Do hi-end DACs offer true value or diminishing return...


These two hi-fedelity recordings posted on Youtube allow one to audition the state-of-the-art, highly raved R2R DACs with values ranging from $850 all the way to $6,500. Please use headphone or, play back to your stereo system if you think your system is revealing enough. The question to ask to yourself is that the true hi-end (w/ high price tag) gears offer you true values or just a diminishing-return foolproof. In my system, I do hear the differences but, to me, the differences might not be that significant to justify the luxious spending. Maybe my system is not revealing enough.  Maybe the recording quality through the on-line broadcasting degrades.  How about you? Do you hear major differences? 

Terminator Plus ($6.5k), Venus II ($3k)

Terminator $4.5k, Ares II ($850)

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Showing 3 responses by bigkidz

Price has nothing to do with sound quality.  I see equipment racks going for $50K.  It all means nothing.  You can get great sound for less money, but you don't get the last 10-20% or more of the sound the better sounding components can deliver.

Look inside your components.  What makes them different?  Are there Audio Note non-magnetic resistors in there No?  Audio Note capacitors No?  Plitron transformers or chokes NO? Point-to-point wired NO?  So then why would you think the higher price components should sound better?  There are relatively no new designs in audio components just slight variations.  Learn what makes sound good and then you will find out how to make a system sound the way you would like it within your price range.

Happy Listening.

 

 

Happy Listening. 

  

@ghpprentice my system is listed on Augdiogon.  I am a manufacturer and modification/upgrade/repair service for any electronic device.  Direct Heat Triode DAC using 101D tubes with 25 pound power supply, 6SN7 preamp with separate power supply, either pure class A stereo power amplifier 50wpc, hybrid power amplifier 100wpc, tube mono blocks 40wpc class A & 70wpc AB, VAC music box 160 tube mono blocks, VTL tube mono blocks, etc  Speakers Vandersteen 7s, 5As, Sonus Faber Stradivari, Horning, filed coils, etc.

Happy Listening

 

 

 

 

 

@ghpprentice my system should have been available not sure why you may not have seen it.

 

@danager - comparing DACs to what we build, through different audio society members in the NY & NJ area, local dealers, ones we have repaired and ones we have upgraded.  For example, we recently upgraded a Lampizator DAC that has a built-in preamp.  The owner left every very happy with our upgrades.

 

Value is what you get for you dollar in our opinion.  The quality of our DAC has a 25-pound power supply.  Probably better than any one of the components you have heard or owned.  Point-to-point wired with the parts I mention above.  That is how we know.  We can build any type of audio component that we see/hear.  We have upgraded and repaired hundreds of audio components.  Sound quality?  Well, I have said everyone thinks they know sound, right?  Until you hear something that is better you don't know.  It comes down to experience and knowing what makes something sound the way it does.  Most people do not know why one component sounds the way it does or why one they feel sounds better than another.  We can change the sound a typical component with a few parts changes.  It really is that simple.  So, value to us is what you get for your money which is the sound versus the money.  Money has nothing to do with how a component sounds.

I hope I explained myself correctly.  We have a demonstration room set-up in Northern New Jersey.  Everyone is welcome to come in for a listen and even bring one of their components to place in our system.  We welcome all as we are always willing to listen and willing to learn.

Happy Listening.