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

Unless controlled listening tests are done all bets are off

When you use your own ears to judge, the "controlled listening test" is done - All bets are on!

I have not explored transports with streamers...in controlled tests the Cambridge CXC was clearly preferred to the Oppo 103...no controlled tests for the 105 as it is used in my home theater, though I quickly tired of it as a streamer for Tidal...I do very much like the SACD Marantz 30n; CD player, DAC, Streamer, that I use in good quality home office system...while price doesn’t guarantee you will like any product, I do unfortunately find the gear I like the best does tend to be more expensive...though I do find Schiit products and other direct sale manufacturers to be excellent values...it’s whatever you like best and decide is the best price for you...

While technology may be different, DAC's do about the same thing regardless of price, in terms of specs at least.

I don't know if price is the right differentiator either.  Use your own ears to determine value, not the price tags or reviews. 

Unless controlled listening tests are done all bets are off! A DAC is really just a sound card - and needn't cost four and five-figures! 

All DACs are defined by their output stages, for good or bad.

Anyone that thinks a $20/30/40k R2R or Delta Sigma DAC is going to provide audio nirvana based on it's process/processor is seriously misled.

The current Delta Sigma chip is the ESS 9038 Pro with the ESS 9039 Pro due to debut maybe this year.

@ghdprentice

+100 …. Nailed it!

@simao

Everything is built to its pricepoint, with an audio performance that follows in lockstep.

if you still have doubts, just go do a simple audition A-B bakeoff between, say, a BLUESOUND NODE doing its yeoman service duty and compare its performance to a stand-alone $3K + north unit, as a very graphic example to prove the point,

The high-end units superior design (HINT: think linear power supplies as just one example) , their superior component parts, and itheir superior build quality separates the high-end contenders from the pretenders. The audio performance improvements are not subtle.It is dramatized further when you step up into hi-rez digital files at better than simple cd quality 44 kHz/ 16 bit.

Intuitively, with a hi-end unit, the choice of a worthy digital cable in, analogue cables out, and its power cable, all become part of the system equation on your road to audio nirvana.

@simao 

Along the lines of what @jl35 states- I used an Oppo for spinning disks a few years ago as well, it eventually wore me down. I can put up with it for a short period of time then I have to turn it off.

As for DAC’s- while there are differences in the levels of performance and quality (generally) with the more you spend I don’t believe the improvements follow the same scale once you pass a certain point (diminishing returns). Only you can justify the value of the expense once you’ve experienced the difference.

When it comes to moving on from the Oppo you could move in the direction of a device that rips your CD’s to internal storage and streams Tidal/Qobuz content. The Innuos Zen MK3 or Aurender ACS-100 are a great place to start and I believe both  of these sell for under $4k new. You can frequently find these on the used market as well. Happy Hunting!

@jl35 Thanks for the info. I like the Oppo because of its Tidal streaming capacity. What would you recommend for a better transport that can still stream?

I have an Oppo 105 and 103. Never particularly liked either as CD player or transport. While you won’t like all expensive stuff, the best sounding tends to be expensive. You might want to try a better transport before trying a better DAC. I like your comparison to a better cartridge or phono stage. Yes a better DAC will do a lot for you. Again in proper context 

@simao

I don’t believe that cost alone is a catch all for DAC performance. I’m not suggesting that you are only saying this, just sharing what I think is right...

I listened to a lot of DACs before deciding on the Pathos Converto MK1. Saving space, a Class A ouput stage, and Burr Brown, Wolfson, or ROHM chips were on my hit list. Also, having the right connections on the back were of nearly equal importance.

This DAC is made in Italy (Italian company) has i2s (the same comm. the same protocol used by CD player outputs to amplifiers over RCAs or balanced inputs/ouputs. This is like a direct connection rather than something like ASIO, which can introduce latency and therefore result in worse audio quality.

I have found that some mega-buck DACs (such as those from dCS) are actually quite colored-sounding, which is not what I wanted as a freelance audio pro. A DAC from T + A had distinct but extremely compelling sonic traits. In the end, I knew they were not telling me the whole truth...There was warmth in many tracks, midrange forwardness, a lack of clinical presentation...

A truly transparent source component can morpth from souding brittle, digital (for lack of a better word) cold, etc. on one poorly mastered track, yet sound alive, somewhat warm, very realistic, and have just the right balance on another track.

Have you thinking - what the hell is this?! also hearing the half second before the recording starts is indicative of crystal oscillators configured like master clocks with the DAC chip being slaved properly; or a truly superior output stage. Tiny amounts of latency can vasty influence the perceived pace of a track. Some tracks sound slower, some sound much faster in terms of transient response and the quickness of instrumentals/vocals.

I have always bought audio gear based on the following:

- intended purpose (does the marketing material and write-up of technology implementation + product description align with the manufacturer’s stated goal?)

- Power consumption (I don’t care how much electricity I’m burning if I can discern a true "wire with gain" for amplification. I strongly dislike quasi Class A amplifiers; those that switch to Class A-B over a certain rated power ouput. However, some are probably much better than others.

- cost (doesn’t matter so long as I get exactly what I’m after when building a new system. If it can do something that another audio component of the same purpose cannot, it is worth the money)

- quality of internal parts (you need a good eye to discern this. Any audio equipment manufacturer can suggest superlative sound quality. parts quality and design implementation can tell you for certain if their products will actually do well in crticial listening tests from folks who know their stuff; and moreover, if you have laypeople who know nothing about audio telling you your system sounds amazing, lifelike, real etc. can see the artists or the performance in their minds - then you have a brilliant audio system and should be proud.

-  I don’t care much for looks with audio gear. I mean externally of course. interally, it better be good. I can spot when it isn’t. There are plenty of dead giveaways that can tell me if the company is just talking big game, while saving a ton of money in the manufacturing process by saving money on parts.

Hope this helps.

DACs are like every other component. The higher quality the better it sounds… almost as far as the eye (ear) can see (hear). I own a Gungnir that I use for my office system. It is a great budget DAC… but it is not remotely capable of the sound quality of high end DACs… Audio Research, Berkeley, dCS… etc. 

But on the other hand, the streamer in front and preamp / amp / speakers need to be equally capable to take full advantage of it.