The Sabaj A20d DAC is back in an improved and redesigned 2022 version. Its digital/analog conversion stage is based on an ESS ES9038Pro DAC chip, a high-end DAC supporting high sampling rates and ensuring an incredibly accurate reproduction. Particularly complete, the A20d is also equipped with a large panel of connectors with notably an I2S input and a balanced output. This 2022 version also integrates a headphone amplifier stage with balanced and unbalanced outputs. The DAC also benefits from a Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, allowing to transmit its music wirelessly from a smartphone or a tablet.

Bluetooth 5.0

The Sabaj A20d 2022 integrates a Bluetooth 5.0 receiver from Qualcomm, allowing you to broadcast your music remotely, from a smartphone for example. The embedded receiver chip also supports the aptX, aptX HD and LDAC transmission codecs, ensuring excellent sound quality and transmission stability.

A complete connectivity

Despite its compact form factor, the A20d 2022 offers a complete connectivity that will allow an easy integration within the vast majority of audio systems. We find in input USB-C, Coaxial, Optical Toslink and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity. For the outputs, the Sabaj DAC offers unbalanced stereo RCA or balanced stereo XLR as well as two headphone outputs, unbalanced Jack 6.35mm and balanced Jack 4.4mm.

DPLL function

DPLL is used to eliminate clock jitter. The DPLL value defines the bandwidth of the clock lock. The wider the bandwidth, the easier the locking. The narrower the bandwidth, the more effective the jitter removal.

Some sources (like some TVs for example) have a too high clock jitter, which can cause an inability of the PLL chip to perform its locking, resulting in a jerky sound. Increasing the DPLL can then correct this problem.

A high-performance headphone amplifier

The A20d 2022 benefits from a balanced headphone amplifier circuit with a TI TPA6120A2 chip, offering a wide frequency range and a low noise level. The output distortion is only -120dB and a gain control (high = +8dB / low = 0dB) allows the Sabaj A20d 2022 to adapt to a large majority of headphones on the market.