Hi amigos,
I share with a quick review of an unknown new DAC. (Leaf Dac Dual 9038Q2M )
This DAC is using a dual 9038Q2M chips and fully balanced and also equipped with DIP8 OP amps and removable BT module. It is using the same chips as the Soncoz SGD1 )
At first sight, the DAC is really really well made with quality components and seems to be very flexible = removable OP amps, removable BT board etc
It is compact (168*110*55mm ) and provided with a external PSU brick (5V/2.8A)
I own the Gustard X16 to compare with. )
I will share a more in-depth test when I have listened to it carefully
For the time being : I gave a quick test with the OPA1612 / 1622 and 1656 ; I really enjoy the 1656 and 1612 both have a very linear response and abolutely dead silence between tracks even with my ears glued to the speakers.
It sounds aboslutely nice out of the box but I updated the PSU with a quality German brick PSU.
Combined with my Hypex NC252MP / David Munyon HD Playlist it is really close to my Gustard X16 and just noticed a lower gain. Anyway : I willl test with my favorite HD Audio Playlist soon.
The inputs interface is really amazing @ such a price !
I think that at the price of 145 euros, we have a little treasure there : To be continued...
SPEC :
Audio input: Bluetooth / USB / LVDS / Optical / Coaxial
Audio output: Stereo RCA / XLR / Balanced headphone jack
BT CSR8675 supports ACC/SBC/APTX/APTX-LL/APTX-HD/LDAC
USB XMOS XU208
IIS that supports DSD64-DSD512 de 32 bits/384Khz,
USB that supports DSD64-DSD256 de 32 bits/384Khz
Opitcal that supports 192KHz y DOP DSD64
Coax PCM 44,1 K-192K/24bit.
RCA inputs 2V RMS
XLR inputs 2V RMS
Headphone amp output power: 1.5W/32Ω, 200mW/300Ω
Matched headphone impedance: 16-300Ω
I share with a quick review of an unknown new DAC. (Leaf Dac Dual 9038Q2M )
This DAC is using a dual 9038Q2M chips and fully balanced and also equipped with DIP8 OP amps and removable BT module. It is using the same chips as the Soncoz SGD1 )
At first sight, the DAC is really really well made with quality components and seems to be very flexible = removable OP amps, removable BT board etc
It is compact (168*110*55mm ) and provided with a external PSU brick (5V/2.8A)
I own the Gustard X16 to compare with. )
I will share a more in-depth test when I have listened to it carefully
For the time being : I gave a quick test with the OPA1612 / 1622 and 1656 ; I really enjoy the 1656 and 1612 both have a very linear response and abolutely dead silence between tracks even with my ears glued to the speakers.
It sounds aboslutely nice out of the box but I updated the PSU with a quality German brick PSU.
Combined with my Hypex NC252MP / David Munyon HD Playlist it is really close to my Gustard X16 and just noticed a lower gain. Anyway : I willl test with my favorite HD Audio Playlist soon.
The inputs interface is really amazing @ such a price !
I think that at the price of 145 euros, we have a little treasure there : To be continued...
SPEC :
Audio input: Bluetooth / USB / LVDS / Optical / Coaxial
Audio output: Stereo RCA / XLR / Balanced headphone jack
BT CSR8675 supports ACC/SBC/APTX/APTX-LL/APTX-HD/LDAC
USB XMOS XU208
IIS that supports DSD64-DSD512 de 32 bits/384Khz,
USB that supports DSD64-DSD256 de 32 bits/384Khz
Opitcal that supports 192KHz y DOP DSD64
Coax PCM 44,1 K-192K/24bit.
RCA inputs 2V RMS
XLR inputs 2V RMS
Headphone amp output power: 1.5W/32Ω, 200mW/300Ω
Matched headphone impedance: 16-300Ω
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I am now listening to the DAC for 1 hour ! my god ! I am amazed.... it sounds so so good, It does not blush in anything compared to my Gustard X16
VIDEOS
VID_20210408_211051
VID_20210408_210904
VIDEOS
VID_20210408_211051
VID_20210408_210904
My Leaf has shipped. Predicted to arrive by April 30! I also have a 5v. linear power supply on order to use with this and my Raspberry Pi Volumio music player. Can you tell me what difference(s) you noted with the OP Amp changes? Also what's a good source for OP Amps and a knowledge base? I have no useful OP Amp knowledge, so I'm not about to start swapping them willy-nilly.
The DAC uses no less than 7 OP amps including two dedicated for XLR outputs. It works as follows with the stock OP amps :
- NE5532 x 2 (for XLR)
- JRC4580 X 5 (for other Inputs)
The module board that can be removed is dedicated for the Heahphone and comes with 2 OP amps 4580. Out of the box, it sounds awesome already !
So there is a huge possibility of combinations) But I found my happiness as follows:
- 5 X OPA1612 (Bi polar OP amps work generally well with DACs)
- 2 X OPA1656 (They are CMOS op amps but I really love their signature, very natural with a flat response and great soundstage).
I imagine we could try a lot of OP amps but it would take a lot of time to compare ...I juggled with some OP amps including 1622 + 1692 and I got the 1656 + 1612 combo in the end, being satisfied with the result I stopped)
Before updating, you should try with the stock ones. The 4580 are already good op amps ) Regarding the PSU, in your place I would change the stock one which seems a bit cheap to me ....
enjoy )
You can also get the appropriate adapter here :
Nuotech – decodeur Audio DAC, double ampli entierement equilibre 9038Q2M, Audiophile, prise en charge de DSD512 XMOS, Bluetooth 5.0 LDAC avec telecommande | AliExpress
the adapter is crap. I ordered that. have a high noise with that. and when I use the one with the Geshelli Erish it switches off.
that converts to single ended, it dosnt provide balanced to your headphones. plugging your single ended headphone cable into this does not make the signal balanced.
You re right )
I Personnally don't use the Headphone input ) The DAC itself is awesome