Wondering if DACs using these chips share some sonic traits vs DACs using Wolfson and other chips, of if the biggest sonic traits of DACs are influenced by other components in the DAC?
Don't know for sure. I am not for or against any good manufacturer ,that includes Emotiva. I am thinking they could too,follow the "me too" approach and make their DAC with the Sabre chip and call it a day,and start selling. Right? Jump on the wagon. Apparently the DC-1 is a good product especially for the money and they specifically decided NOT to use the Sabre chip. There are guys that compared the Oppo 105 to Emotiva Pro Stealth DC-1 and claim the DC-1 sounds better hands down.That's all I am saying.As for me I am using the Bryston BDA-1. All the best.
It's all about implementation. I've used the Twisted Pear Buffalo DAC with 9018 Sabre Reference in multiple configurations of stereo mode, dual-mono mode, as a voltage source, and(soon) as a current source. Also with different degrees of sophistication in power supplies. Performance varies by configuration from very good to over-the-top. I doubt that many commercial manufacturers have tried all the possibilities.
Some Sabre DACs sounds dry, some sounds great. Gryphon Kalliope DAC has Sabre and for me it is The best DAC now on market. I had MSB Diamond, MSB Signature, dCS Vivaldi, EMM Labs DAC-2X, and many others. But Gryphon is The best DAC i ever heard.
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