w3ua1 posts04-20-2018 10:10pmRule of thumb:So much thread drift here but this requires a response. You are entitled to your opinion. You are close but incorrect IMHO. Without percentages and simply ranked in order of importance;
Sound quality depends on:
1. Room acoustics -- 40%
2. Recording Quality -- 30 %
3. Speakers -- 25%
4. Electronics -- 4%
5. Cables -- 1% (proper shielding and grounding only. Rest is snake oil)
So, if the sound quality difference was so prominent, it has nothing to do with DAC... Shiit is a great DAC.
Room Acoustics
Quality of Source (cartridge/turntable or digital front end)
Electronics
Setting up speakers optimally to room (arguably part of Room Acoustics)
Wire
Choice of loudspeakers
The choice of loudspeakers affects the CHARACTER of the sound far more than the so-called "accuracy" or level of being "true to the source". All loudspeakers suffer from more distortion than any other link in the chain. So many confuse character and quality. Yes, like a nose on a face, a loudspeaker has a huge affect on the perceived sound character, but it is subjective. This debate never ends and I only respond out of compulsion, knowing that I will never change any one else's mind and that instead, a certain number of audiophiles will come to this conclusion out of experience, age, and wisdom.