Have DAC’s improved for Redbook CD playback?

The distortion and S/N of modern D/A chips is much improved over that of 10 years ago.  Addition of reclockers on the S/PDIF inputs has made inexpensive DAC's better, but I don't like it on high-end DAC's.

Some of the biggest improvements have been in the computer interfaces, including USB and Ethernet.  These lower jitter significantly compared to transports.  It is hit-and-miss though because many of these are designed by third-parties and achieving really low jitter levels is not trivial.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

"Yes, that may have improved with Delta Sigma, but they sound bland, and musically disconnected."

Have you ever heard an Overdrive DAC?

I think you have not heard the best DAC's yet.  This is not so much about the D/A chip, but the entire design and implementation.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio