New ESS ES9028 SABRE Mobile DAC & ES9603 Headphone Amplifier

Among several new products recently introduced by ESS Technology is the next generation SABRE Digital to Analog Converter (DAC), the ES9028, featuring a new Dual-DAC architecture, and the new ES9603 Headphone Amplifier. Both are designed specifically for HiFi audio enabled smartphones and were used in Vivo’s recently announced X6 Plus Android smartphone.

ESS Technology announced its new flagship ES9038PRO SABRE DAC at CES 2016, generating immediate attention from audio manufacturers looking to raise the standard on new generation high-resolution audio products. The new ESS PRO SABRE 32-bit, 8-channel DAC chip goes the extra mile by offering the industry’s highest dynamic range (DNR) of 140dB with an impressive THD+N at -122dB.

Exclusively unveiled at IFA 2015 in Berlin, the Pioneer XDP-100R Digital Audio Player becomes the industry’s first portable player to offer MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) support. Pioneer intends to be the first to bring the potential of MQA’s technology to market, and in portable player form. Meanwhile, CEDIA has named Bob Stuart, the inventor of MQA, as this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.

The DAC2 series are the latest digital-to-analog converters from Benchmark Media Systems, the American audio manufacturer based in Syracuse, NY. The model reviewed here is the DAC2 DX, which has been tailored for users who don’t have analog sources or who use a separate analog preamp. Read the full review.