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Let's Talk DAC's

My current DAC, the Chord Chordette Qute HD is getting on with age and I am looking for a new one with superior performance. So far, I have narrowed down my search to five DACs. At the low end is the Denafrips Ares II and the Eversolo DAC Z8. Mid range the RME ADI-2 and at the top end the Chord Qutest and the Denafrips Pontus II.

This is for an all-digital setup in a 12x12 dedicated room. I have a much larger room with a much "bigger" set up, but for this room it is a simple PrimaLuna Prologue Classic integrated, Audiolab 6000 CD transport, ProAc Tablette 10’s, and a REL T/5i Subwoofer. I plan to add a streamer as well, but that is for another discussion.

I am conflicted with the choice between a delta-sigma modulated DAC and an R2R type Dac. I do like the FPGA technology in my current DAC. It has served me well.

I am certainly open to other ideas and welcome comments from those of you that have experience with this equipment.

I forgot to add; I like a wide and deep soundstage and good imaging. I also hate a rolled off high end.

 

 

 

 

desperado915
soix
9,456 posts
 

DDC? For what.? Digital to Digital converter? These were introduced as a band-aid when DACs had horribly implemented USB inputs to overcome bad cables, noisy PC ports, ground loops, and using the PC clock in synchronous mode. Those issues were identified and solved long ago. You can buy entry level DACs immune to these issues. As in sub $100!

This is simply not true. Several of us here have added DDCs to our highly-regarded >$1000 DACs and have experienced significant (i.e. not small)  improvements.

jeffrey125
282 posts
 

Wait @tvrgeek I thought cables did not matter in the audio chain?

I have not used a PC for streaming in a long, long time. With cleaner more efficient streamer/server options geared towards audio. Some of these devices (ddc) do help improve the audio chain with some DACs. 

USB inputs to overcome bad cables, noisy PC ports, ground loops, and

bikefi10
39 posts
 

A review of the most DACs in one post from a long time audiophile is "dacs that Ive had in my system" by jjss49.

Sorry, dont know how to post link.

tvrgeek
299 posts
 

If you have a DAC that is improved by a DDC, and that could be, then you have a poorly implemented DAC and are band-aiding it. Bad design or just obsolete.    Again, you can now buy a DAC that can deal with it just fine. An excellent example is the Schiit Unison, but most competent companies have also implemented very good USB inputs.  Galvanic isolation, good management of analog vs digital grounds, good board layout, not powered by the host, etc.  Internal clocks and PLL's are vastly better and larger buffers removing any external jitter or noise that plagued us 10 years ago.  You should not be using the host clock, you should be using a "good" $5 cable and be running in asynchronous mode.  Problems eliminated. 

I suggest spending the extra $500 and up on a better DAC rather than band-aid a problem that should no longer be there.  Too bad sites like ASR do not test input issues as that would actually be useful.  

To better understand USB, I offer this link:  https://www.elprocus.com/usb-protocol/

jeffrey125
282 posts
 

🙄 not sure who or what you are adressing @tvrgeek . My DAC is not afflicted with these issues and needs no bandaids it is well designed and implimented, well north of most peoples budget but not as much as some here (20K). No I do not use a DDC but I am not going to say that they do not work for some folks. Nor will I say their system is schiit like you are implying. I know that $$ spent is not always indicitive of how a DAC will sound, I know my DAC sounds better than anything in the mid level price range.

  • LessLoss unique 3.3V generation for internal I2S (The USB 5V supply is discarded; and the 3.3V is made with our own power stabilizer and Firewall 640X technology. It is super smooth and stable. Makes you forget you are listening to a computer USB source!)
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