Wednesday morning experiment - DAC vs. DAC

I was curious to find out what influence different DACs or their implementation have on the sound signature. 

Because the Cayin N6II offers a variety of different interchangeable motherboards, it is the perfect device for such an endeavor. 

The C9 handles all the amplification and the N6II serves as a pure DAC/transport via the line out. 

Construction

- Cayin N6II + Cayin C9 (transistor operation, 4.4 symmetrical in/out)
- Motherboards A01, A02, E02
- Empire Ears Odin IEMs




A01 - AKM 4497EQ x1 (4.4mm PO/LO used, 3.5mm PO , 3.5mm LO)

- neutral
- rather flat with good details
- slightly sharp highs
- pronounced mids
- well controlled bass

E02 - ESS 9038Q2M x2 (only 4.4mm PO/LO)

- rather neutral with a touch of warmth
- certain frequencies slightly emphasized with very good Detailing
- clear, smooth highs
- pronounced mids, very intimate on certain recordings
- well controlled, more emphasized, layered bass with more depth than A01

A02 - AKM 4497EQ x2 (4.4mm LO used, 3.5mm LO)

- rather neutral with a touch of warmth
- certain frequencies slightly emphasized with excellent detail
- clear, silky highs
- pronounced mids, very intimate/intense on certain recordings
- very well controlled, emphasized, finely layered bass with more depth than A01 + E02

Takeaways

The DAC used (AK/ESS) is apparently not as important as its implementation. This becomes particularly clear when you compare E02 (2xESS) and A02 (2xAK). Both are characterized by very clear and detailed reproduction, while retaining a certain warmth that gives the music an emotional touch.

The implementation of the AKM 4497EQ DAC in the A01 and A02 boards shows that a and the same DAC can sound quite different. The A01 sounds flatter and more neutral, while the A02 is much more musical and detailed. Of course, the circuit of the A02 is only designed as a line-out, while the A01 is an all-rounder.

Finally, I would like to point out that I am only describing my personal impressions here. ;-)