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DAC Chips and Software/Programming

I have a Bluesound NODE N130 and am planning an upgrade.  I’ve read quite a bit about upgrading the NODE with a separate DAC and a new power supply.  One interesting article is listed below.

I know that different DAC’s have different chips, some of which cost only a few dollars.  A lot of comparisons are made in the chip quality.

My question is, does each manufacturer put its own software programming on their DAC chips to make them function?  So it’s not just a question of chip quality, but also programming quality?

 

128x128tcotruvo

Showing 2 responses by erik_squires

erik_squires
15,910 posts
 

PS - If memory serves several DAC chips have a variety of components which can be bypassed in favor of external circuits, allowing the buyer to pick and choose which on-chip features they take advantage of.  The output filters and upsampling are two features I can think of off the top of my head.

erik_squires
15,910 posts
 

Usually not the way you are thinking.  The DAC chips themselves are excruciatingly simple, but some amount of programming has to go into the design with any implementing upsampling.  You can't just flash them and change them to work one way or the other however, unlike PFGA based DACs like I think Chord and PS Audio offer today.  

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