scott1019
Super Member
"DAC technology is changing so rapidly that it's too hard to keep up, and it's pointless to own the latest and greatest when something new is already in the works"
My experience tells me that, while there are always improvements to be made, there are only very small progressions to be made on the actual D/A conversion. I find it somewhat comical that many are repurposing DAC chips from the late 80s (ie the TDA1541 and 1543) and finding creative ways to use them in a new way and present them as the "latest and greatest".
I feel lost in an endless sea of DSD, Hi-Rez, USB, and a multitude of other fads in the DAC world (recently NOS being all the rage).. I realize that everyone is just scrambling for market share with the burgeoning PC audio market, but at some point one has to ask themselves are these actually advances in technology, or just another sales gimmick.
I've heard many of these so-called "reference" DACs and many have not lived up to any of the claims. I found that when PC audio is concerned, at least currently, that decoupling the PC from the DAC itself seems to yield the most gains, as in using a USB>SPDIF converter. Doing so allows you to use any DAC you wish... and lessens the need to continue to consider the "latest and greatest", most of which are focused on USB, DSD, and Hi-Rez.
Yes, there are benefits to PC audio, but it's not the "end all" when it comes to digital source transmission, the good old CD is certainly a viable media source. A solid transport with a quality DAC will still get you very high up the ladder.. and sound quality rivaling, and often exceeding, PC audio.
I understand fully there are other factors at play here, like the ripping process, file codecs (.AIFF, .FLAC, .WAV etc.) and even the source software you use. And on the CD side of things... read errors, laser diffraction, clocking etc.
Anyone else feel the same way?
My experience tells me that, while there are always improvements to be made, there are only very small progressions to be made on the actual D/A conversion. I find it somewhat comical that many are repurposing DAC chips from the late 80s (ie the TDA1541 and 1543) and finding creative ways to use them in a new way and present them as the "latest and greatest".
I feel lost in an endless sea of DSD, Hi-Rez, USB, and a multitude of other fads in the DAC world (recently NOS being all the rage).. I realize that everyone is just scrambling for market share with the burgeoning PC audio market, but at some point one has to ask themselves are these actually advances in technology, or just another sales gimmick.
I've heard many of these so-called "reference" DACs and many have not lived up to any of the claims. I found that when PC audio is concerned, at least currently, that decoupling the PC from the DAC itself seems to yield the most gains, as in using a USB>SPDIF converter. Doing so allows you to use any DAC you wish... and lessens the need to continue to consider the "latest and greatest", most of which are focused on USB, DSD, and Hi-Rez.
Yes, there are benefits to PC audio, but it's not the "end all" when it comes to digital source transmission, the good old CD is certainly a viable media source. A solid transport with a quality DAC will still get you very high up the ladder.. and sound quality rivaling, and often exceeding, PC audio.
I understand fully there are other factors at play here, like the ripping process, file codecs (.AIFF, .FLAC, .WAV etc.) and even the source software you use. And on the CD side of things... read errors, laser diffraction, clocking etc.
Anyone else feel the same way?