After a 10+ year hiatus from 2-channel audio (I was focused on home theater), I decided about nine years ago to set up a system in my home office. I had a Levinson No 39 CD player that I had purchased in the late 90s. The drawer was pretty flakey, but I was able to hook it up to my computer using a USB to SPDIF converter.
The No 39 was a very well regarded DAC/CD Player in it's day, but I figured that DACs had likely improved a lot in the intervening 15 years. Also, the USB to SPDIF converter was kind of flakey.
So, based on excellent reviews, I bought a Wyred4Sound DAC-2. Well, I gave this DAC several months to see if it would break-in and/or I could get used to the sound, but to no avail. It just sounded thin and strident compared to my ML. So, out went the DAC-2.
Several years later, I finally tried another DAC. This time, an Yggy A2. This DAC was a clear improvement over the No. 39 in almost every way. And my current Denafrips Terminator Plus is significantly better yet.
So, while I think good quality older DACs can still deliver decent sound, a good modern DAC offers pretty significant improvements.
The No 39 was a very well regarded DAC/CD Player in it's day, but I figured that DACs had likely improved a lot in the intervening 15 years. Also, the USB to SPDIF converter was kind of flakey.
So, based on excellent reviews, I bought a Wyred4Sound DAC-2. Well, I gave this DAC several months to see if it would break-in and/or I could get used to the sound, but to no avail. It just sounded thin and strident compared to my ML. So, out went the DAC-2.
Several years later, I finally tried another DAC. This time, an Yggy A2. This DAC was a clear improvement over the No. 39 in almost every way. And my current Denafrips Terminator Plus is significantly better yet.
So, while I think good quality older DACs can still deliver decent sound, a good modern DAC offers pretty significant improvements.