The DAC Scam - Almost everyone believes the hype


Over many decades I have owned my share of multi-thousand dollar dacs.My current is my Audio Alchemy DDP-1 + PS 5, which I have owned for ~ 4 years. I have made many changes to my system, including cables and it has shined a light on every one, so I tend to agree with the YTV . Your thoughts?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Sg1nYLmLCw

tweak1

After a quite long time experience with DACs of different categories and prices I'm convinced that they make minor changes in overall sound reproduction and quality. I suggest all of them use similar kind the conversion methods, whereas the hardware perhaps doesn't matter so much. I  cannot explain more technically why this happens but I am convinced about the outcomes. 

I believe any component is "tuned" by the designer. So that DAC chip can have it's sound manipulated by how all the other pieces are put together. Power supplies make a huge difference, in my experience as well. Two different car models may share the exact same engine. However, all the things around it (chassis, transmission, etc), will determine any differences the driver my experience. 

@niodari

After a quite long time experience with DACs of different categories and prices I’m convinced that they make minor changes in overall sound reproduction and quality. I suggest all of them use similar kind the conversion methods, whereas the hardware perhaps doesn’t matter so much. I cannot explain more technically why this happens but I am convinced about the outcomes.

... And, with all due respect, those of us who’ve experienced significant differences are just as "convinced".

 

 

@stuartk    We are talking about the importance of a DAC compared to the other components of a system, comparing the impact of a descent DAC on a system. An impact of an amplifier or a speaker on the SQ of the system is drastic . All modern decent  DACs reproduce the digital recording more or less in a similar fashion. The  quality  of a particular recording affects the overall SQ much more than a particular DAC: Take a well recorded CD and paly it on an inexpensive DAC (with cost < $1K), and take then a little worse recording and play it an a $15k DAC. The first option will give you a better SQ. Of course, if you  "invest" your money on an expensive DAC you should be convinced that you made a good investment.