I was wondering who has best DAC's between Burr Brown, Cirrus Logic, Analog Devices, AKM, Wolfson etc?

I was wondering who has best DAC's between Burr Brown, Cirrus Logic, Analog Devices, AKM, Wolfson etc?

Yes....

The end performance is more about analog output stage design and how well it is implemented - not just the DAC chip.

I think you will find that many respected OEMs use all of the chips you've listed.

I was wondering who has best DAC's between Burr Brown, Cirrus Logic, Analog Devices, AKM, Wolfson etc?

lets add the ess sabre to that list ;)

who's the best depends on what YOU find the most enjoyable to listen to....
$$$ and internet opinion should be taken for what it is..get your ears on a few types and go with what you enjoy..........

implementation, implementation, implementation...

within each of the brands, there are also several flavors that all modders would have picked over the others. AKM for a long time was the favorite on the high-end and ultra high-end modded players.

ESS DAC "Sabre" 32bit:

ES9012 - 133dB

Burr-Brown/TI DAC 32bit:

PCM1795 - 123dB

AKM DAC 32bit first generation:

AK4397 - 120dB

AKM DAC 24bit last generation:

AK4396 - 120dB

AKM DAC 32bit second generation:

AK4399 - 123dB

and finally an older 24bit DAC by Burr-Brown/TI:

PCM1794A - 132dB

The latest dac chip from ESS is the es9018. It sounds much better than the previous models. The power supplies and the voltage out conversion are as important as the chip.

What kinda devices carry the ess?

What kinda devices carry the ess?

The modified Oppo BDP-83 does.

I think the new Wyred 4 Sound DACs do too.

It's all in how it's implemented into the CDP. There is no "best".

The CDP's analog stage is going to have a much greater effect on it's overall sound than the DAC will.

It's all in how it's implemented into the CDP. There is no "best".

The CDP's analog stage is going to have a much greater effect on it's overall sound than the DAC will.

OK what has these 32bit dacs and....... a good analog stage?

OK what has these 32bit dacs and....... a good analog stage?

Well, NAD uses Burr Brown and Wolfson DACs.

Cambridge Audio uses alot of Wolfson and the higher end players use Analog Devices for DACs.

Marantz uses Cirrus Logic

Bryston uses a Crystal (Cirrus Logic?) DAC.

I think Pioneer CDPs use Wolfson DACs as well.

[Google is your friend....]

So, it isn't just the DAC - its the overall design and the other components in the analog stage that will determine overall sound quality.

and Denon 4308Ci?

I got the ES9018 (BuffaloII)from Twisted Pear Audio as a kit with the newer better Placid power supplies. Hard to get (sell out instantly)from them but they are great to deal with and their stuff sounds good. I have the ES9008 (Buffalo24) still, will probably use it on the cable box to try to make tv sound better. The ES9018 sounds great. Better all round compared to the ES9008. The Placid power supplies help a lot. I used the linear PS at first due to some missing parts. When I got the parts and installed the Placid things sounded better. So I am a real believer when it comes to better power supplies.

and Denon 4308Ci?

Why don't you go look at its manual? This info is so easy to find out by oneself.

As we have stated in other threads, the chip is only part of a products overall sound. I would never buy a piece based solely on the chip set.

The Denon uses Burr Brown PCM 1791....

As said above..different DACs for different folks. It's really really hard to say one is the 'best'. Manufacturers choose what works 'best' with their 'design' and for their House sound! With Pioneer for example, on the new ICE amps....Wolfsons seem to be best for that neutral detailed dynamic sound that ICE amps put out. And so on....

IMO the majority of DACs listed above are all first rate.

cnh