For the release of the new flagship DAC, Ayre entered into a partnership agreement with ESS Technologies and used the company's new ES9038PRO chip in the QX-5. This chip, created by ESS, sets new quality standards in terms of linearity of performance and dynamic range width. Combined with Ayre's proprietary digital filter with minimal phase shift, built on a low-noise FPGA, this has achieved a phenomenal level of sound detail and transparency. All the emotionality and energy of music is now available to listeners, regardless of the recording format.