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Apple TV sound quality as a transport

I recently switched from a DVD Changer into a Channel Island DAC to an Apple TV into the same DAC. I was under the impression that the DAC was ultimately responsible for the sound but I swear it actually sounds better. The only change other than the Apple TV is the switch from coaxial from the DVD to optical from the ATV. Is it possible that the ATV sounds better than my DVD changer as a transport?
macallan7

Showing 2 responses by audioengr

audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Most audiophiles believe that the DAC is the most important part of the source, but actually it isn't. It's the digital source jitter that is most important, whether it is coming from a transport or computer.

With a higher jitter source, yes most DAC's sound very different from each other. The reason for this is that the different DACs have varying levels of jitter rejection. Once you have a very low jitter source, most high-quality $10K DACs sound a lot like high-quality $1500 DACs. This is why it makes sense to consider a good USB converter.

There are of course poorly designed DACs that sound harsh on all material with all sources, but these get weeded-out fairly quickly by this crowd.

The ATV is not bad, but the Logitech Touch is a lot better as far as jitter in the stock box.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
The jitter of the source is actually more important than the DAC. I have heard lots of $1K DACs sound amazing with low-jitter sources driving them. Read the last 5 DAC reviews by Steven Stone in TAS. He concludes that when driven from the same low-jitter source, a number of DACs in the $1K-8K range sound virtually identical.

The thing is: Your transport had really bad jitter and the AppleTV has mediocre jitter. Putting a reclocker after the ATV and before the DAC will improve things even more.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
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