DAC's in Transporter

[Walleyefisher]

Is there really a significant difference between the AK4396 and the AK4395 DACs?

[seanadams]

Is there really a significant difference between the AK4396 and the AK4395 DACs?

They are similar parts in the same family - take a look at page four on the ak4396 data sheet to see the differences. The main ones are lower power, DSD support, and support for 3v3 logic supply. Sound-wise the biggest difference is lower out-of-band noise from ak4396. There are detailed measurements in their eval board docs. Note that our measurements surpass the eval board's by a good margin - i've never tested the ak4395 in our system though, so i can't say exactly how it might perform.

[Walleyefisher]

Thanks for the reply Sean...My current processor uses the ak4395 and I was trying to decide if the "miracle" DAC would provide some improvement.

[ezkcdude]

Thanks for the reply Sean...My current processor uses the ak4395 and I was trying to decide if the "miracle" DAC would provide some improvement.

There's much more to the DAC than the DAC, if that makes any sense. I'm talking about design, PCB layout, components, etc. The actual DAC chip is one piece of a large puzzle.

[seanadams]

There's much more to the DAC than the DAC, if that makes any sense. I'm talking about design, PCB layout, components, etc. The actual DAC chip is one piece of a large puzzle.

Exactly - in particular, the AK4396 benefits nicely from the Jung super regulators.

[Walleyefisher]

I understand that the DAC is merely one piece of the puzzle that can affect sound. However, I shy from buying into the snake oil sales pitch of new means better. I like to hear the difference and sometimes its quantifiable and other times negligible or detrimental.

More then anything I’m trying to convince myself that it’s worth the money for a Transporter.

[mac]

Exactly - in particular, the AK4396 benefits nicely from the Jung super regulators.

Sean, I'd wager that there is a market for a stand-alone DAC offering based on the AK4396 and Jung regulators. Every SB1/2/3 owner would be a potiential customer if the price was right. Cheers, mac.

[pvadbx]

More then anything I’m trying to convince myself that it’s worth the money for a Transporter.

Another thing to think about is that with the DAC in the same box as the rest of the system, the sonics won't be hurt by moving bits around via SP/DIF (or whatever). As someone else said in the forum, an external DAC has to do a lot of work to fix the problems introduced by pushing bits down coax or optical with protocols that weren't designed very well to maintain timing and data integrity--so you begin to re-introduced the very problems streamed audio fixes.

At least that's my understanding. Does that make engineering sense Sean?

.phil

[th00ht]

Sean, I'd wager that there is a market for a stand-alone DAC offering based on the AK4396 and Jung regulators. Every SB1/2/3 owner would be a potiential customer if the price was right. Cheers, mac.

But that would spoil the market for the TP, wouldn't it?
But I agree that the price gap SB3 -> TP is way to high. I wouldn't mind to spend twice as much as the SB but not 6 times the price. (CH: SB=CHF311, TP=CHF1929)

[dennis55]

yes, there is a big price gap but look at what you get!.
in comparison with Linn and Naim's offerings you're getting a lot of quality gear for the money.
i've used SB3 and an external Dac,but the Transporter is simply superior in lots of ways...
get a listen or try before you buy.

dennis

But that would spoil the market for the TP, wouldn't it?
But I agree that the price gap SB3 -> TP is way to high. I wouldn't mind to spend twice as much as the SB but not 6 times the price. (CH: SB=CHF311, TP=CHF1929)