originalsnuffy
Headphoneus Supremus
Gotta start with how much I appreciate the way you explain the issues you are considering.4.4mm balanced requires different circuit and physically larger, so that would be good for another DAC model which would target higher output level, balanced output (maybe balanced + 3.5mm single-ended combined). Such DAC will drain more power from mobile device for sure and thus will be less compatible, less portable, less wearable, drain mobile device's battery faster. Therefore DAC V1 was created as basement on top of which other devices may come, like you mentioned.
I also wish you success on this new device.
I am a weirdo so I would want your next level device to be a serious contender to unseat great units such as the Cayin RU7. Or some of the others out there that are also pretty special. So I would hope for something that is a real player and not just geared to a price point.
Balanced out 4.4 is a given. I would hope for something other than ESS (lots of good choices nowadays, CS, AKM, ROHM, R2R, DSD). Not that I don't own any ESS based units, I certainly do. But lately ESS seems to put a bright sheen on everything. I do know implementations can smooth this out, but not every design seems to recognize this subtlety.
I am currently listening to the RU7 fed by a iphone 15 Pro Max serving up the Pentangle via SACD ISO (DSD) using Neutron player. And it sounds absolutely tremendous and I thank you for that also.