Review on ES9068AS MQA384KHz PCM768KHz Balanced Bluetooth by Patrick Nepal

I have a Novatron (Cocktail Audio) X35 which is a combination ripper, streamer, NAS, DAC and amplifier. A long time ago I gave up using an amplifier to just use a streamer and DAC. The internal DAC is good, but it's an early-gen ESS Saber Pro single chip and I've always wondered if an external DAC would sound better. I finally pulled the X-16 trigger and the results exceeded my expectations. I output a number from the X35 via USB and it's not like the X-16 has multiple hours, I find its ability to decode internal details on Tidal and Qobuz nothing short of amazing. The soundstage has a depth I've never experienced before and the mid-bass structure is palpable. In general, I am very satisfied and I also regret that I did not buy the X-26pro. A tip for everyone. The included USB cable is usable, but I saw a definite improvement by spending $50 on a shielded copper composition hi-fi cable from a reputable cable supplier. UMMMV