Dac Technology Mature?

Nothing is fully mature until it dies.  This can apply to both life and audio.  As long as we are alive, we are evolving....some slower, some faster.

DACs have definitely become more stable, but it’s the “transport” that’s quickly evolving.  Network based systems such as Roon is where the future of digital is going, and that’s a moving target....and lots of fun.

As digital music playback starts with a PCM or DSD 'blueprint' (of varying sample rates and bit depths) of a load of electrical signals that are the building blocks of this thing called music then the DAC is a rather important part of the picture to put it mildly as it actually builds the music brand new every time you hit the play button. These two formats are very different and yet I'm not convinced either is being converted to their respective bests. Instead we have DAC's that are primarily PCM or DSD based and convert the other format to their particular format, or we have hybrid DAC's that claim to be doing everything. The quality is extremely good but being pedantic it would be great to hear music through a dedicated DAC.

Gents;.  And Ladies!

You are all wrong.....( catch your attention?)

100 people & 1000 opinions.  
 It's just like it was stated in AG a few years ago.( above comment)

I'd love to get an opinion of a manufacturer, Steve N?

 I had an older Rotel 855 Cd player & it died
When I upgraded to a Peachtree Pre & ESS DAC is was a noticeable positive change

I think the last 5-7 years have brought about serious changes in tonality, more full body vs bright.
I do think big changes are stabilized

I continually look at Dac output signals vs inputs in Sterophile
They look nasty, but still sound pretty good

Elizabeth;  Marantz SA-10 vs Ps Audio Directstream?    Any opinions?


jeff

Of all the components in a high-end audio system, IMO the DACs are the ones currently enjoying the most improvements.

Certainly, as time marches on, amps, preamps, speakers, etc. are improving, but IMO those technologies are pretty much "mature".

One thing I've come to appreciate is how much improvement a DAC exhibits with the quality of the AC power it's being fed.  The more I learn about DACs, the more I appreciate how much the timing of the bits is important to the quality of the analog signal it outputs.  I believe the better DACs will have better handling of the timing of those bits (more attention to the internal clock designs), and therefore produce better sound.

frozentundra OP 08-04-2018 11:07pm
105 posts

Gents;. And Ladies!

You are all wrong....

Then why ask for input if you could answer your own question & were not well disposed to alternate points of view? We could have all been spending our time on something more useful like reading a book or doing housework..