New ES9039 Sabre DAC version of Kompakt II coming soon.

[Gieseler Audio]

This new chip is getting rave reviews so I thought I would give it a whirl.

Just ordered some pcb's so I should have one up & running in a couple of weeks.

I will report back with more info & photos once I get the first one built.

It is quite exciting as it looks like it will handle DSD in hardware mode which is the way I will be running it.

 

 

[Gieseler Audio]

Well it was definitely quite challenging hand soldering the new ESS chip

Getting too old for this

 

[Grizaudio]

On 14/11/2023 at 9:54 AM, Gieseler Audio said:

Well it was definitely quite challenging hand soldering the new ESS chip

Getting too old for this

 

 

No s#$t you have skills.  

 

[Grizaudio]

Multichannel?? 

 

[Gieseler Audio]

They do make lots of multi channel chips but this particular one is only two channels.

If this one works out well I may investigate a multi channel version.

 

Edited December 1, 2023 by Gieseler Audio

[Gieseler Audio]

Well after a little tech support help from ESS the prototype is up & running.

Sounds very good too & handles PCM up to 768K and DSD 64

Next step is to do some critical listening comparisons with the AKM and TDA Kompakt's.

 

 

 

[lenticularis]

Clay,

As the owner of Kopmpakt S/N 0001 (AKM of course), I shall await your tests with interest!

[vizion]

Wow, will this run in NOS mode ?

[Gieseler Audio]

No - all ESS Sabre chips have built in oversampling