ESS Sabre32 DAC Whats the big deal?
Sam -- Sat, 11/14/2009 - 04:57
Whats so great about the new Sabre DAC's? Oppo and simaudio are hyping it up big time...one player is $800 the other $12K. Whats so great about this new chip? anyone know? TAS reviewers do you guys know whats going on? It appears to challange Burr Brown....
New digital technology trumps older technology. Every year the chip makers come out with newer versions of their products. The new Sabre DAC has excellent specs and offers makers another chip option.Some manufacturers are finding ways to use this new chip.
Technological innovation never stands still - did you really expect the Burr Brown chip to remain forever as the only high-end choice?
Steven Stone
Contributor to The Absolute Sound, EnjoytheMusic.com, Vintage Guitar Magazine, and other fine publications
Steven,
I don't think Technology will stand still or Burr Brown or any other product will be there forever as the only choice. I was asking for some more useful information other than a generalized technology progression insight. How is this DAC any better? Where and in What products has it shown promise? Has it been demoed at a show? "SPECS" as you note is a starting point but they mean nothing in the over all evaluation or quality of sound from a component. Steven do you buy and review all your gear based on "Excellent Specs"? I guess its too early for the general population to know much about this but some industry people might have some more info about it and those who do please share with us. Seems like something new and upcoming but in what ways? how much of a leap forward is this? or is this just another alternative?
Dude,
I've watched you dog several editors and their responses to your questions. At some point, people are going to stop responding to your questions and responses if you continue to present them with a JERK attitude. Just sayin...
Innocent, not dogging anyone. Just heated/pasionate discussions. I have in the past criticised several editors with reasoning and questions that I discussed in my posts. Especially when they keep changing several times with what they say contradicting themselves several times. Could I be nicer and more polite? Yes I can and will try not to be a jerk. But regarding your respond to my post based on Steven stones answer, what could I have said? His reply was almost useless regarding the specific post with silly information that everyone knows. Almost everyone knows there are options and technology changes. Sorry for the testy reply if it hurt your feelings.
You can read Chris Martens' review of the Peachtree Nova, which uses one of the SabreDACs, here:
http://www.avguide.com/review/playback-peachtree-audio-nova-hybrid-integ...
Chris is getting the new Oppo, with what I think is a different SabreDAC, next week.Our news item on the Oppo is here:
http://www.avguide.com/article/news-oppo-announces-special-edition-bdp-8...
It contains some techspeak on the ESS SabreDACs used in the Oppo.
I agree with Sam. Steven's answer to Sam's question on what's so great about this new chip is of pathetically LOW information value.
OPPO really needs another DAC... its DVD 980 H has an appalling treble.
Today I was listening Emil Gilels playing a Mozart piano sonata (Recorded live in 1970) through this OPPO's gear and I thought to myself:
" How on Earth Mr.Gilels accepted to play this dreadful piano ?? It sounded like a TOY...GOOD GRIEF !!"
Then I've decided to play the same CD through a CARY CDP-1 (Cary's entry level CD player) with balanced
outputs using CARDAS GOLDEN REFERENCE cables...
AHA !
Mr. Gilels's piano was INNOCENT of being a music-killer.
The culprit was the damn OPPO's sound.
It has a TERRIFIC picture, but I do hope that this SABRE DAC could do a better
job with the OPPO blu ray player !!!
You might be right about the 980's treble, but the Oppo with the ESS DAC seems to be the BDP-83SE.
Dear Discman, I will definitely pick the BDP-83SE model. My ears can't be assaulted
again by the hoodlum treble that marred Emil Gilels's Steinway.
I do not have ANY doubt whatsoever that if this new OPPO gear could sport a pair
of BALANCED OUTPUTS, it'd garner RESPECT among the audiophile community
at the same time that it'd also put a big smile in everyone else's face.
HOW MUCH IT COST ?
I'd pay for that.
If I were to build a great DVD/BLU RAY player, why the heck would I be CHEAP
by not providing a better analog output?
Why investing ONLY in those HDMI and its digital coaxial and Toslink outputs if
I've got the NEWEST DAC available in the market ?
Hello??
I will buy it and I will call it " OPPO CHEAPPO " !!!
I think the BDP 83 is $899. Not sure balanced out would be any better sonically, but if you require that, buy something else.
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