The silver colored Topping D50S (2xESS) and the silver colored liquid spark (“warmer” amp) would look – and potentially sound – great together…
I think this is changing. The SMSL M100 uses AKM and goes for about 70USD. The Topping E30 is also AKM and is 130USD. The new Atom DAC is also AKM at 99USD. In previous generations you were correct, though. Most previous entry level dacs used ESS chips. There’s also even more choice now! You can go Burr-Brown with the iFi Zen (130USD) or Cirrus Logic with the EarMen Donald DAC (99USD).
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Oh right…
Sorry i overlooked them
Since i hate every entry level
Non portable device …
Going portable with fiio btr5
Or fiio q5s … is so better nowadays
Especially for iem owner
How about the SMSL SH-9 vs the Atom? Single ended performance and sound? Clearer, vocals?
Hey gang,
I have the JDS Atom Amp and original DAC here along with the SP200 and been comparing them back and forth all night. The Atom has more tiny details which I noticed while gaming. The treble is better, but it lacks the bass slam of the SP200 and feeling of limitless power. The SP200 and Khadas tone board using closed backs was too small of a sound stage, but with the Hifiman Ananda it didn’t have as much impact and sounded really good. The Atom and Tone board was best on the Ananda though.
I love the Atom stack, and for competitive gamers, it wins for 3d positioning and better treble. For music lovers it’s a wash of which is more important, bass slam or more detailed and accurate treble. I even have a Soundblaster AE-7 I lined out to them to test the 9018 DAC and they both sounded really good with it.
I’m keeping the SP200 because I buy and sell audio gear and the connection convenience is handy too. It was childs play powering the Beyerdynamic DT880 600ohm but the Shure 1840’s took high gain at 50 percent volume to get to an exciting volume level(!). They sounded really great though, but took a lot of power to get them there.
Bassheads, run, do not walk to get the SP200. If you’re a gamer the AE-7 is best of all, but if you just want a stack with no drivers or other reindeer games to mess with, the JDS Atom stack is a sure thing. I contacted JDS to buy a B-stock original DAC and they had one, still haven’t tried the new one. Keeping the original one perched on the SP200 and really happy with the combo.
Also tested both with the Gen1 MMX300 here and the Hifiman HE4xx and wow, the Hifiman takes the power REALLY well and the MMX300 bass shines too.
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