The sound quality from DACs - is it all the same?

When I read these threads they make me laugh! Not only do DACs make a significant difference in the audio chain - digital transports do too.

In fact cheap out on your digital front end then don't bother auditioning amps and speakers - you just ain't going to get the best out of them. I would go as far as saying with confidence that the importance of system building is working from the top down!

Mahgister - I know you have the very good SPS DAC 3 - I also own that DAC but the Audio Note 0.1x is so so much better - I think if you are going to work your magic then work on AN's affordable DAC, it's light years better than the already good SPS. Just try it and see!

Mahgister - I know you have the very good SPS DAC 3 - I also own that DAC but the Audio Note 0.1x is so so much better - I think if you are going to work your magic then work on AN’s affordable DAC, it’s light years better than the already good SPS. Just try it and see!

I am sure that you are right.... Thanks for the recommendation...

But you know i pay 20 bucks my SPS Dac3, 😁😊...

It work marvel in my small acoustically dedicated room...

my other components cost me peanuts too and are on the same level of quality: Mission Cyrus 781 and Sansui AU 7700 ...

Then this ratio S.Q./price is very good and adding a piece that will cost me 4 times thge basic cost of my complete system, which is under 500 bucks will not be rational for me...

i enjoy a very good experience so much i dont want to improve it with  very higher cost... It will costme 15,000 bucks to substantially improved the three components... And even if i had the money i will not do it.... The orchestra already filled my room...

I dont own the best system there is, but the best ratio S.Q./Price system possible...

my actual system beat my 8 modified headphones...

it is enough and it was my goal to begin with not to compete with higher costlier system... Anyway i dont need to....

my deepest respect to you....

No problem Mahgister - I too remain open minded with regards some low cost items sounding very good in the right environment (hence why I purchased the SPS DAC3 but now finding that inadequate once you have listened to something like the AN 0.1x).

For example - go in the search for the rather plasticky looking very much under the radar Grundig V1700 and with the right speakers that amp is excellent beyond what you would have thought capable.

For example I connected an expensive dCS Network Bridge to the Audio Note 0.1x then for fun into a Grundig V1700 - the Grundig did not sound like a bottleneck!

It's another cheap option that you can play with perhaps.

You are perfectly right and i am conscious of the limitation of the SPS because my room is acoustically under my control and not only treated...

The SPS lack in the high range, it is less resolving thats all compared to many  very costly dac ...

My imaging, soundstage and LEV/ASW ratio are over the roof and under my control and this dac dont impede my acoustic at all..

But it is not a microscope...

Then even if the Audio Note will be better resolving i dont need it for cost reason and anyway if i bought it my old Sansui so good it is, should  be replaced and even my speakers would be not so much efficient now at the level of  this more resolving source...

i dont miss this potential  improvement at all, because there is a minimal objective  treshold od acoustic satisfaction  for what we call an audiophile experience acoustically and i enjoy this minimal experience so much now anyway , that any upgrade even for the better have no appeal....

But you are probably wrong about my Sansui AU 7700 sorry ... I dont bought it by chance... The Grundig V1700 will not beat it ....Sorry....😊 I even own a Sansui of the alpha series supposedly better ....If i wanted a real upgrade from these Sansui amplifiers  which are top FLEXIBLE  Sansui with separated amd-preamp section, with tone controls rivallling others, i must buy a ZOTL Berning tube amplifier and yes  i will beat the two amplifier i own at relatively low cost... But with your suggested new dac and this ZOTL  amplifier i will want to buy very costly speakers now, and to beat the Mission Cyrus 781 bass and beautiful sound with more resolving power guess how much money i will need to pay?

A big amount.... 😊

I am not in an  upgrade mood anymore after my ecoustic experiments in my dedicated audio room...I dont need to....I could not even use my 8 headphones now because they dont beat my system/room... Then ?

No problem Mahgister - I too remain open minded with regards some low cost items sounding very good in the right environment (hence why I purchased the SPS DAC3 but now finding that inadequate once you have listened to something like the AN 0.1x).

Oh no I didn't say the Grundig would be better than your Sansui - I was just lending another example of a low cost looking amp that can sound excellent.

But I will say with confidence that the AN DAC is so much better than the SPS DAC in every respect not just in detail alone but from top to bottom in everything that it does.

You don't have to strain your hearing to hear this huge jump in performance.

if you do get a chance to listen to one in your current system you may find that interesting. The performance of the digital front end is more important than the rest in my experience (garbage in garbage out).