GoodSoundClub - Romy the Cat's Audio Site

In the Forum: Didital Things
In the Thread: Really Expensive DACs?

Post Subject: What does it mean" the best DAC"?Posted by Romy the Cat on: 12/8/2015

Well, this is a big subject. Kind of. For sure a better DAC produce better sound. How much a better DAC shall cost? That is a complicated topic that has absolutely no relation to how the DAC sound. I remember a dealer that I know pick up a new speaker line that no one cared. He juts out of blue increased price from $3000 to $27.000 and the speaker begin to see like crazy. So, leaving prices aside the question would be: what expensive DAC would offer? The answer is complex.

Yes, we presume that expensive DAC offers better sound but it practically never the case in respect to all sources. Some DACs do better at a specific sapling rate, or at specific resolution. Some DACS do better with one type of CD over another. Some do better with one time of connection and not so good with another. Some do belter with a giving clocking schema and ec, etc, etc…. There are many variables. I presume that a better DAC would be universally better result regardless of those variables but it never was my experience. Even the best DACs that I have seen did the best only one single thing. However, I do not monitor the DACs for many years and the situation might be changed nowadays.

For sure it would be great if we have a universal “best” DAC that would do own topological beast regardless the conditions. I am sure many maker would insist that it is the case. I am no sure that they are right.

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