How old is too old for a Dac?

^ @lowrider

When you say "today's designs", how far back does that encompass? 

I agree with Erik that there are many modern DAC designs that do Redbook very well. These DAC’s are not simply using a Delta-Sigma dac chip, many have added a FPGA (field-programmable gate array), which is programmable by the designer to process the 16/44.1 standard and hirez. Examples; Chord, PS Audio.

There are now quite a few multi-bit ladder DAC’s that can read Redbook in it’s native form. Example; Schiit, Cyrus.

Also, I think today’s designs have better analogue stages than older DACs. This may be the reason for the most dramatic difference in performance between DACs. This allows a more natural presentation, even in the budget models.

spoogemonkey

How old is too old for a Dac?

Been out of the loop for a good bit, and wondering how much things have changed in digital. In other words, how old is too old for a dac?

If just listening to CD's (pcm 16/44 or 24/96) or DXD then go for a good Multibit dac/cdp.
  
If you plan on listening to dsd, sacd then you have to go for the newer bitstream delta sigma based dac or cdp's, but the pcm stuff above will take a hit.

Cheers George 

I prolly should have been more specific about use. I’ll be streaming Tidal/Deezer exclusively (and playing some local flacs).

Although I didn’t mention anything about price, this was done purposely... in order to get a broad answer on dacs progress in general. However, I suppose it’s possible that more expensive dacs could have improved more than lesser expensive stuff, and visa versa.

Totally in the dark as I haven’t tried anything new in a few years. Back in 1995, I remember trying a $4k Wadia dac, and other than a few spacial changes, heard virtually no difference at all compared to a $600 Denon CD player. Yet my system was transparent enough to hear changes in cables and electronics very easily.

Well let me see I just put an Audio Note Dac 3 Signature in my system and it sounds fantastic! It was built in 1995 making it 22 years old. It is certainly as good as, and I am starting to think better than, my Yamamoto YDA-1 a highly regarded Dac from perhaps 4-6 years ago. So I would say if you're talking redbook then age matters less than design and build quality.

how do Schiit, Mytek and Berkeley make SQ from redbook CDs better?

is it upsampling??

or some innovative new circuit designs, or??

If you are talking about just redbook CD playback, there are older DACs that are extremely good.  I would take a 15 year old Audio Note DAC 5 over almost anything out there now.

Hi Spooge!

Well, depends.

Here's my random, incoherent thoughts.

First, a lot of older DAC's still sound better than a lot of modern, mass produced stuff. The older Theta Casanova for instance still shines.

However.. in the last 5 years or so DAC's have gotten really good in a surprising area older DACs are not: Redbook.

Several modern DAC's really do CD quality sound MUCH MUCH better than older DAC's did, making "high resolution" files seem much less necessary than before. Among these I include Schiit, Mytek and Berkeley.

Best of luck,


E