Have DAC’s improved for Redbook CD playback?


So I’m contemplating getting a new DAC or DAC-pre. I own an Oppo BDP-83SE player, a Theta DS Pro Basic IIIA DAC and a Logitech Trandporter. I still use my DAC unit’s for Redbook playback.

Have DAC’s improved for Redbook CD playback?
128x128celander
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mahler123
So I dusted off the PS Audio DAC and it was a Wow! moment. The Node2 just snapped into focus.



Data: PS AUDIO DL THREE 2 x PCM1702-J – DF1700P / PMD100 a DAC
  
PCM1702 R2R Multibit dac
After listening to Delta Sigma converters with those Oppo's that came after the PS DL III, welcome back to to the sound of r2r multibit, your hearing pcm as it’s supposed to be converted. And that an just ok one, imagine what a PCM1704 based one or even the new discrete ones are like.

Cheers George
And that an just ok one, imagine what a PCM1704 based one or even the new discrete ones are like.

Love my MHDT Lab Pagoda!

The distortion and S/N of modern D/A chips is much improved over that of 10 years ago.  Addition of reclockers on the S/PDIF inputs has made inexpensive DAC's better, but I don't like it on high-end DAC's.

Some of the biggest improvements have been in the computer interfaces, including USB and Ethernet.  These lower jitter significantly compared to transports.  It is hit-and-miss though because many of these are designed by third-parties and achieving really low jitter levels is not trivial.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

The distortion and S/N of modern D/A chips is much improved over that of 10 years ago.
Yes, that may have improved with Delta Sigma, but they sound bland, and musically disconnected.

Proof is in what mahler123 heard in his above post compared to the old PS Digital Link MkIII.
We all know that amps can be vanishingly low in distortion just by dumping a s**t load of global feedback around them, and that totally stuffs up the sound. BUT HEY! IT MEASURES WELL!! so it must sound better?? not likely.
Compared to a little local feedback instead as Nelson Pass, Dan Agostino ect ect ect do.

Cheers George