And you replies say trying real hard to be a successful troll, but failing miserably!
I did try that same little giant board a couple of years back to see what NOS might be like. I wasn't impressed, dull sounding upper end, not much detail everywhere else. But you may like it, horses for courses. Abraxilito's creations using the same chip are in another league, but you'll need to diy, or pay more. If you can diy, want a filter less NOS DAC, and are willing to spend a bit more, Miro's ad1862 is excellent.
And that's what matters. Fatigue free is challenging to get with digital audio playback... however, for the money asked (AU$50), give it a go and see what you think.
I don't know what you will find acceptable. Since you already have it you'll find out. Just plug it on and let us know what you think.
Maybe not never. I have heard some disappointing stuff and I once built something so bad I concluded it was wrong and never went back but, by and large, I can pretty much listen to anything even that chinese ESS9038 dac that Markw4 thinks is the pits in its unmodded state.
I have received the dac in question, and with just 24 hours on it I find that it has excellent bass and slam. The resolution appears sufficient (better than my soundcard), and it has no undue brightness or fatigue so far.
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Listening with my headphones shows that it may be a bit rough around the edges in the upper mids/lower treble when playing Toto IV.
More to come.
More to come.
With further listening, it appears that this dac doesn't hide anything. DSD and vinyl rips/streams sound correct enough, whereas my rough cds fatigue.
Like I had commented on earlier, I bought this same board and I agree that it is pleasant enough. I also bought a AD1865 nos board that looked to be very similar, I found that I liked it better, seemed to do mids/highs better. But there is definitely something about NOS dacs that is compelling.
I would say that with this dac its like listening thru a microscope, but also with an engaging musical swing.