Sabaj A20d Review (Balanced DAC)
The form factor is a square "brick" rather than the standard horizontal configuration we usually see:
A remote is provided which makes navigation rather easy:
The key debounce timing on the remote is a bit low causing double entry when you are for example changing filter types.
Power is provided through the laptop style external switcher as you see, Wish it was built-in but I see that they are almost out of room on the back.
Sabaj A20d Measurements
Let's get right into it:
This is what I like to see! Distortion is at -130 dB which is way below threshold of audibility. That results in a SINAD of 120 dB, putting the A20d in our top 20 of best DACs tested, ever:
As noted on the dashboard, I had to dial down the output level. Otherwise it goes up to 5.14 volts with better performance still:
In case you want to use the RCA output, here is its performance:
Dynamic range at nominal 4 volts and full output is excellent:
As is multitone performance:
Intermodulation vs level test shows the ESS DAC classic IMD hump as we have called it although it is controlled:
Linearity is superb showing excellent accuracy:
I was a bit disappointed in jitter performance over USB:
Usually it is the one that is good with Coax suffering a bit but it is the other way around here. I played with the digital PLL control but it made no difference as I suspect it is not used with USB anyway. Fortunately levels are well below threshold of audibility so more of a problem for the eye seeing the graph than the ear.
The usual assortment of filters is provided:
Using a couple of them we get these satisfactory THD+N versus frequency (wideband):
Conclusions
I like simple stories like this: great engineering with closed loop of measuring and optimizing. Slight miss is there in USB jitter but that is about it. Since audible impact is below nil, I let it go and designate the A20d as another "instrument grade" DAC.
I am going to recommend the Sabaj A20d.
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