DAC Shootout Starts This Weekend

Agree with the above. Now, what about microdynamics? Is there much difference in this capability amongst dacs, or is this mostly system dependent? Personally, I find this aspect of sound greatly lends itself to sense of live performers in room. Don't hear much about this aspect of sq in dac reviews.

In regard microdynamics. I do understand it as integral with resolution. But I  also believe I hear it as separate sound quality not allied to resolving powers. Its what I'd call the breath of life. I exclusively use tube amps and preamp, and Iike the Brits, I like to think of tubes as valves. Valves also connote what our lungs do, thus, I like to think of microdynamics as the breath of life. And its part of the reason I prefer tube amps and pre's.

Now, I've long considered my system to have this breath of life, but my latest dac improved upon prior dac's performance in this aspect.  I can now more clearly hear formerly masked inflections and vibrato in the voice and wind instruments, more nuance in the fingering and bowing of string instruments, and strength with which struck instruments are hit.  What I'm describing is the dynamic changes down to the millisecond, these minute dynamic changes could also be descibed as elasticity. It is at once both natural, soothing, yet salient in that it demands your attention. I find it nearly impossible to listen casually anymore,and far less work to have the illusion of performers in room.

Certainly this is understood as greater resolution, but the improvement  I'm hearing is more likely allied to the power supply of the dac. I posit conversion schemes and output sections carry more weight in resolving powers, while PS certainly have a role in this,  PS carries more weight in micro and macro dynamics.

Reviewers commonly speak about power supplies when reviewing amps, and sometimes preamps, but I rarely hear reviewers compare power supplies in dacs. My take is dac power supplies are critical to optimum performance of dacs. Take two dacs with identical or virtually identical conversion schemes and output sections, the dac with better power supply will outperform the other in microdynamics, and perhaps other measures of sound quality.


I do observe  manufacturers paying more attention to design, and increasing capacitance of dac power supplies, its obvious they hear the benefits here.