Is there such a thing as a FOREVER DAC/streamer?


I know I might be talking about rehab in a back alley, but here it goes.

I've been looking to upgrade my Hegel H390's internal DAC. But I would only do it to knock it out of the park; as the Hegel's internal DAC does an admirable job. So the question is, is there such a thing as an end game-forever DAC. At the end of the day, DAC is a digital product. Digital technology evolve quicker than analog technology. 

Will that Lumin X1, Bartok, Dave, etc be obsolete in 3 years? Thus making this a moot conversation...

gpixels

Future Proof and DAC generally do not go well together. That said people have mentioned DAC's like the PS Audio that via FPGA firmware are upgradeable for a number of years. At some point a manufacturer will need to make something new as they have to keep selling to stay in business. I would make sure to find out the upgrade path and it should allow 5-10 years of quality functionality.

 In my opinion, DAC technology, like computers etc. is a moving target. Pick a time to hop on the train, and look forward to the future. I don’t think there is a “forever” in this area. Now, loudspeakers can be a different story in that many can find their “forever” speakers. I certainly have. Good luck with your search and enjoy the ride!

@fuzztone I would as long as it is modular like Simaudio or even some of the NAD products. The key is isolation and upgrade ability.