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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?

 

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Showing 1 response by oddiofyl

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oddiofyl
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I think it has a lot more to do with the implementation.    I have one DAC that is fully firmware upgradable,  has very good DAC chips and an amazing  host of DSP features .  Remote control,  can record to USB...Its amazing what it can do and it sounds very good

My other DAC uses 8 thirty something year old NOS Philips DAC chips with no oversampling and a discreet analog stage with tube output.  It has zero features other than Input selection and power button.  It sounds much better than the DAC with the latest and greatest chip set.  It's the implementation and high quality output stage that makes it sound great.  

 

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