2. digital
  3. 182824-527

How much does a DAC do the more expensive it is?

Having spun an Oppo 105 for many years on its own before adding a Schiit Gungnir (bought for a generous steal from a wonderful seller here), I was immediately struck with how much more presence and detail the Schiit added to the Oppo's presentation. 

That Gungnir, even new, pales in comparison pricewise with 4 and 5 figure DACs I see for sale here.

So what do those much more expensive DACS do for sound? I mean, how much more information can be dug out of the digital files? Is it akin to what a good phono stage can do for a cartridge?

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Showing 2 responses by hayas

hayas
12 posts
 

 

@ghdprentice gets it exactly right.

It’s just like anything else:

1) Designers try to make the best product.

2) At its price, it either represents the value you’re looking for, or it doesn’t.

hayas
12 posts
 

In my case, being a professional studio musician, I'm extremely sensitive to the power of music, the sound of instruments, and in particular groove.  My DAC solution (M-Scaler/Dave) has both excellent clarity (where instruments sound more like they'd sound in the room than with lesser solutions) that I think the Dave is responsible for, and it grooves really well (I feel your my bobbing, my toe tapping, I get sucked into the music's rhythm better) that I think the M-Scaler's sorting of transients contributes to.  But these are only a guess as to why it's working well for me.  As in all things musical in both my amateur and professional life, it all boils down to "is the music moving me?"   In neither life can I accept that the music not move me.  So the expenditure was worth it to upgrade.

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