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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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lanx0003

Showing 3 responses by danager

danager's avatar
danager
881 posts
 

Wait???

You’re comparing dacs thru the dac you already own. Unless the quality of your dac is actually better than the ones being demoed how would you know?

What is your definition of value? Are you talking merely dollars or the importance of sound?  Dollars are just a construct to assign value but have nothing to do with the actual value of any item.

danager's avatar
danager
881 posts
 

I have a problem understanding % of sound quality improvement.  Improvement is binary it's either better or it isn't.  Its also personal what sounds better to you doesn't mean I will agree with your assessment.  So if the difference is miniscule the upgrade may or not be worth the bother / money.  So it is a value assessment but the hobby for me is a comparative endeavor.

danager's avatar
danager
881 posts
 

@lanx0003 

Maybe I'm off but my experience skews your scale a little bit

Entry Level can be as little as $100 but to move to mid tier it's more of a range from about $700 to $2500 for with the a few standouts in there but typically the more expensive DACs sound significantly better.

Top tier doesn't seem to have a price range.  It's a whatever the market will bear kinda thing and I haven't got there yet but when I spent $1000 on a DAC I t was really naïve thinking it was a  end point not a entry point.  YMMV

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