Just wondering...

wtf, what exactly did you learn from that article concerning how to improve your audio enjoyment in your shared listening space?

Dave

Absolutely nothing. I wasn’t really looking to learn something either. FWIW, more often than not I read about all things audio for enjoyment. It's a hobby, no? Everything from music to different loudspeaker/amp/preamp/DAC designs interests me. I saw this article as more of an essay rather than review.

Okay then, wtf. I read it more as an editorial from someone with his head up his butt.

Dave

I've heard it repeated often over the years: audio equipment is subject to the law of diminishing returns. As the price rises, the rate of improvement in sound quality (a term that's so gelatinous I don't think any of us can really define it) diminishes on a pretty steep curve. Does a $32K DAC sound 32 times better than a $1K DAC? Well obviously not, so it's a matter of choosing a price range that makes sense for your budget and within that deciding what sounds best to YOU. We're all different, we all hear a little differently and have different tastes, which I've said multiple times in various discussions in the forums. It bears repeating because it's so easy to get lost in the minutiae of technical specs and industry standards that we're in danger of forgetting the most important thing, which is to enjoy the music.

To be absolutely honest, I've never heard a $32K DAC, but I have heard a number of DACs in the $1K-$3K range (which is the ballpark I play in) and for that money, especially in the used market, there are some very, very good sounding examples. Mine is a good old (well, not THAT old) Bryston BDA1. To me it sounds wonderful, though I'm sure I'll again get bitten by the upgrade bug one of these days.

Cooper. I also use a BDA-1 and think it a great DAC and purchase on the used market. Serves many sources as well. If usb is required simply use a USB/SPDIF converter as the USB input is included as a convenience at that time.