copied from headfi… So I have the M15i and like it quite a bit. I find it super analytical but warm at the same time. The bass is about perfect. I think the mids are slightly warm but also a little thin on male vocals. The treble seems about perfect but maybe somewhere in the upper mids I am getting a little brightness. I can’t pinpoint it but I think what I am hearing is a little bit of ESS glare / sheen… Heard it with other ESS dacs. I have grown fond of the CS43198 dac dongles go maybe that is why I hear the ESS the way it is. So for anyone who has heard it, does the DC Elite offer the same levels of detail as the M15i but without any of the ESS sound I am hearing.
If you’re finding the ESS glare a bit much on the M15i, the DC Elite could be a good alternative. It offers a detailed sound but with a smoother presentation compared to the typical ESS edge. It might not be as analytical as the M15i, but it’s definitely worth a try if you’re looking for something easier on the upper mids.