I think you might drive yourself nuts getting too deep in the weeds on individual product details, but if you enjoy that by all means have at it. I always start by identifying what sound characteristics I’m looking for, and then once I have some promising candidates I’ll look a bit further into design details but the final arbiter will always be sound. I mean, who cares if a DAC or streamer uses this design or that part if it doesn’t deliver the sound qualities you’re looking for? Now, if I’ve got a couple products like, say, DACs that are pretty much equal on all fronts and one offers a beefier power supply, galvanic isolation on the USB input, etc. then I’ll use design/parts to help make the final decision, but delivering the sound I’m looking for always takes precedence otherwise. Just my $0.02 FWIW.
Importance of a DAC's elements
Over the past week, I have devoted to myself to becoming knowledgeable about DACs -- and, having read literally hundreds of postings and articles, I am incredibly confused about the relative importance of the various elements of a DAC. Let me describe them as
1. Network streaming/rendering (i.e., providing, say, the stream from Tidal and delivering it to the DAC);
2. the DAC function itself (i.e., converting the digital data to an analog signal); and
3. the analog output (i.e., providing the analog signal to the preamp or power amplifier).
I have a decent handle on the relative merits of various engines (e.g., single-chip ESS devices, FPGAs, R2R ladders, ring, etc.) so I don't need feed back on that topic. However, let's take the "streamer/renderer". Is there any benefit from that function being a separate component versus being a board inside? What are the most important considerations in evaluating them? Currently, standalone streamer/renderers cost from under $2,000 to nearly $15,000. What do the higher priced units offer that the lower priced ones do not?
Also, I can appreciate that the analog output function of a DAC is extremely important in determining the quality of the outgoing analog signal. What makes one analog output better than another? What should I be looking for to ensure that this output doesn't undercut the quality of the conversion done by the DAC itself?
All insights will be appreciated.
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Many DACs have various output analog stages just like preamps and those do bring the most of difference. Digital domain is pretty much standard and certainly less contributing to the SQ. Just like in preamps priced anywhere from few to gazilion DACs can be built differently by different designers with different materials and certainly different looks. To me $2500 is where should be the best DAC priced that is built from best materials and technologies with tube or solid state output stages. Also having all various types of digital inputs for multiple components. |
From my perspective streamers are simply purpose built computers that provide a digital signal to your dac. That can be as simple a single board computer like the Raspberry PI to some of the ultra expensive highly modified computers that go as far as to supply three separate power supplies for the the voltages required to process your signal. They refine the internals and isolate the output to unimaginable levels. Allo who makes streamer hats (and power supplies) for the Rasberry PI emphasize how less than clean power can degrade the sound. From Allo website: "The Digione Signature needs 2 PSUs to run. The other difference, the software interface. It's ease of use and whether it supports your streaming service or the OS you are going to use to control your music. For instance the Lumin control software doesn't have Windows PC version. I've not stepped up to an expensive streamer. The major issue for me (besides the money) is that the support for Amazon Music. I also haven't completely explored getting the most out of the streamers I'm currently using. I do think that both the streamer and dac are important and providing the best source will pay dividends on your systems performance. |
The DAC design that has the most variability is the FPGA type, since it is software based. My plan is to get one of those in a few years. I use a Schitt Yggi+ LIM today. It punches way above its’ price. You will hear that statement from a lot of people on other DACs.😀 In terms of inputs any Ethernet input (RJ45) in a DAC is only used by me for short term convenience situations. When you connect an Ethernet cable to a DAC, any noise on a network, printers, computers, home security, etc.. is now allowed to go into your DAC via the RJ45 connection. A streamer that cleans that up is what I do before I go into a DAC. I like to clean up the network using a fibre optic (glass) cable just before a DAC. I use Sonore Optical Rendu that take fibre as input and outputs USB which can then goes into the DAC. Fibre cannot carry analog noise because it is made of glass. This is not a perfectly pure solution because of that last conversion. A pure solution is to use a DAC with a fibre optica input, such as the Lumin X1 or a Linn DAC (forgot model). The Sonore OpticalRendu and the Lumin X1 (both a streamwe and DAC) are ROON READY. I use ROON in multiple systems in various rooms. My ROON Core server that manages the streaming is on a computer hidden under a bed in my guest bedroom. It has no monitor, keyboard, or mouse. The computer cost $500 and it pretty junkie. However, it does not matter because I use fibre optic in the last few feet before the DAC. |
DACs have one function, to convert the digital streams of ones and zeros into analog sound. It is why they are called Digital to Analog Converter. Streamers, renders, etc are sources , that get the digits from somewhere, and then feed it to a DAC. They may or may not contain the DAC within, much as a CD player combines a transport to read the digits and a DAC to turn it into sound. The question the OP is posing is whether it is better to combine the source with the DAC. Personally I favor keeping them separate. DACs have different philosophies (architectures) as to how to do their job, and the OP identifies a few. It’s easier to try different DACs and judge their differences if one keeps the source constant, and the same is true with judging differences in sources |
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