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DACs - what exactly do these things do?

Howdy.

So I recently bought a Sony HAP-Z1ES so I could rip all my CDs in ALAC and keep them on the internal hard drive. I didn't want my iTunes on my PC to get bloated with 55mb songs when the vast majority of my listening is through my phone, car or work computer, etc - so uncompressed files don't make that much of a difference to me, except when listening on my home stereo. I rip them at full ALAC, move them over to the Sony, then delete in ITunes (after I make a mp3 copy that I leave no my computer so it can stream through iTunes Match, or whatever it's called)

So I see tons of "DAC"s out there, but they offer no internal storage.
What exactly is the purpose of these? 

To access full sized files off your computer and play through your stereo? If so, why not just use iTunes and store everything in ALAC?

Is it about the actual digital to audio conversion and they put out a higher quality audio signal?

Sorry, I am confused as to why someone would pay $2k-$5k for something that simply converted digital to audio, when just about every component out there and in most people's systems already do the same.

Please educate ?? I am sure some of my assumptions are incorrect...

Thanks to anyone who responds.
babyseaotter99

Showing 1 response by gdnrbob

gdnrbob
4,485 posts
 
As you go up the chain, you get more resolution and sound stage.
I, too, balked at the high price of some DAC's, but when listening, could hear the difference in presentation.
There are also added noise and distortion from PC's drives and USB, which would be another thread.
Suffice it to say, there is a reason 
' why someone would pay $2k-$5k for something that simply converted digital to audio, when just about every component out there and in most people's systems already do the same.'
Of course, the main dependent is whether or not it is worth it to you.
B
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