burninnik

Absolutely, I do not think I would be able to pass a blind test comparing one channel of an ESS9018 with 16 channels (like used in Accphase's DC-901 - two ESS9018 per audio channel). Nevertheless from a high-end point of view a two chip design would feel more appropriate.

Agreed. So the price of the components cannot play a major role. Is it so much easier to use just one DAC? Do you save money in terms of R&D? Because frankly I cannot think of any benefit to use a single chip for two channels. Dual mono - albeit inaudible to most of us - is a hallmark of high-end. I therefore cannot really understand why Mytek did not follow the path. Maybe the Manhattan should be called Cyklops instead?

One question regarding the Manhattan circuitry. They only use one ESS 9018 (which is an 8-channel DAC), hence Mytek has to split the channels of a single chip for the left and right audio channel. Wouldn't it have made more sense to incorporate two 9018s (like Accuphase does it) to keep everything completely separated? The couple of dollars for a second chip (they are actually ridiculously cheap) would not have made difference, would it?

See my comments in blue

Looking forward to your impressions. @ el corso: The best tubes I know are from KR Audio in Czech Republic. I have two giant 1630s myself.

Any news on a proper audition?

Hi Ted, despite 20 re-insertions - no luck. I guess the SACD is corrupt in a way that makes it unrecognizable to just the PS3 drive... Thank you!

Dear Ted, it is fabulous what you and your friends are doing. SACDs - for a long time - have been the issue to not transfer my music collection to a computer. I do not really believe in the superiority of digital formats (PCM vs. DSD), at least as long for most of the SACDs there has been PCM processing, given the lack of hardware. In addition, my current DAC does not own a true DSD DAC. However - this is no news for anyone following this thread - the content of CD and SACD layer differ quite often. Now I have the possibility to extract the SACD layer including metadata. I am very grateful. I had already been able to extract the SACD layer via HDMI (using a splitter device). But making a library out of this is probably as tiresome as doing the same for LPs (which is no option for me - LP requires the celebration of a turntable). One small issue I have. I have one Hybrid-SACD that is not recognized as an SACD by the PS3 (La Folia, Savall). Do you think buying the same SACD again could solve this, or is there a systematic problem with this edition. My stand-alone SACD player does recognize it. Happy new year!