2. digital
  3. 180863-2019

Neutral Dac?

I’m curious to see people’s opinions on what they believe is the most uncolored dac? Every dac I’ve tried seems to be a flavor that deviates from neutrality in some way (smooths things over, too bright, too soft on transients, lacks bass etc...). Is there a dac that people believe gets all the fundamentals correct with leaving very little sonic footprint? What is the cost threshold needed to achieve it? I’m surprised at my own findings recently but really curious if anyone else has been searching for a fundamentally uncolored dac and what they’ve found.

   I realize the most obvious answer is "the dac with impeccable measurements" but I have also found some of them to sound unnatural (dry/bright).

schw06
hilde45's avatar
hilde45
4,817 posts
 

There's no such thing as neutrality.

oddiofyl's avatar
oddiofyl
3,465 posts
 

I am a big believer in synergy.   I had a NAD m51.  Sounded great in my system.   Why I replaced it with the RME ,  I’ll never know.  
 

That’s not to say I didn’t like the RME , I did but the NAD has a more natural sound to me.  The RME is what you would expect from a studio DAC , clean and clear.  
 

I have an all tube system, have for a while.   Except the DAC.  I have always said I would never buy a tube DAC.   I guess my logic was that if it had tubes it would be colored and not true to the source.   
 

Then I put a LAB 12 DAC 1 Reference in the system and it’s like the best of body worlds.  Plenty of detail, great tone , body, it just rocks….

schw06 OP
88 posts
 

@soix @oddiofyl Thank you both for weighing in those helpful examples.

@hilde45 i agree and hate the word neutral so how about if I substitute the term “dac that minimizes coloration” .

oddiofyl's avatar
oddiofyl
3,465 posts
 

I honestly don’t care how it measures, If it’s considered neutral or lush, or whatever and however you want to describe it.  I only care about how it sounds in my system.  

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
4,321 posts
 

@hilde45 +1

@schw06 you didn’t offend me at all. Besides, you came around. We’re good.   

 

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