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DAC Chip: ESS ES9018K2M & ESS ES9601 Amp (Single)
PCM 32-384kHz DSD256, SNR: 122db , Power: 2 Vrms, USB Type-A Male, 3.5mm SE (Microphone: NO), Plastic Chassis

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Listening Equipment: Etymotic ER4SR, ER2XR, Shure KSE1500, TIN HiFi P1

LISTENING EQUIPMENT USED IMPARTED HUGE INFLUENCE TO SOUND IMPRESSIONS & RATING

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💚PROS

• Natural timbre with balanced tonality, decidedly organic
• Natural Mids with natural toned Male and Female vocals
• Crisp Treble with commendable textures, snappy decays
• Commanding and fast Mid-Bass with ample punch and textures
• Sub-Bass is present and with good seismic feedback.
• Good details retrieval with rounded nuances
• Decent soundstage to not feel as boxed in
• Commendable speed and transients handling, no congestion observed.
• Moderate resistances to sibilance
• Drives Tin HiFi Magnetic Planar at 65/100
• Very usable independent volume adjuster

💔CONS

• Dynamics a bit tame and mild, lean bodied timbre
• Falls slightly short on that ESS sparkle found on top performing Sabre DAC/Amps.
• Hazy separation lines, lacking sharpness.
• Linear non holographic imaging and spatial staging. Two dimensional
• Slightly dull edged percussions, guitars, piano, and cello
• Not as forgiving on poor recordings and re-masters
• Require Type-A to Type-C Adapter

VERDICT

Monolith Hi-Res DAC. For this sort of quality, you can already get it from JCally JA21, JA04 or JM01. This is an aged Hi-Fi enough DAC/Amp that is now bordering on obsolete compared to the fierce Hi-Fi standards we are being offered today, the sound signature is classically tame by current ESS Sabre standard. Considering that Monoprice still sells this unit at rather steep $80 I don’t see the logic to buy it anymore when you can get the same quality from a $10 JCally. The saving grace for this unit, great synergy with an already resolving and detailed IEMs like the Etymotic ER4SR and ER2XR.

⭐⭐⭐ ($80.00)

Best Pairing: An already bright and resolving IEMs/Headphones

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