Are DAC's overpriced?

The Crane Song Solaris got a recommendation from a review site. I never heard of it until recently.
http://www.cranesong.com/SOLARIS.html
It retails for around $2K and is used in many studios and is suitable for home use.

Check out the Jitter Page where you can download jitter loaded files and test whether you can hear what it does to music. I didn't, but for those who are adventurous enough, it can add to the debate whether jitter can influence sound as we hear it and not just reside in the noise floor.

All the best,
Nonoise

Yes, I feel a bit guilty responding as a certain someone wouldn't stop interjecting after being asked not to and to start his own thread. I would have been happy with that but I got a bit fed up as well. I shouldn't have and I won't any longer.

All the best,
Nonoise

If that’s it, then what are the benefits of doing so if not to improve the sound quality of the music?

From what I understand, noise floor is the threshold from which lower signals can not be resolved. Those signals are music that can’t be differentiated from the noise.

Ridding the noise that clouds musical signals, harmonics and spatial clues doesn’t benefit anything like the music you can now hear?

I think the problem is you only "see" things mathematically, without art or it’s contributions that the math can only approximate. Music can be measured linearly but when it’s actually played, it’s a different animal. You really should get to know these animals. They’re beautiful.

I’ve always believed that 16bit recordings are all one needs, when done correctly. Take Tony Manasian’s work that I’ve mentioned in other threads. His work rivals any high rez junk out there, and betters most.

I know we all have to deal with high noise floors in our rooms which limits dynamic range so we really only have so much to play with. But any way one can reduce the noise floor betters the sound, or so everything I’ve read says, except you.

Call me dense, but I’m used to it. 😄

All the best,
Nonoise

I’m so relieved that the Rams will not have to face the Bears. Now, as to:

No, an increase in dynamic range only results in a lower noise floor. To suggest it has any other benefit (effecting the sound “across the board”) shows that you do not know what dynamic range is on a fundamental level. We are not talking microdynamics here.

So when there is a lowering of the noise floor and the sound improves (microdynamics included), it’s all incidental?

(congrats ont the Chord Dave)

All the best,
Nonoise

You are so misleading with your specs (when it suits you). Yes, a room wouldn't have more than 60-70db of dynamic range, if that. But to say that if one can increase the dynamic range that the additional bits would be of no consequence is a flat out lie.

When the dynamic range is increased, it's not just at the extremes where they are heard and appreciated. It's across the board. You've gone from hiding behind your slide rule to openly using tactics that would work on the uninitiated or those who are ignorant of that fact to work your case and what seems to be a grudge against @audioengr with your several (so far) digs at him. You're not as clever as you think you are.

That, and if you truly believe that having more dynamic range is a futile endeavor, then why do you promote cheap DACs with class leading specs (including increased dynamic range) as the way to go?

Enjoy your lamp cord and <$200 DACs. 👍

All the best,
Nonoise

There seems to be a trend here that for pennies on the dollar you can get a great sounding DAC and it's all based on measurements. 

Good luck with that. Measurements don't mean dick unless it's properly implemented. That, and you're following folk who admit they can't hear all that well.

All the best,
Nonoise