Following is a summary of the changes to the "DSD" version of both the DX-5 and the QB-9:
~~~~~~~~~~
The changes are all to the audio side of the player and will only benefit the two-channel analog audio outputs. If you are not using the analog audio outputs, there is no reason to upgrade your DX-5. The changes include:
1) Changing the DAC chip from the Burr-Brown DSD1792A (DX-5) or DSD1796 (QB-9) to the ES9016S.
2) Replacing the audio master clocks with low-phase-noise modules running at twice the frequency of the previous ones, which allow the ESS DAC chip to perform at a higher level.
3) Changes to the analog audio circuitry and its power supply that improve the audio performance.
4) Addition of an AC line powered supply for the USB circuitry. This provides for uniformly superior performance, regardless of the quality of the USB Vbus power supplied by the computer.
5) The ability of the USB Audio input to accept and decode native DSD files from computer sources.
If you are using the analog audio outputs, the improvement in performance is dramatic. I honestly felt there wasn't all that much room for improvement over the existing product, and was shocked at how much better it sounds now. I am not kidding when I say that in my opinion it sounds roughly twice as good as it did previously. Once you hear it, it is very obvious and you will not be able to go back.
We have not yet set the wholesale prices for the board exchanges.
Following is a summary of the changes to the "DSD" version of both the DX-5 and the QB-9:
~~~~~~~~~~
The changes are all to the audio side of the player and will only benefit the two-channel analog audio outputs. If you are not using the analog audio outputs, there is no reason to upgrade your DX-5. The changes include:
1) Changing the DAC chip from the Burr-Brown DSD1792A (DX-5) or DSD1796 (QB-9) to the ES9016S.
2) Replacing the audio master clocks with low-phase-noise modules running at twice the frequency of the previous ones, which allow the ESS DAC chip to perform at a higher level.
3) Changes to the analog audio circuitry and its power supply that improve the audio performance.
4) Addition of an AC line powered supply for the USB circuitry. This provides for uniformly superior performance, regardless of the quality of the USB Vbus power supplied by the computer.
5) The ability of the USB Audio input to accept and decode native DSD files from computer sources.
If you are using the analog audio outputs, the improvement in performance is dramatic. I honestly felt there wasn't all that much room for improvement over the existing product, and was shocked at how much better it sounds now. I am not kidding when I say that in my opinion it sounds roughly twice as good as it did previously. Once you hear it, it is very obvious and you will not be able to go back.
We have not yet set the wholesale prices for the board exchanges.