R2R next? Don't like ESS

Having tried Burr-Brown dacs (some are nice), later on some different ESS chipped designs, and various with Phillips chip sets, if you stay with chip based dacs, the

>> designer and special designs is where the real differences are << imo.

Of course you can try some of the resistor-ladder DACs, all the rage for some - many out there. However, if you must go with a processor chip based DAC, its worth reading up on the designer and the type of sound they were going for. I’m back to a simple TAD1543 chip based DAC, 24/96, with a tube in the power supply circuit, not the signal path - and enjoy it quite a bit actually. Opinions vary greatly, take your time looking around. Best of Luck.

@jfrmusic Switched from the Benchmark DAC3 with ESS to the MSB Discrete DAC R2R. Difference is night and day. Smooth, liquid analog like. No Digital characteristics. 

Yep, me too. Great specs on the BM DAC3B.  Totally un-engaging for me.  Was quite surprised. Was jumping out of my skin to get back to a good R2R dac, even a simple R2R chip dac. Ahh, much better, music came back.  

"@mattw73 Straight wire with gain approach doesn’t interest me as much these days."

Agree. A good DAC and good preamp can sure help bring out the sound. Not sure why some folks believe no preamp or a minimalist dac is better sounding. Tried it many times and find this approach to be much less engaging. To each his own.

"@mattw73 I didn’t mean for my current thoughts of straight wire with a gain to come off like a negative."

Your thoughts and experiments are what matters most. It all comes down to your preference. Never apologize to anyone about what you hear yourself. Just like it did for the audio engineers doing the original recording, adjustments to the sound for emphasis and de-emphasis, mastering, way before you DAC.

If you want the most pure, go to a live performance, and then listen to how it all sounds based on the room and where you are seated in the room. Lots of variables. In the end, you'll end up keeping what sounds best anyhow. 

re: "preference" vs studying technical specs of components to decide. Here is an artificial intelligence response to a related query. Love it, hate it, or debate it - enjoy. I posted this since five of my audio friends prefer different audio systems.

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Why is it that humans lean to "preference" to what they hear versus studying technical specifications to decide what sounds best in a home audio system?

Great question! There are a few reasons why people might rely more on their ears than on technical specifications when choosing a home audio system:

1. Personal Preference: Sound is highly subjective, and different people have different tastes. What sounds good to one person might not sound as appealing to another. People trust their ears because they’re ultimately the ones who’ll be enjoying the system.

2. Complexity of Specs: Audio specifications can be complex and difficult to understand for the average consumer. Terms like frequency response, total harmonic distortion, and impedance might not be meaningful to everyone. It’s easier to just listen and decide what sounds best.

3. Perceived Quality: Often, listening to music or other audio can convey a sense of the overall quality and performance of a system in a way that specs on a sheet can’t. Hearing the clarity of vocals, the depth of bass, and the richness of tones can provide a more tangible experience.

4. Real-World Performance: Technical specs are measured under controlled conditions, but real-world performance can vary. Listening tests can reveal how a system performs in your own home environment, with your specific setup and acoustics.

5. Emotional Connection: Sound can evoke strong emotions and memories, and people might choose a system based on the emotional response it elicits. If a system makes their favorite music sound amazing, that’s often a more compelling reason to buy than any technical specification.

Listening experiences help people make a choice based on enjoyment and connection, which is ultimately the most important factor when it comes to home audio systems.