Sir---- I cannot get any responses on the Digital forum to my query about the variables affecting the implementation of dac chips in dac units. So, I hop that you can address this question for me. [My private email address is zimmerma@sfu.ca if you prefer to address it is private.]
Here is my formation of the question:
Yes, there are general references to the quality of the power supply and especially to the quality of the analogue output stage; but nothing [that I can recollect, anyway] that goes deeply into the details....
So, I raise that question here. I do hope that the technologically adept members of this forum can address it, with some attention to the various dimensions of implementation, e.g. op amps vs tubes in the analogue output stage, some concrete examples of brands and models that do it well and do it badly.
Here is my formation of the question:
What makes for good implementation in a dac?
By now it is conventional wisdom on this digital site and others that the dac chip itself counts for comparatively little of the overall quality of the unit. The slogan has become something like: "The chips 10%, the implementation 90%." However, I cannot recall any very detailed discussion of precisely what very good to excellent to superb implementation actually involves.Yes, there are general references to the quality of the power supply and especially to the quality of the analogue output stage; but nothing [that I can recollect, anyway] that goes deeply into the details....
So, I raise that question here. I do hope that the technologically adept members of this forum can address it, with some attention to the various dimensions of implementation, e.g. op amps vs tubes in the analogue output stage, some concrete examples of brands and models that do it well and do it badly.