DAC Chip: ESS ES9038Q2M (Single)
PCM 32bit – 768khz DSD512, SNR: -118dB, Power: 2 Vrms SE, 4 Vrms BAL, Type-C Female, 2.5mm BAL & 3.5mm SE (Microphone: No), Aluminum Chassis, Optical output, 32bit/768kHz

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Listening Equipment: Etymotic ER4SR, FOSTEX T40RP MK3, TForce Yuan Li, 7Hz Timeless, KZ EDX Modded, VE Monk SM, VE Duke, SeeAudio Bravery, Shure KSE1500. Xiaomi Redmi 10 & Sony Xperia Z5 Compact. HiBy Music Player (USB 2.0, USB Exclusive Mode)

LISTENING EQUIPMENT USED IMPARTED HUGE INFLUENCE TO SOUND IMPRESSIONS & RATING

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💚PROS

• Neutral and natural airy smooth timbre, uncolored
• Smooth and crisp dynamics, matured vibrancy
• Superb coherence with pristine clarity and transparency
• Slightly intimate Mids richly textured and defined
• Realistic Male/Female vocals
• Crispy smooth Treble offering great depth, extension, and textures
• Well balanced Mid-Bass responses with smooth decay
• Deep, richly textured Sub-Bass with realistic decay
• Excellent details retrieval, Macro and Micro
• Realistic and crisp guitar, piano, cello, and bass guitar tones
• Tall and spacious soundstage with great depth
• Reference grade imaging, precise holographic spatial staging
• Reference grade speed and transients handling
• Super clean with zero floor noises
• Devoid of any coarseness or grainy edges overall
• Immensely powerful SE and BAL output with commanding drive
• Absolutely gorgeous sounding paired with literally anything.
• Great driving power for anything below 600 Ohm
• Merciful on battery draw to the host

💔CONS

• No hardware volume adjuster
• Volume level jump not as refined as others
• Boxy design and construction may not appeal to some
• Slightly warm after prolonged usage

VERDICT

REIYIN DA-Plus. Among the many ES9038Q2M I have owned and tested, I am happy to declare that this REIYIN DA-Plus proudly claim a place alongside the top performers. It is not easy to tune and implement ES9038Q2M to sound as natural and effortless as this DA-Plus. Many have tried and I can only account the likes of Hidizs S9 Pro, E1DA 9038SG3, Shanling UA2 (all of them on ES9038Q2M) being worthy.

The strongest element for DA-Plus, it is free from the native ESS glare and shimmer that some may find fatiguing. The same sort of effortless presentation exhibited by Apogee Groove, which until today sets the benchmark for proper implementation of ESS Sabre DACs in Dongle form. What I find amazing is how well balanced the tonality is between analogue and modern sound. Many ESS Sabre based Dongles ended up sounding unnaturally bright and peaky, but not this DA-Plus.

To begin with, DA-Plus exhibited AMAZING synergy with 7Hz Timeless Magnetic Planar IEM. Mind blowing clean and airy natural timbre with mature dynamics. No hint of anything being overdone. There’s Hi-Fidelity all over the place. Deep, realistic Bass responses, Smooth crispy Treble, clean neutral Mids. Technical wise the DA-Plus worked exceedingly great at details retrieval be it Macro or Micro, offering crystal clean transparency. It has the speed to handle complex passages, cleanly separated layers to portray individual instruments, amazing spatial imaging and generous amount of airy spaces with soundstage. The same can be said of TForce Yuan Li, with an exception that Yuan Li offering a bit more of overall warmth and less air, more intimacy. So, either way it worked great for me to suit my moods. About the only cons I observed here is that the volume adjustment gap are not as refined, which forced me to click one notch down and listen at lower loudness.

Power wise, it’s nothing short of Amazing. DA-Plus was able to drive FOSTEX T40RP MK3 with such great ease and agility. The presentation absolutely wholesome with dynamic range well extended on both ends of the spectrum. Similar results as observed with 7Hz Timeless, except that natively the T40RP MK3 a little more organic and analogue-ish. It is as effortless as it is airy with mature vibrancy and control. With Etymotic ER4SR, which is another stubborn IEM to drive, the DA-Plus paired equally great even with the 3.5mm SE port. My ER4SR sounded natural and does not exhibit any unnatural metallic Treble extensions. The most amazing element of this pairing is the Mids – it is super clean and clear with exquisite details, vocals sounding very crisp and engaging.

Final test, serving as AUX feed for Shure KSE1500. As expected the DA-Plus also excelled here, feeding the Electrostatic Amp with 2 Vrms of pristine clean output (from 3.5mm SE Port). This is practically Endgame sound and fidelity – everything sounded right and realistic. The pinnacle of balance realized with this pairing. I can just sit and listen to this all day long…

All in all, despite the Cons, REIYIN DA-Plus nailed it right with what’s most important – the sound. A prime example of how ESS Sabre DAC should be tuned and implemented (alongside Hidizs S9 Pro, E1DA 9038SG3, Apogee Groove & ASUS ROG Clavis). Also not forgetting how well DA-Plus pairs practically with anything I throw at it.

⭐⭐⭐⭐½ ($77.00)

Best Pairing: Highly flexible with anything below 600 Ohm

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