14T00:06:53.258-07:002017-06-14T00:06:53.258-07:00Thank you very much for your tests!Thank you very much for your tests!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15767486631426712066noreply@blogger.com