All of our tests were run on a PC with Windows 7 x64. For the most part, the machine's specs aren't really relevant, except for the fact that the motherboard hosting our Realtek ALC889 codec is Asus' Rampage III Formula.
The following devices are included, covering price points from $2000 down to $2.
Foobar2000 sources, with the WASAPI sources circled in red
| Benchmark Media DAC2 HGC | JDSLabs O2+ODAC | Asus Xonar Essence STX | Realtek ALC889 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$2000 | ~$290 (including AC adapter) | $190 | ~$2 (OEM in volume) |
| Format | External USB Device | External USB Device | Internal PCIe card | On-board codec |
| Driver version | 1.61 | Native USB Audio | 7.12.8.1794 | 6.0.1.7023 |
| DSP Chip | Custom FPGA | N/A | Asus AV100 (C-Media CMI8788) | Realtek ALC889 |
| DAC Chip | ESS SABRE32 ES9018 | ESS SABRE32 ES9023 | TI PCM1792A | Realtek ALC889 |
| I/V conversion | 2 x TI LME49860/LME4562 | 2 x JRC NJM4556AD | 2 x TI LME49860/LME4562 (1) | Realtek ALC889 |
| Buffer | TI LME49600TS | Custom 4 x NJM4556D stage | TI TPA6120A2 | Realtek ALC889 |
| PCM audio support | Up to 176.4/192 kHz sampling Up to 24-bit word length | Up to 96 kHz sampling (2) Up to 24-bit word length | Up to 192 kHz sampling (3) Up to 24-bit word length | Up to 176.4/192 kHz sampling (4) Up to 24-bit word length |
| DSD audio support | Natively supported via DoP | Not supported | Not supported (5) | Formally supported, but couldn't get it to work |
Notes:
- The STX has swappable socketed op-amps. We replaced the native 2 x JRC2114D (which are also very good) with 2 x TI LME49860/LME4562, the same ones used in the DAC2.
- Does not support 88.2 kHz
- Does not support 88.2/176.4 kHz
- Did not support 88.2 or 176.4 kHz in our test at 16- or 24-bit depth
- The PCM1792A DAC does support DSD, but unfortunately, the C-Media CMI8788 does not, hence the lack of this capability on the card
Despite the higher product series number, the ESS Sabre ES9023 DAC is, on paper, inferior to the ES9018. That doesn't imply an audible difference, though.
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Summary
- Turning The PC Into A True Hi-Fi Audio Platform
- Four Devices Tested: From $2000 Down To $2
- Benchmark DAC2 HGC
- JDS Labs O2+ODAC Combo
- Asus Xonar Essence STX
- Realtek ALC889
- Test Setup: Sennheiser HD 800 And AKG K 550 Headphones
- Test Setup: Volume Matching And Testing The Listener
- Test Setup: Cables, Software, And Tracks
- Test Setup: The Blind Testing Process
- Results: Dragonborn / Jeremy Soule
- Results: Soothe My Soul / Depeche Mode
- Results: Through The Fire And Flames / DragonForce
- Results: Get Lucky / Daft Punk
- Results: Symphonic Dances / Andante Con Moto / Rachmaninoff
- Bonus Test: DSD Versus PCM; Billie Jean / Michael Jackson's Thriller
- Why We Need To Test Low-Impedance Headphones Soon
- Why Audio Formats Above 16-Bit/44.1 kHz Don't Matter
- Anything Above $2 Buys More Features, Not Better Quality
Ask a Category Expert
What I have been saying for quite a while.
Do you believe that the E-MU 1616m is significantly better than their $2k amp? If not, then they're still not going to find a difference.