In relation to a dac, if you are using usb, then you will never get the best sound quality from the dac. The best interfaces to a dac are Ethernet and i2s and some of the best dacs don’t even include usb. I have a highly rated dac that I used Ethernet for the past few years, which was much better than using the usb interface. I just bought a new streamer to allow me to use i2s and still keep my Roon server running in a different room. I2s was a nice bump of sq over using Ethernet.
Back to the DAC
Just a bit of an update. When I inquired about a DAC upgrade in a recent post, it was suggested that I look at upgrading my cables first. Since then, I have done so (see my virtual system for that). Not over the top stuff, but a definite improvement over the mostly stock, generic cables I originally had.
System is sounding pretty darn good, but like most of us, you always wonder what a more expensive DAC will offer in the way of sound quality improvements.
Many of the recommended, higher priced DACs seem to include streamers and/or offer pre-amp capabilities. I have a good streamer and pre-amp and really don’t want all those components in one box.
Have any of you experienced a DAC which offers the sound qualities of highly praised units like the Mola Mola Tambaqui, DCS Lina, T&A 200, Weiss DAC501, etc. which their only function is a DAC?
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@rbstehno My Aurender N200 is optimize for USB out, so I need select a DAC with solid USB implementation. My Wyred 4 Sound 2v2 SE DAC was the same. You have to match the equipment's compatibility. What DAC is it you use? |
@rbstehno that’s a blanket statement and those are usually incorrect. |
I agree that that source is the most important. However, when it comes to DACs I also feel it is the least important. That is because for my money the laws of diminishing returns apply to DACs more than most components. I have a great local FM station and I have 3 tuners in 2 systems. The sonics are very good on all of them with 2 of them being modded vintage units. The difference between those 2 and my Magnum Dynalab MD108T, which cost about $8k, is very large. It is not diminishing returns for my source tuners. I only got 20+ hours on my new low cost Yggi+ OG DAC and the thing sounds great. I would need to go up very high in the cost scale to do better. Say $20k for a Playback Designs. I had a $15k DAC for a year and the OG is better. Point is that there can be great savings on the DAC. All the DACs discussed on this thread are more than capable performers. USB supposed to be the best input on the Yggi+. Ethernet is usually my least preferred on the DACs I have owned, especially when using something like a Sonore Optical Rendu streamer beats that easily. I have used those DAC savings on my amps, and I found that there was a very big difference in performance.
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BTW - if one is interested in treatments without the treatments take a look at Mitch Barnetts offering for Convolution filters. Not sure if Aurrender supports it. Roon and JRiver support it. Digital Room Calibration Services, Convolver, Headphone Filtersets (accuratesound.ca) |
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