DAC module of a high-end integrated amplifier


I’m not planning to buy a high-end integrated anytime soon, as they are way out of my budget, but I’m still curious how their DAC sections compare to similar or even lower priced DACs.

Let’s take DAC modules from Gryphon Diablo 120/300, Soulution 330 and Vitus Audio SIA-030. They all cost above 4,000 dollars. Are they actually that good and can compete on sound quality with similar priced DACs, or because they charge 20,000 to 40,000 dollars for the integrated, they can’t charge "only" 1,000 or 2,000 dollars for its DAC module, as the buyer will most certainly think that at this price it can’t be worthy of the rest of the system?

My personal opinion, which is not based on experience, as I’ve never heard or compared those DAC modules (I’m using Chord Qutest with Teddy Pardo power supply), is that because these amplifiers are way overpriced to begin with (please, let’s not get into discussion that it might be only overpriced in my eyes - no amplifier actually costs that much to produce!), so the manufacturer has to price DAC modules accordingly, so as not to make them appear cheap in the eyes of buyers of those amplifiers.
audioinfidel

Showing 2 responses by audioinfidel

still hoping for someone with IQ above 80 to reply (who actually understood what i was asking)
Still hoping to hear from someone, who’s compared those DAC modules to something like Chord TT, Holo Audio Spring or May DACs, or Denafrips Terminator.

Thanks, hilde45, Tarun’s review of Hegel H95 was interesting.

sbank, thank you for your informative reply. Not exactly what I was asking, but still good information.