![]() My digital library is now just over 10TB, and while that has indeed grown and storage solutions changed over the years, I have remained consistent in my use of an Apple Mac Mini Late 2012 as my source running various software playback programs: Audirvana Plus, Signalyst HQPlayer primarily for ASIO playback, upsampling and files manipulation. There is renewed debate in the benefit of a Linear Power Supply over a switched one, and this will no doubt rage on. Inclusion of a 12 volt 1.5 amp power supply input which allows for a number of linear power supply units to be used and after listening to a few which I either had on hand or borrowed, was not convinced that the additional outlay returned an exponential increase in sonic quality.Seamless format switching and handling of higher resolution formats when compared to the e22, the e32’s predecessor.Enhanced firmware and drivers for both Mac Core and Windows.Over the past few years I have auditioned other DACs, listened intently to others in the possession of friends and kind strangers, but nothing I heard so far in terms of my aforementioned criteria, price and sonic quality has turned my head, until of course George Klissarov, founder and designer of exaSound announced the new e32 DAC, not a slipstream update, but a bona fide upgrade moving on from the ESS 9108S Sabre32 chip to the new ESS 9208 Sabre32 Pro chip, which after email exchanges with ESS and a close look at the block diagram, I learned that the 9208 affords designers a slew of new technical/design possibilities and improvements, however as it relates to prospective exaSound customers here are the highlights: ![]() The exaSound e22 remains the mainstay of my digital system. Sonics, in a word “Glorious”, and a reason for me to run not walk from the underground station to my flat.Integration, using the Apple remote meant one less gadget to keep track of.Universality, auto switching power supply, so I could plug it in anywhere.Portability, it would comfortably fit in my roller bag.The decision not so obvious, as it met my particular criteria: It is now just about three years since acquiring the exaSound e22. Miraculous, because apart from reading about the DAC, it was only because of advert in one of local hifi magazines that I learned there was a sole distributor up in Cambridge, outside of London. Armed with all the research and queries of forum members, I listened to and demo’d the following DACs which were available to me in the UK, without extraordinary import taxes and duties: Chord Hugo, Mytek 192, M2Tech Young, Auralic Vega, Wyred4Sound and miraculously the exaSound e22. It is powered over USB and supports DSD 128, so I thought I had it made, and then DSD 256 raised its head, but more importantly the sound was good, but not the level that I would drop everything and rush home for. I had purchased a very capable and portable FOSTEX HP-A4 headphone amp/DAC to tide me over. I went through a slew of speakers before I finally felt comfortable with the Audio Physic Tempos, and it was during that time that not only did I find myself downloading and acquiring more HD, high definition files, but also discovering something new to me called DSD, Direct Stream Digital.Īs I was slowly settling into my new life abroad, I felt that I was just settling for sonic quality, so I plunged myself into the UK hifi community joining online forums and reading all the local magazines. Everything else would be purchased upon my arrival. This meant that I had to digitise all my music and that apart from my speakers I would be taking my Mac Mini, hard drives and trusty universal, 110/220v, Bel Canto Design s300 integrated amplifier with built-in 24/96 DAC. The decision was to streamline as much as possible and limit gear to whatever could fit in good sized Airline approved carry-on roller bag. I knew that wherever I would call home music, more specifically my library would come with, but not all my gear and definitely not my records and CDs. ![]() This was made somewhat more concrete for me as a result of my father’s passing and my desire to get away and make a fresh start. Here David Blumenstein takes delivery of their $3499.00 e33 Digital to Analogue Converter.įive years ago I embarked upon a decision to pick up sticks and emigrate to London from New York City. ExaSound are a Canadian brand that make just a handful of products. ![]()
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