Do some DACs "handle" sibilance better than others?

Absolutely. Actually about any source or intermediate component cane create and or attenuate sibilance. Components that emphasize detsail over natural balanced presentation are prone to create or enhave siblince. Hot speakers as well, particularly those with Beryllium tweeters.

I find cheaper single-bit/delta-sigma DACs can have some sizzle up top and grainy/overdone sibilancs and less so with R2R DACs, but this is just a generalization and I’m sure there are exceptions. 

@ghdprentice , @soix :

Thanks, guys, for your comments. 

Yes. But you have to understand that if sibilance is on the recording a transparent system will reproduce it. Difference is how sibilance is rendered which can be influenced not only by a DAC but also by cables, speakers (especially with metal, diamond or beryllium tweeters) and room acoustics. DAC is not always the culprit. 

@audphile1 

Thanks, Z

I meant: "all other things being equal", can one DAC present more apparent sibilance than another?

;o)

I haven’t heard sibilance be an issue with DACs in practice but I suppose anything is possible and certainly different DACs can sound quite different. 

Yes it can, and some DACs like the Chord Hugo TT II  has 4 filter setting that can let you dial it back some. But if your DAC doesn’t have filter settings, you may be able to make the adjustment with different digital cables. You might try the Cable Company and see what they have in their lending library and they will guide you as to which cable to try.

DACs can certainly sound different, and some add less crud and sizzle to the treble.  

Marketing gets into every nook and cranny. I think people need all kinds of ways to review and promote DAC’s. 

My understanding is that a DAC might subtly influence the perception of sibilance, but it’s primarily an issue rooted in the recording itself, speakers, and room acoustics. A well-designed DAC should be transparent. Excessive sibilance is likely coming from recordings, speaker characteristics, and room acoustics.

If you have a significant problem with sibilance and you're trying to fix it with DACs, you will never fix the problem.

This is the voice of reason and logic! Thanks, hilde45.

Marketing gets into every nook and cranny. I think people need all kinds of ways to review and promote DAC’s. 

My understanding is that a DAC might subtly influence the perception of sibilance, but it’s primarily an issue rooted in the recording itself, speakers, and room acoustics. A well-designed DAC should be transparent. Excessive sibilance is likely coming from recordings, speaker characteristics, and room acoustics.

If you have a significant problem with sibilance and you're trying to fix it with DACs, you will never fix the problem.

Personal opinion is I can only "hear" this happening in systems which have been uber designed for "detail."  Usually these systems are either bright or have a very uneven response which accentuates certain frequencies and nulls others. 

Thanks for all the comments. 

@hilde45 

I’m DAC shopping and because I’m wary of bringing in any component that might increase the potential for sibilance, Hans B’s comment caught my attention. As I said, I’d never heard a reviewer say such a thing. I don’t tend to regard his reviews as "marketing’" but am willing to accept that you may know something about him that I don’t. 

@erik_squires 

Detail has never been a top priority for me. 

@theo 

OK. Good to know. I wasn’t aware filter settings could have such an effect. 

I meant: "all other things being equal", can one DAC present more apparent sibilance than another?
 

@stuartk I think with DACs, especially when we’re talking $5,000 and up category, it would be extremely unlikely to have a DAC render sibilance to the levels where it would become an issue. Yes some DACs would emphasize that particular frequency range more than others but I’m fairly certain about accuracy of reproduction. It wouldn’t be an issue unless other elements contribute to it. 
Most likely room, speakers and cables will be the problem areas. So yeah it is possible but unlikely. 

I have a modest digital chain; tube DAC has some nice NOS Mullard’s 

I’ve added some room treatments and playing around with speaker positioning.

One track I like to use for testing is Rachelle Farrell “I Can Explain” - her dynamic range is crazy, piano, bass, drums are powerful. 

Moving the speakers back by about 1 foot smoothed out her vocal a lot.