Analyzing DACs

I’ve tried different scenarios:

Topping D70s dac acting as a preamp straight into a GoldNote PA10. Then a Creek integrated amp acting as a preamp preceded by the same dac switched to pure dac mode, Then eventually purchased an SPL Elector for a dedicated preamp instead of the Creek (same configuration).

This particular dac as pre sounded…pretty good. Decent stage, good clarity, bass weight ok.

with the Creek, sounded…pretty good. Just wider stage, more interesting tonally, but not as fast.

Enter SPL preamp…huge improvement, by several factors, at least. Wider and deeper, more balanced while being more tonally rich, but also more accurate/there. Much more clarity, bass weight, bass quality, presence, center image, believability, pace, speed, dynamics, refinement, smoother. Sometimes even have trouble stopping the music to pee, it’s so good.

It’s interesting how nuanced and variable sampling different components in the chain can become. But to me, a very well designed output stage (or series of very good output stages) can be a game changer.

Topping dac as a dac is great in this arrangement. Better than as a pre/dac. But a Chord Dave as a pre/dac? I would assume a whole other animal much much better than a topping pre/dac. But I’d still stick with my SPL pre, given the choice. Always with the prospect of getting an even better dac down the line.

Interesting to me, how these discussions become so incredibly polarizing. Isn’t it true that there are many variables to consider here? A good sounding dac is a good sounding dac. A dac that measures well does not guarantee that its output stage will be particularly pleasing. But it is possible that a dac that measures well can also be a great good sounding dac. It is possible for a poorly measuring dac to still sound unique and wonderful. So much of this is subject to personal trial and error. However objectivist we’d like to be, two individuals with the exact same equipment will find differences in their setups for reasons that extend beyond their equipment.

Circuitry and the arrangement of internal components, board designs, filter caps (or lack there of), chips, or discrete circuits, wiring (and the amount of it), etc etc etc. all render different results. Question is, how do we listen? What are we finding or looking for when we do?

Not a guarantee, and there are some price conscious outlier/somewhat giant killer components out there…but I have found that quality components paired with good design = good sound. But I suppose even that’s too subjective.