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RE: There is no Infamous ESS/SABRE Glare.... just bad DACs

Hi Abe,

I agree with you!

I used to think AKM DAC chips had the very best sound quality of all other brands. I loved the sound of my FiiO M15 with dual AK4499EQ DAC chips. Then came the fire at the AKM factory and FiiO had to switch to ESS DACs.

When I bought the new FiiO M17 with dual ES9938PRO DAC chips I was surprised at how much better it sounded than the M15, which had been classified as FiiO's Flagship DAP. Now, I have the new FiiO Flagship, the R9, which also contains dual ES9938PRO DAC chips and it sounds even better than the M17. When I go back and listen to my M15 with its AKM DACs, it just sounds a little too smoothed out, kind of like you describe the sound of DSD.

Happy Listening!
John Elison

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