KORG DS-DAC100m for ¥11,460 (Japanese Yen)

Discussion in 'Leaderboard, Overboard, and Deals' started by borrego, Dec 27, 2016.

  1. borrego

    borrego Incessant Audio-GD #1 Fan Boy

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    Amazon Japan is clearing out the DS-DAC100m at ¥11,460 (~USD100) : https://www.amazon.co.jp/KORG-USB-デ...TF8&qid=1482900016&sr=8-1&keywords=DS-DAC100m

    I need a "transportable" DAC for listening in hotel room with my notebook/Yamaha Pro500 when traveling. For ¥11,460 it is cheap to try out what KORG's claim of "bypassing the sigma-delta modulation process" in the CS4398 chip for DSD playback. The DS-DAC100m is reported to have better USB-ASIO implementation over other USB DAC in the same price range.

    I will have it shipped together by zenmarket with the Metrum Aurix amp I also won in Yahoo auction.
     
  2. Torq

    Torq MOT: Headphone.com

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    Example #248: Why Marketing Shouldn't Try to Speak "Engineering".

    If you're going to bypass what the chip does, why use it in the first place?

    Utter twat-waffle.
     
  3. Grahad

    Grahad Guest

  4. borrego

    borrego Incessant Audio-GD #1 Fan Boy

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    Yep, should have said delta-sigma. I think what they mean of "bypassing" is in the CS4398 specs:
    [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]

    Marketing video:
     
    Last edited: Dec 27, 2016
  5. Grahad

    Grahad Guest

    I guess what they mean is that they don't convert DSD to quasi-PCM for easy volume control and filtering (since you cant do it to a delta-sigma pulse stream), but potentially you could do it in the DAC stage, but that becomes complicated and volume will be only adjustable in relatively large steps. They may have been able to squeeze in an analogue volume stage in there possibly as well.
     
  6. Torq

    Torq MOT: Headphone.com

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    So, totally standard DSD processing for that IC then; in other words, it's still marketing twat-waffle.

    CS4398 remains on my list of "chips to avoid in a DAC" (along with PCM-1704, TDA-1543, and most implementations of AKM4490).
     
  7. borrego

    borrego Incessant Audio-GD #1 Fan Boy

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    Anyway, I bought it mainly for the price, better USB-ASIO implementation, line out option and plastic case. I like not having a metal case for device like this so it won't scratch every other thing when got stuffed in my backpack.
     
  8. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

    Pyrate Slaytanic Cliff Clavin
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    It's one of the portable Cirrus (Wolfson) chips that sounds like ass right?
     
  9. Torq

    Torq MOT: Headphone.com

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    In my world, yes ...

    It was enough to put me off the AK240 and the newer revisions of the 100 (100ii) and 120 (120ii) [though AK's insistence on using the same relatively shitty "amp" stage didn't help matters there, either] as well as the iBasso DX80 (though f**k-witted firmware didn't do it any favors) and the Questyle QPR1 all on it's own.

    Never heard it applied in an enjoyable manner; well behind even the bass-happy/sloppy typical AKM4490 implementation.
     
  10. borrego

    borrego Incessant Audio-GD #1 Fan Boy

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    Any portable DAC chip/implementation would you consider not sounding like ass?
     
  11. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

    Pyrate Slaytanic Cliff Clavin
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    Damn. You would think they would learn and not pick an ESS or Cirrus portable chip without a good custom filter.
    The LH Labs stuff and even the Pono are okay. Chances are your phone is okay. I mean it's portable, you take what you can get without massive amounts of unpleasantness. I find most portable Sabres and Wolfsons to be overwhelmingly annoying.
     
  12. borrego

    borrego Incessant Audio-GD #1 Fan Boy

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    Hmm... The Gee Out V2+ is $499 and the Pono Player is $329, which are much more than I would spend for a "use once per month" device for my business trip.

    Actually my phone (LG G Pro 2) does sound ok with the Google Music Player.

    I do have a DX90/Arrow 4G stack, but I am not using it as much as before as it take long time transferring files to the microSD card
     
  13. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

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    Yeah I have the Google Nexus 5X which is made by LG and sounds okay with stuff like Koss cans. I use mobile Foobar.
     
  14. Cellist88

    Cellist88 Friend

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    My God Thank you! I'm not the only one who thinks this way.
     

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