I've just noticed that ESS are about to 'or already have released' their new ES9022 DAC with integrated 2v output.
They state in the accompanying sales blurb that 'this is the best sounding ESS SABRE DAC to date!'
(I bet you can guess what question I'm gonna ask next ) Do Twisted Pear have any future plans for this new top of the line DAC? I realize that there isn't much scope for fun - from a designers point of view but perhaps it would be cheaper to implement and therefor even more affordable seeing that there's no longer an I/V stage required?

With this new DAC it seems that a small footprint would be possible as there would only be a single Placid style power supply + transformer - a small DAC board - MUX + Volumite requiring a bijou and therefor cheaper chassis.

I am aware that the Buffalo32 has only recently been released but the good stuff just keeps on coming from those chaps at ESS so I was just curious to know if you've even considered making this available as one of your excellent kits.

My apologies if I'm in any way jumping the gun here.

Ah thanks for clearing that up Brian, so the "highest performance of its class" still won't be as good as the Buffalo32 - that's good to know.
I wonder if this integrated I/V will filter up or down into other SABRE's in the range, seems like a neat idea if it doesn't harm the sound quality.

Then again even if they did release a ES9018 with integrated I/V it would probably be strictly for consumer devices anyway I guess.

Cheers