I have a vintage Linn system: LP12/Basik LVX, AT95SA, Lingo 1, Akurate Kontrol, AV5125/Aktiv Keilidh LS300s. Digital is Mac Mini M1 running Roon Core, Qobuz and Apple Music, fed through an iFi Zen Signature V2 DAC. The $300 DAC may be a limiting factor, but I find the system to be dynamic, lifelike, non-fatiguing and very enjoyable. I still listen to FM radio through an Arcam T61, so sources are different in discrete ways. Would I like to test a $10,000+ streamer/DAC? Sure. Would it make my listening life better? Not sure. The endless agon-y of the upward spiral of improvement will never yield perfection, just as any live performance may not excite us like the last one. I tell my clients that I am an "imperfect perfectionist". Usually that means I know when to stop, that my work will not improve beyond a certain point. The same can applied to this pursuit of "imperfect" perfection.
The sound quality from DACs - is it all the same?
I've been talking to my cousin brother about sound quality. He is a self-proclaimed expert audiophile. He says that Audio Science Review has all of the answers I will need regarding audio products.
In particular, he says an inexpensive DAC from any Chinese company will do better than the expensive stuff. He says fancy audio gear is a waste of money because the data is already bit-perfect. All DAC chips sound the same. Am I being mislead?
He also said that any DAC over $400 is a waste of money. Convincing marketing is at play here, he says.
He currently owns a Topping L30 headphone amplifier and D30 Pro DAC. He uses Sennheiser HD 569 headphones to listen to music. I'm not sure what to think of them. I will report my findings after listening one day! (likely soon, once I get some free time)
- Jack