Are DAC's overpriced?


External DAC's are pretty expensive imho... BUT I don't know that much on how to choose one. I want mostly cd's in my small two channel system... I am rebuilding after selling my Logans and Mac amp to go back to "drivers"! The Logans wore me out with Maintenance.  Should I buy a new cd player or get a new DAC for my old player?  
128x128captbeaver
@geoffkait  
 
Again no, it has multiple definitions. 
 
A CD has 96dB of dynamic range available, it does not have a 96dB SNR, that’s a measurement of gear (amplifiers, DACs, etc.).
FORTUNATELY, before I pulled the trigger, I got to hear my system via a prototype coax (not at liberty to say whose) but the cable was TRANSFORMATIVE

This is simply jitter reduction, and probably not much of it. If you think that is good, try a really good silver BNC terminated coax cable with a Synchro-Mesh reclocker.  7psec of jitter directly measured. You eyes will pop out of your head.

I used to mod AA DAC's and resamplers BTW.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
chayro... "Just a little point here - I had a 2900 and it was a well-built unit with a smooth, non-offensive sound. I hope you find a nice dac you are happy with, but don't automatically assume you will prefer it to what you have. That's why you really have to try and see for yourself. Personally, I prefer 1-box units for their simplicity and not having to deal with digital cables, reclockers, whatever. But I'm a simple guy. :)"

I received a "Box O Goodies" today from my mentor In the industry and I will say this... I don't need a DAC with the 2900... not with my simple two channel system! I changed the speaker wires and that made a very nice, much more open sounding rig. I'm not going Tidal or buying a new computer to listen to something I don't own! 

http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy302/thegainster/49667060_235612500648601_5983303984981475328_n....
Possibly yes if it's built around a Sabre chip. Possibly no if it's R2R or FPGA.