Douk Audio Q11 – 2 DAC chips! There’s an audible difference? – Honest Audiophile Impressions
A BIG thank you to Douk Audio for providing the Q11 for review, much appreciated.
Do DAC chips sound different? Douk Audio Q11 provides the opportunity to hear 2 different chips separately or combined, giving an opportunity for you to decide if you hear a difference.
Purchase/More Information:
Douk Audio DAC-Q11 HiFi ESS9038Q2M+AK4493 USB DAC Audio Adapter COAX/OPT D/A Converter DSD256
Chapters:
00:00 Introfuction/Specs
01:00 Accessories/Accessories/Layout
05:55 Dual DAC Chips/Testing Process
10:15 Differences? AKM vs ESS
13:47 Change or Confirm?
14:45 Conclusion
15:28 Exiting
I am not a professional sound engineer, producer, musician, or vocalist, etc. I have not done any scientific research, measurements, or in-depth testing of any kind; just my own listening, comparing and internet reading/research. I have limited, real-life experience with recording, mixing and mastering gear. I have been involved since my teenage years with various churches as an amateur sound booth technician.
Please take these thoughts, opinions and reasonings as just that, my honest audiophile thoughts, opinions and reasonings.
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Amazon playlist: https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/afb5506483ba4ae3be17c2184797ebb6sune?ref=dm_sh_ycUHvBw1lOkeqCrwPFcc45NAl
Tidal Playlists:
Jazz: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/ea7f58ba-f05d-466f-9714-936d0ab7fa0f
Soundtracks: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/bd11187e-1811-43a7-a065-26e806f60efd
Bass: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/0ba4d6a8-9d95-4f16-b79e-ef084a091d73
Mids & Treble: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/c5bc66bd-a907-4a0e-a976-9f02e75c126f
Tone & Timbre: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/0915f654-6962-4ff5-ae6a-ee8287b6a81b
Favorites: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/4e9fdf64-df26-4d06-ae4d-273ed04e4550
Recommended Gear:
Audeze LCD-5: https://www.audeze.com/products/lcd-5
Rosson Audio Design RAD-0: http://www.rossonaudiodesign.com/
Meze Empyrean: https://mezeaudio.com/products/meze-empyrean
Hifiman Ananda: https://hifiman.com/products/detail/290
Sennheiser HD600: https://en-us.sennheiser.com/best-audio-headphones-high-end-stereo-hifi-hd-600
Sennheiser HD660s2: https://www.sennheiser-hearing.com/en-US/p/hd-660s2/clcrij55r0b570bw9bubufphu/
Austrian Audio Hi-X60: https://austrian.audio/headphones/hi-x60/
Audeze LCD 2 Closed: LCD-2 Closed Back (audeze.com)
ADV. M5-12D: https://www.adv-sound.com/collections/pro-audio/products/m5-12d-universal
CTM Da Vinci X: https://cleartunemonitors.com/products/da-vinci-x-universal
Westone Mach 60: https://westoneaudio.com/product/mach-60/
Tin Hifi T2: https://www.linsoul.com/products/tinhifi-t2?_pos=1&_sid=7cddd72dc&_ss=r&variant=34447375302811
Sony NW-A105: https://electronics.sony.com/audio/walkman-digital-recorders/walkman-mp3-players/p/nwa105-b
Sony NW-WM-1a: https://electronics.sony.com/audio/walkman-digital-recorders/walkman-mp3-players/p/nwwm1a
Mytek Liberty DAC ii: https://mytek.audio/shop/lbrt-dac-ii-287#attr=
Mytek Liberty THX HPA: https://mytek.audio/shop/liberty-thx-285#attr=
HeadAmp GSX-Mini: https://www.headamp.com/products/gs-x-mini
Tor Audio Roger: https://toraudio.com/main.html#
Schiit Audio BiFrost 2: https://schiit.com/products/bi-frost-1
Massdrop THX AAA 789:
https://drop.com/buy/drop-thx-aaa-789-linear-amplifier?utm_source=linkshare&referer=FTSS2S
Massdrop THX AAA One Linear: https://drop.com/buy/drop-thx-aaa-one-linear-amplifier?utm_source=linkshare&referer=FTSS2S
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#Douk #Audio #Q11 #DAC #chips #audible #difference #Honest #Audiophile #Impressions
Originally posted by UCgMj7xJ1SDxGqqxZ5l3g_jg at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDSc_01f0H0
It is necessary to understand that Douk Audio has only mobile DAC chips on board, so this DAC cannot be compared with a more expensive segment. It will never play at the level of the same ESS 9038PRO, for example. Therefore, there is nothing special in this DAC. I even like the sound quality of the iFi Zen DAC V2 a little more when directly compared to Douk. This is expressed in a slightly more open and transparent sound.
Great reviews. Can t agree more, there is more to dig in amp and speakers than DAC nowaydays..
Smiling to see all that poetry around dac analyse we can see here and here ????
Oh no! Where did the Wharfedales go???? This DAC is very interesting and looks cool. Fun review. Thank you!!!!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and knowledge.
Quite agree with what you hear in regards to these two chips. Exactly what I hear too, the early ESS chips were a little more obvious than today imo. I think AKM may have always been slightly more smooth overall.
Quite happy with my WiiM Pro Plus plugged into my SMSL AO-300 but I think this is a great idea for dac.
Great review as always. Appreciate the HONESTY Dave ????
I think the bigger question is, not whether similar implementations of different DAC chips make a difference, but whether higher budget DACs are able to outperform lower budget DACs, and by how much PRACTICALLY speaking.
I would really like to see a comparison between a budget leader like the SU-1 vs a J3 Pro, a Dayzee, and a high tier “end game” DAC in the +$3K space, but from the perspective of who should be considering them and what level of supporting equipment and in what environment they need to be listened to before being worthwhile upgrades.
I’m just starting to take my audio seriously, but I will never be in a position to evaluate and compare expensive gear in a way that would constructively inform my purchasing decisions.
same analog stage
If someone was changing between modes and you were blindfolded do you think you could pick which was which 10 out of 10 times?
$170 and no amp? I want some of whatever they're smoking!
I do like the form factor, that logo needs to get sanded off though, give er that heir of really hi-end ambiguity is what I'd do.
But alas…. lack of DoP on the coax input kills the whole deal, sorry. Bottom line, DoP on ALL the inputs should be the baseline standard for anything new.
It uses both chips simultaneously or what ????
I have Topping DX3 Pro+ and a Topping DX9
It’s a night and day difference
Dx3 has strong subbass and strong treble.
If go to DX9 you can hear more frequencies in between. That is probably being masked in dx3
DX3 compared sounds compressed
The DX9 has a huge soundstage
Really happy with DX9
Good review! Did you test it with headphones or with speakers? With speakers you are not hearing the difference when enjoying music only when you sit focused and still in front of your speakers which normal people not do all day
Quick tip …. to make the remote work from behind put a small mirror beside your camera and reflect the remote off the mirror to the device.
I’ve got that same pair of headphones in the background…
AKM gang!
SHABBAT SHALOM! ????
HAPPY SABBATH! ✡️