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Analyzing DACs

As I am new to the hifi hobby, reading various product reviews and noting the details of the test environment have made me very confused.  I understand Stereophile is the hifi bible. In the publication’s DAC published tests the reviewers almost always tested the DAC connected directly to the amplifier. I think I understand why—nothing in the chain influencing the DAC sound. Is that the correct assumption? If that’s the case why incorporate a preamp if the DAC has a preamp section that is a common feature even on high end DACs? I’m in the market for a new DAC. I’m trying to avoid unnecessary components if possible. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.  

tee_dee
hayas
12 posts
 

ASR is pure garbage as far as information about which DAC sounds good; they admit as much themselves.  The entire site is premised on the idea that no DAC sounds different than any other.  Anyone who disputes as much is quickly banned.  

So its rankings are pure garbage (and would correlate less than 1% with any rankings of DACs done by people who actually listen to them).

 

kairosman's avatar
kairosman
250 posts
 

My advice is buy the best measuring DAC available, the SMSL SU-X for $1K, and then buy a comparatively poor measuring DAC, the Denafrips Ares 12TH-1 for the same money, and do a 2 week A/B test in your system. You will learn a lot about what you like - and the value of measurements.

thyname's avatar
thyname
3,107 posts
 

jasonbourne52's avatar

jasonbourne52

2,863 posts

 

I'd rather trust ASR's rankings than the subjective blather here.

 

LOL! You still doing your thing sad man? Ridiculous creature 

mashif
100 posts
 

It seems like the general issue here is gain structure. Each component operates in a certain range and all components should operate most efficiently within that range. That’s a big part of synergy. How that gain is achieved differentiates quality. 

zigstien
27 posts
 

@Tee_Dee

Actually DAC Tech has advanced considerably faster over the last few years.

compared to the rest of the core components in most systems. Buy something current.

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