Six DAC Comparison


I am in the middle of comparing the sound of six different DACs in my system. I own them all (I know weird) but one of them is still within a trial/return timeframe.

Not to share specific comparisons today, but a couple of observations so far are that first, they all definitely sound different from each other. On one hand, they all sound pretty good and play what is fed to them without significant flaws but on the other hand there are definite sonic differences that make it easy to understand how a person might like the sound of some of them while not liking others.

Second, raises the observation that most of them must be doing something to shape the sound in the manner the designer intended since one of the DACs, a Benchmark DAC3 HGA, was described by John Atkinson of Stereophile as providing "state-of-the-art measured performance." In the review, JA closed the measurements section by writing, "All I can say is "Wow!" I have also owned the Tambaqui (not in my current comparison), which also measured well ("The Mola Mola Tambaqui offers state-of-the-digital-art measured performance." - JA). The Benchmark reminds me sonically of the Tambaqui, both of which are excellent sounding DACs.

My point is that if the Benchmark is providing "state-of-the-art measured performance," then one could reasonably presume that the other five DACs, which sound different from the Benchmark, do not share similar ’state-of-the-art" measurements and are doing something to subtly or not so subtly alter the sound. Whether a person likes what they hear is a different issue.

mitch2

Will be interested in your thoughts for the Linear Tube Audio Aero - nice selection of DACs there.

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I don’t totally let measurements dictate results for many are way out of the Sonic capability  of humans , that is what audio science review does saying a $800 Topping i dac with a delta sigma Sabre dac chip  iis better because it has bettered 

measurements then several R2R ladder dacs totally untrue these  R2R dacs sound more natural look at the classic 1704K  Multibit dac chip that was a Bur Brown standard for years until they stopped making it..

iits like a good solid state amp is going to measure better then a good vacuum tube amp 

but many people prefer the tube amps .I have decades in Audio ,have owned a Audio store and now semi retired and go out of state to many audio get togethers and shoot outs , it’s all in the design implementation ,Listen first, lots of good designs out there for every budget.

Dacs are like wine in a way and how we respond to them. for some, there's not alot of difference, for others, they can go on and on about this difference or that in a critical, comparative assessment . 

Which if the two are the fortunate ones?