Comparison of latest DAC chips
daledeee1 OPThis is a good as simple as one could do article, that compares the two hardwares (converters) and softwares (recordings). https://www.mojo-audio.com/blog/dsd-vs-pcm-myth-vs-truth/ Cheers George |
I've been reading a lot about this subject online in forums such as this one and I've come to the conclusion that should have been obvious to me from the start. There are some great DAC chip manufacturers out there and there are a lot of great equipment manufacturers that use them. It always comes down to this...you have to listen to the different combinations of chips and equipment before you can make a decision. I've read a lot of reviews about the Hegel H390 and the fact that it has a great DAC. They use the AK4490 and many reviews also stated, as many of you have in this thread, that it's the electronics after the chip that makes this one shine. I now own a H390 and I've listened to the DAC. I have a Cambridge Audio Azur 650C and I hooked it up to the H390 with a coax cable. I found myself becoming restless while listening to music. On edge. I didn't think it sounded bad, but something wasn't right. I removed the coax and replaced it with the analog outputs of the 650C. The dual Wolfson WM8740 in the 650C made the music sound fuller and silkier. There was a quality to the music that is hard to explain, but I could listen to it and relax. I went back to the AK4490 setup after a few weeks to see if I would change my mind and I went right back to the analog output using the 8740's. By the way....the Hegel H390 is by far the best integrated amp, or any preamp-amp combo, I've ever owned. I highly recommend it! |
ASR has some good discussions and links that explain the differences in DAC architecture. First the analog has to be converted to digital nowadays this is done almost exclusively with Delta Sigma ADCs. The goal is get the signal as true as possible this is where your numbers and measurements come in. Next comes the DAC to reverse the process. All of the differing architecture’s will accomplish this which does it with the least distortion and noise is the point of the DAC. It doesn’t matter which architecture of DAC you use as long as it can do the job accurately. Delta Sigma DAC’s are easier to implement so they are usually cheaper though not always but since you aren’t looking to buy a 5 figure DAC we’ll stick with that premise. R2R DAC’s can measure very well but they usually cost more see the above link to the Mojo DAC that runs about $5500. You can get a DS DAC that will measure just as well for about $250-$1000. The Topping D90 is a good example as well as the Sabaj. Don’t worry to much about how the DAC works just know they take a digital signal and turn into analog. The differences in the sound as was pointed out by the comparison of the Wolfson and AKM DAC’s has more to do with the type of filtering they employ. My guess is the Wolfson is using a Slow roll off hi pass filter or bypassing the internal and Cambridge used an outboard filter, AKM might have used the Sharp roll off giving different sound characteristics, the Wolfson emulating a LP sound that a lot of people find more pleasing to listen too. The best thing is listen for yourself and find what you like whether it measures good doesn’t matter if you like it. |
