2. digital
  3. 1087423938

What digital evolution?

I posted this as a reply in another thread, but believe it's thought-provoking enough to warrant its own post:

Is it really accurate that digital processing technology is evoloving (depreciating) quickly? The economics of technology don't seem to support this.

Unlike computer hardware which benefits from Moore's Law, and can therefore process more software at a given price point due to falling prices of memory and processor power, DACs are still processing the same 44.1 kHz software that is over 20 years old (not talking about high-res formats like SACD and DVD-A). DACs are not challenged with processing bigger programs at faster speeds that need more computer memory. Aside from upsampling, are there really improvements in D/A algorithms or other techniques that benefit from Moore's Law economics?

If this is true, good DAC design should remain competitive over time. Aren't the "best" DACs (Meitner, DCS, Weiss, etc) still competitive years after release? What technology is evoloving so quickly in D/A conversion?
skushino
skushino OP
91 posts
 
Based upon some responses, my words must be as clear as mud... Regrets on my ambiguity.

Redkiwi- Absolutely no offense taken. Don't know why my post came across as taking offense, but none taken. I refer to Moore's Law (processor power doubling every 18 months at a given price point) because that is one of the drivers of evolving computer performance advances, and the reason that PCs have relatively short life-cycles.

I am questioning the digital hype as it applies to high-end audio. Specifically, the claim that DAC technology evolves quickly. If this claim is accurate, I simply want to understand why, and am soliciting input from other Audiogoners. On the other hand, if DAC technology isn't evolving so quickly, than why the pressure to upgrade at computer life-cycles rather than amp life-cycles?

So far, there is no input to explain why DACs and CDPs should have such a short life spans relative to other components in the audio chain.
skushino OP
91 posts
 
Redkiwi - just reread your post, and I actually concur with your version of the future of digital media, being downloaded in digital format, via broadband, to a high-end device (a type of specialized media PC). Many of my 20-something friends with a love of music, but not high-end audio enthusiasts, are already doing this (PC-based music input into stereo systems). As high-enders, we are still waiting for the manufacturers to catch-up with a suitable high-end grade device.
clbeanz
192 posts
 
any specific example?
redkiwi
1,092 posts
 
Squeezebox, from slimdevices is not far off in one sense. An MP3 Jukebox is not far off in another. Similarly Media PCs. Moore's Law and FTTH (fibre to the home) will solve the technology gap. The question will be around how a new music/movies cartel forms (inevitable I think, since the supply-side always strikes back).

We have to hope that FTTH and innovations in disk stroage - such as a terrabyte of storage in the size of an iPod - happen soon enough. Soon enough for what? A few things I guess, like a generation that thinks MP3 is the best quality obtainable.

From what I can see, telco regulation has stuffed up broadband over DSL - which could have been a happening thing years ago if the regulators had been wise enough not to force stupid wholesale regulations and copper loop unbundling - but the emergence of FTTH could be quite rapid as the regulators seem to have finally seen the light (pardon the pun). So no need for compression as far as downloads are concerned.
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