ZuperDAC DAC review

Hi guys and gals! Finally this time I get a chance to review one of the world's smallest and cheaper DAC: the ZuperDAC of Zorloo

THANKS

As always the first big thanks goes to you my readers.
The second thanks goes to Andy Ho of Zorloo, a very recent manufacturers present on the market for just one year.

PREMISES

Anyone who knows me knows that when I see a tiny component I say always that will be some compromises, since it is physically obvious that in order to save space there will be a problem, however a competitive price make the ZuperDAC a very interesting product.

DESCRIPTION

Here is the link to the page of the manufacturer.
Zorloo does not list the product specs, however describes him and we understand that there are two interesting components on board:
ESS Technology ES9018K2M ESS Sabre DAC and the on chip headphone amplifier ESS Sabre ES9016
It also supports signals up to 24 bit and 192 kHz and works with Windows, Mac and Android.

UNBOXING

PACKAGING

The packaging is simple: a small cardboard box with represented the ZuperDAC, inside a nice bed of polyurethane foam that prevent ZuperDAC from impact.

MATERIALS

The materials are durable and well researched from an aesthetic point of view, with a brushed aluminum case gold or silver coloured, it should be noted that two colors do not indicate anything other than color, with the two products equal at all.

BURN-IN

Breaking for the electronics is never extreme, the manufacturer recommends a 4 day period.

DRIVER

ASIO drivers are working well in Windows (tested with 7 and 8.1).

FREQUENCY RESPONSE TEST

Since Zorloo has not published a complete datascheet I have reserved to test all the technical parameters that could detect in the public interest.
We start from the residual current of the circuit that is around 47µW; 2.6 mV and 18mA , and it is so far from anything dangerous DC.

The output impedance is not the best because it is around 6.5 ohm, however it appears inline and competitive with other DAC with headphone amplifier and other sound cards, but ZuperDAC has sometime a lower value even of current top-end sound cards that have a value of the impedance between 8 and 10 ohms in accord to the chip used.

Now the Volts and Ampers e at the frequency of 1 kHz: 1V and 101mA showing a device that has a lot of power, but little voltage,; the USB power is not powerfull amd thr product is more functional whith earphones.

The frequency response is excellent linearity which is maintained within 0.2 db of range 20 Hz-20 kHz +.
Only the phase rotation is non-linear (which still feels even by ear) with rotation rotations from 5.9 kHz, and with a non-linearity since 500Hz.

REVIEW

MUSIC

If there is one fact that you can understand immediately is that at 70$ ZuperDAC seems like a very interesting product, especially for those who need a low cost component with present basses.

I spoke of low frequencyes, than we start with a quick description of the various frequency bands.

Present and well bodied basses, which tend to be slight predominant to the attention of the listener, not overly complex and sometimes slightly's dripping, but we must get from a more refined DAC to notice it, and above all having a very refined system, pratically an expensive audio sistem.

Medium are interesting well articulated and presented with interesting detail, which keeps the naturalness of reproduction.

High are well reproduced and extended, but they do not carry a level of extreme detail in particular because of the non-linear phase in this band.

With Hi-Fi headphones the lack of voltage should be noted in a certain shortage of dynamic but everything can be solved with an amplifier.

VIDEOREVIEW

A MOBILE USE

I cannot do a long speech abaut using ZuperDAC in mobility since the only mobility usage is that I bring ZuperDAC with me for a couple of times. I can't do a report on interfacing with Android, but the size makes the DAC very easy to carry, however there is no cap to the USB port and at the level of design and comfort is the only negativity in my mind.

USING IN GAME

From what I understand a USB interface by Matrox is on, smd on Windows there is a Microsoft-provided virtual surround, Zorloo do not confirm the operation, but from my personal point of view of user I have not detected any problem with virtual surround.

However, it can still be used in pure stereo, and ZuperDAC is revealed in game worthy of the best sound cards on the market and give an immersive and pleasant sound.

CONCLUSIONS

ZuperDAC is not the giant killer DAC, it is not a little David vs Goliath, but it does not means that have to be discarded, infact it is a DAC extremely interesting for who begins a journey in Hi-Fi at its costs and its pretty good sound. ZuperDAC has its flaws, in Zorloo state that they will work to eliminate problems of non-linear phase which is essentially the only fault of the ZuperDAC. But this seems like to find the flaws at all costs... well I listed them before and I do not think that repeat them can be serious.