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Importance of a DAC's elements

Over the past week, I have devoted to myself to becoming knowledgeable about DACs -- and, having read literally hundreds of postings and articles, I am incredibly confused about the relative importance of the various elements of a DAC. Let me describe them as

   1. Network streaming/rendering (i.e., providing, say, the stream from Tidal and delivering it to the DAC);

   2. the DAC function itself (i.e., converting the digital data to an analog signal); and

   3. the analog output (i.e., providing the analog signal to the preamp or power amplifier).

I have a decent handle on the relative merits of various engines (e.g., single-chip ESS devices, FPGAs, R2R ladders, ring, etc.) so I don't need feed back on that topic. However, let's take the "streamer/renderer". Is there any benefit from that function being a separate component versus being a board inside? What are the most important considerations in evaluating them? Currently, standalone streamer/renderers cost from under $2,000 to nearly $15,000. What do the higher priced units offer that the lower priced ones do not?

Also, I can appreciate that the analog output function of a DAC is extremely important in determining the quality of the outgoing analog signal. What makes one analog output better than another? What should I be looking for to ensure that this output doesn't undercut the quality of the conversion done by the DAC itself?

All insights will be appreciated.

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Showing 1 response by mahler123

mahler123
3,048 posts
 

DACs have one function, to convert the digital streams of ones and zeros into analog sound. It is why they are called Digital to Analog Converter.

Streamers, renders, etc are sources , that get the digits from somewhere, and then feed it to a DAC. They may or may not contain the DAC within, much as a CD player combines a transport to read the digits and a DAC to turn it into sound.

The question the OP is posing is whether it is better to combine the source with the DAC.

Personally I favor keeping them separate. DACs have different philosophies (architectures) as to how to do their job, and the OP identifies a few. It’s easier to try different DACs and judge their differences if one keeps the source constant, and the same is true with judging differences in sources

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