Cause of different sound between dacs


Just reading about the Esoteric K 03.
How does the output differ from the Alpha dac, for example.
What exactly is responsible for any sound difference assuming the balance of the systems identical?
Still confused by digital.
ptss

Showing 4 responses by ptss

I admit to being "gobsmacked" as John Malkovich put it.
And I thought bits are bits, chipsets are so improved they must be nearly identical, power supply function so well established that there must be a basic template that is efficient & effective. This is just another reason why stadardization would be so helpful and "economical".
I thought the 2 dacs I quoted must be soo similar as they are at the top of the heap.
Mindnumbing.
OK. Is the newer K03 better than the original or new Alpha Dac and if technically possible please reveal some of the reasons. I assumed the k03 being newer,from a huge digital company, MUST be better. Am I mistaken?
I wouldn't look inside because its all "GREEK" to me.
I was hoping for a simpler answer and a simple way f
of making sensible choices. I'm feeling like stepped into a land mine-and wouldn't know one if I saw it. Scary.
I am not able to audition the two. Perhaps someone with experience can comment?