Douk Audio DAC-Q11 - the ultimate DAC for audiophile geeks?

This DAC from Douk Audio has two different chips - ESS 9038Q2M and AKM AK 4493. You can switch between the two on the fly, thus allowing you to directly compare sonic characteristics of those two chips. Depending on your current system setup, music you play or your mood, you can choose a more relaxed sound of AKM or a more analytical and sharper character of the ESS chip. And all this with just one click of a button on the supplied remote control.
Douk Audio DAC-Q11 on Amazon - amzn.to/4fybRR2
Douk Audio DAC-Q11 on Aliexpress - s.click.aliexp...
Official website - doukaudio.com/...
Tube preamplifier I liked a lot - s.click.aliexp...
Other products I used in this review:
WiiM Mini (streamer) - amzn.to/3Ac25Ui
Fosi Audio ZA3 (amp) - amzn.to/3Sxs5Qk
Fosi Audio V3 Mono (amp) - amzn.to/4d6elo7
Willsenton R8 (amp) - amzn.to/3AlxUKj
Wharfedale Linton (speaker) - amzn.to/4d761V6
Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 (speaker) - amzn.to/4dbzsoM

[@sloboat55]

I wish you great success on KZbin but, more importantly, in life. I've had my Tradutto in my rig for over two years, it's on fire.

[@staceymangham]

Brilliant why no one has already done this is beyond me, price, difficulty, or demand personally i think we are going to see many many more manufacturers doing this. It just occurred to me that maybe Chip manufacturers don't want to be compared side by side so easily, the offshoot is it could push performance of chips higher and faster. Nice review 👍

[@dentboxhero1717]

It's been done many times just not in the budget realm, even delta sigma and r2r combination has been done. Both working together and not by switching between.

[@dungysphincter7974]

Thanks for sharing your video. From what I can see. The Q11 has two LME49720 Op amps that are swappable. This means that you can change the sound character of this device as well. The Q11 is compatible with a pair of the Sparkos Dual Discrete SS3602 Op Amps, or possibly if enough clearance space is provided from the top of the casing you may even fit the Berson V7V Dual Discrete Op amps. That would make this unit even that much more unique!

[@NormcoreGreg]

@dungysphincter7974, thanks for your insightful comment!

[@drlimbo]

Dzieki. Skusze sie na niego. Zauważylem ze ess nadaje sie do trance electronik. AKM jest bardziej do sluchania rocka etc.

[@NormcoreGreg]

Polecam :)

[@peterlundskow4061]

How is the supplied power supply? Could it be improved with a higher quality power supply?

[@NormcoreGreg]

Good point. It is a simple 12V wall wart, so one would probably benefit from a better one.

[@deviklovecraft3835]

I'm looking hard at this DAC, in addition to offerings by SMSL and Topping, and I really like the 2 chip option. However, it is ridiculous that the device won't let you switch between modes on the DAC itself. That may be a deal breaker for me because that remote won't last

[@34332]

Congrats on the 3K subscribers. An interesting product, however, output voltage seems not equal for the DACs. Rated output level: AK4493:1.8V ESS9038Q2M:2V Which may or may not influence someone's preference, where in side by side comparisons the 'louder' one is often preferred.

[@NormcoreGreg]

Yes. I forgot to tell this in the video. Thanks for the remark.

[@staceymangham]

Simple really, increase volume slightly for the AKM Although you are quite right it will give the ESS an advantage if compared without equalising the volume

[@mannycazz8018]

New subscriber my friend. Keep up the great work and enjoy taylor swift 👍

[@NormcoreGreg]

Thank you!

[@thinkIndependent2024]

You had me @ Hello , WOW even changeable OPAMPS In getting one

[@thelowprofile9767]

You are funny and you don't even know it probably. More videos please. Thanks.

[@NormcoreGreg]

Thank you for your kind comment @thelowprofile9767 :)

[@VirusForPrez]

ESS and AKM have replaced these dacs with newer updated versions . Like the ES9039Q2M .

[@Evolved_ue7]

It's not the dac per say, it's what's around it that counts . You would imagine at this price it's average at best .

[@newardthelman6871]

BTW - I ordered the PJMIOLAI SA-1000 from Ali Express. It arrived rapidly. It also arrived without a USA power plug. So, I can't plug it in and use it. All I can do is look at it. Attempting to contact the seller just sends you into an endless loop thru a sequence of pages, which never lead you to a way of actually contacting the seller. So, unless you get an adaptor for the weird Euro - or whatever bizarre plug it comes with - the item will be useless. Buyer beware.

[@NormcoreGreg]

Sorry to hear that :/

[@goodsound4756]

Just buy a US adapter for three dollars in any hardware store, not a big deal.

[@davestevens4193]

Neither...R2R all the way! Ha. Good job.

[@NormcoreGreg]

This path is still ahead of me :) Which R2R DAC do you have?

[@davestevens4193]

@@NormcoreGreg Schiit Gungnir Multibit and Audio-GD R2R11 DAC/headphone amp combo.

[@spectrefate]

The words "Douk" and "audiophile" should never be spoken in the same sentence. Enjoy the paycheck.

[@goodsound4756]

The ultimate DAC for Audiophile Geeks? Are you kidding? This is entry-level stuff, real ultimate gear would be like $100K from MSB, Lampizator, Esoteric, Meitner, Playback designs etc. Please refrain from clickbaity titles.

[@NormcoreGreg]

@@goodsound4756 , not all audiophiles, i.e. people passionate about music, are able or interested in spending thousands of dollars on audio gear. Some, myself included, find pleasure in experimenting with much more affordable equipment. Some would even argue hi-end gear is just a marketing gimmick to profit on snobbery of those that can pay such a price tag. So, let’s just agree on having different opinions and leave it at that ;)

[@goodsound4756]

@@NormcoreGreg just write "a great DAC for audiophiles on a budget?" This would be a fair title. clickbait is not sustainable. You simply cannot find *Ultimate* gear for just 150 Euros.

[@giandujavettorello6184]

@@goodsound4756 never judge a product by its price, it's a serious mistake, word of an old audiophile.