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Receivers, dongles and amps often name the DAC chip right on the spec sheet. This section carries the datasheet rows for the chips this site keeps meeting, plus the public third-party measurement record where one exists. Every table carries a source and access date column, and measurement claims stay attributed to the people who made them.
| Chip | Manufacturer | Max spec | Datasheet source | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ES9018K2M | ESS Technology | 127 dB DNR | ES9018K2M datasheet v3.7 (ESS-hosted PDF) | Legacy at ESS; ES9039Q2M and ES9020 named as newer versions |
| CS43131 | Cirrus Logic | 130 dB dynamic range, A-weighted | DS1155F2, December 2022 | Current Cirrus product page; in current devices |
| CS43198 | Cirrus Logic | 130 dB dynamic range, A-weighted | DS1156F2, December 2022 | Current Cirrus product page; in current devices |
One reading note before you compare cells: the ESS figure is the dynamic range (DNR) rating printed in its datasheet, and the Cirrus figures are the A-weighted dynamic range ratings from their first pages. The two manufacturers label their headline metrics differently, so the cells describe each datasheet on its own terms and are not a cross-brand ranking. THD+N rows, packages, input formats and the full device records live on the chip pages.
The two Cirrus chips also share a documented third-party measurement record: a May 2025 comparative review at Audio Science Review of eleven devices built on either chip. The chip pages carry that record with attribution, including the informal "Cirrus hump" label and the implementations the review measured clean.
ES9018K2M datasheet data: 127 dB DNR, -120 dB THD+N, 28-QFN package, SPDIF and I2S input, plus its Legacy status at ESS and where the chip still ships.
Read ES9018K2M →CS43131 datasheet data: 130 dB dynamic range, -115 dB THD+N, 2 V rms output, an integrated headphone driver, plus device lists and hump notes.
Chip profileCS43198 datasheet data: 130 dB dynamic range, -115 dB THD+N and 2 V rms pseudodifferential outputs, plus current devices and third-party measurement notes.