From 2021 Released on this platform the article of "High-end HIFI audio DAC Ranking of DAC chips "Since then, high-end DAC, there have been some changes in the chip market, relevant manufacturers have implemented some measures and launched some new products, and some friends hope to update the above to best reflect the current situation.This article has been updated and supplemented on the basis of the original article, together with the original article as complete information as possible for your reference.
I. New technologies and initiatives
1）AKM proposes a scheme to separate AK4191 and AK4499EX, and introduces the asynchronous mode option. The FIFO (first-in, first-out) memory is installed in AK4191 to buffer the data when the audio signal rate is out of sync with the local rate, so as to realize asynchronous continuous playback, which is decoupled from the audio signal, and the influence of Jitter (jitter) only depends on the performance of the local crystal oscillator. Using this AK4191+AK4499EX scheme to replace the previous AK4499 chip has obvious advantages, although the former is a 2-channel design, but the performance is as good as the latter's 4-channel level, and the price is lower.
2）ESS has introduced many new products, most of which use the latest Hyper Stream IV modulators, such as ES9017, ES9027PRO, ES9039PRO, etc., to improve audio performance while saving power; some integrate MQA renderers, such as ES9068A and ES9039MPRO, for hardware direct decoding of MQA format audio signals; others add Imax V (current-voltage) conversion and line driver modules, such as ES9080, ES9033, etc., which increase integration and reduce the area and complexity of PCB. DRE (dynamic range intensifier) is also used on individual chips, such as ES9033 and ES9080, to improve the dynamic range when the signal is small. Most of the ESS high-end DAC chips have asynchronous mode and Jitter (jitter) elimination circuit.
ESS integrationI/V(current and voltage) conversion and line drive module
3）CL introduces a new product CS4302P/04P/08P, which is a 2-channel, 4-channel and 8-channel chip, which supports PCM32 bit 768Hz and DSD512, and its performance is greatly improved compared with the previous generation.
4）AK4493 is a product launched by AKM in 2017 to replace the best-selling AK4490, and in early 2022, AKM introduced AK4490R and AK4493S to replace AK4490 and AK4493, respectively, with improvements in functionality and performance.
5）On some of the newly released chips, ESS not only provides the setting mode controlled by the microcontroller, but also provides the hardware setting mode of setting the pin state, such as ES9017,ES9027PRO,ES9039PRO, to provide a low-cost option for the construction of the whole machine.
2. Different situations when setting up the whole DAC machine.
moduleDACWhen using the whole machine, use differentDACChips, there will be some different situations.
1) in general
Digital audio signal passes throughSPDIFAfter the interface is received, the recovered clock is generally used asDACThe synchronous clock of the chip is used, the circuit is relatively simple, but it has higher requirements for signal transmission, and the quality of the recovered clock signal is easy to be reduced (jitterJitter may be high).
2) AKM independent modulation
AKMNewly launchedAK4191+AK4499EXThe scheme provides the processing mode of separating modulation and decoding, which gives the designer more room to play; another big advantage is that it provides an asynchronous sampling mode that is easy to implement, decoupling from the front-end transmission circuit and obtaining lowerJitterLevel. The disadvantage is that there are a large number of chips, accounting forPCBThe area is larger.
3) the chip situation of most ESS companies
Through withSPDIFReceiver'sDACChip, omitting the front-end chip, savingPCBOccupied area, with asynchronous adoption function, decoupled from the front-end transmission circuitJitterThe level is low.
4) A small number of ESS chips
ESSThe latest small number of chips, withI/VConversion and line drive, save a lot of external circuits, use simple passiveLPF(low-pass filter) can work, reducePCBOccupied area, but not withSPDIFReceiver, set up independentlyDACWhen the whole machine is finished, it needs to be added separately.SPDIFReceiving chip.
Third, ranking
RankingDACThe chips are concentrated at the high end and are mainly used for mobile or portable designs with high integration.SoCThe chip is difficult and pure because of its scattered functions.DACThe chip is compared accordingly, so it is still not included in the ranking.
1) by performanc
Still take the dynamic range as the main basis for ranking.
2) by price
According to the selling price of each chip through the official channel of each manufacturer at the time of writing or the market price of each chip that is most likely to be purchased, the lowest price of each chip is taken as the base, and the price of each chip is divided by this base to get the price index.
2) Press launch time
It is arranged according to the approximate launch or launch time of each chip.
IV. Declaration
1）Chip ranking only provides a reference, which does not represent the quality of the chip or sound quality, nor does it represent the corresponding relationship between the performance of the DAC and the use of the chip. This paper does not advocate the concept "chip defines everything".
2）The information and data of this article are from the official web pages and documents of the relevant chip manufacturers. The content of this article does not serve as the basis for any citation, and the author of this article will not bear any losses caused by the use of this content.
3）Omissions and errors in the article are inevitable. If you find anything, thank you for informing.
Reference materials: Official web pages and product data sheets of relevant manufacturers (omitted).
2024/7
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