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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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Showing 6 responses by ghdprentice

ghdprentice
7,414 posts
 

OP,

By one microphone hanging… I assume you actually mean two… stereo.
 

 But!  Multi-mixing completely screws up the acoutics of the space and hence the essence of the orchestra… when playing multiple instrument. Completely destroys the acoustics.

I have had season tickets to the symphony for over ten years. This is how I learned what real acoustic music sounds like (along with some smaller venue jazz and classical). I have spent hours carefully listening to how the reflections from the venue and the multiple instrument interact to cause the experience. The careful location of the different instruments and the composer has orchestrated those frequently to form huge waves of intense sound that can wash from left to right or otherwise complex pattern. 
 

The very worst recordings I have heard have been those multimiked jobs, the very best late 1950’s with two microphones.

 

ghdprentice
7,414 posts
 

OP,

I only use the CD9se as a DAC. I have of course tried CDs… red book CDs and streaming sound exactly same, streaming better when higher resolution from Qobuz, which is common.

I have owned a number of very good DACs… Sim Audio and Ayre… others. I have auditioned many high end DACs. The Audio Research is among the very best and exhibits tremendous synergy with the rest of my equipment (all ARC).

I use a Aurender W20SE streamer through the DAC and have used the Berkeley Alpha 3 DAC as well (the $22K). The ARC DAC is as good, for me, better. Almost no difference between the two (takes very critical listening to hear any difference. I had to give the nod to the ARC… slightly more musical with a touch more midrange bloom. The Berkeley a tiny itsy, bitsy nearly undetectable extra detail. The musicality of the ARC definitely won. Also, the ARC $5K cheaper.

ghdprentice
7,414 posts
 

I own and use three DACs: Schiit Gungnir ($1.2K), Ayre QX-9 2020 ($4K), and an Audio Research Reference CD9SE ($17K). The sound quality of each is commiserate with their cost. 

ghdprentice
7,414 posts
 

@bigkidz

 

You just displayed them? I thought I checked an found nothing. Now I understand your comments. 

ghdprentice
7,414 posts
 

@bigkidz 

 

What is your current system? 

ghdprentice
7,414 posts
 

High end DACs are like every other component and them taken together… the better they are the better your system can be. My Audio Research Reference CD9se DAC is truly incredible…. I consider it a screaming deal at $17K. In my system it bested a $22K Berkeley DAC (by a hair). But the better your system the more difference a small change makes. So the diminishing returns doesn’t apply… or folks wouldn’t own $500K systems.

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