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Just wondering...

Sorry about the poor choice for the title but I just couldn’t compress my question into only a few words. I’ve been watching A’gon to find a good deal for a decent DAC in the $1K price range to improve my CD listening experience. As I look through the listings, I see DACs priced in tens of thousands - saw a Boulder 2020 with retail price of $32K listed for $15K. Probably an awesome bargain for somebody. To some degree I can understand speakers selling for crazy prices partly justified by their sound as well as their "furniture" value. I’m also sure a $20K pair of speakers will still sound incredible ten years from now. I can even sort of get amplifiers being a little crazy in price but they seem to last forever, at least technology-wise. I’m still loving my 35 year old McIntosh amp but can’t imagine using the same DAC even three or five years from now. What am I missing? Can a $32K DAC sound that different from a $1K DAC?

kalali
kemurrays
5 posts
 
After playing with a number of DACS over the years..... not one has come close to The Berkeley Ref DAC.  I'm pushing it with the Aurender n100h into the Berkeley Alpha USB to the Berkeley Ref DAC and the results have been the best I have yet heard.  K
randy-11
1,913 posts
 
how long will a $32k DAC be top notch in sound quality?  Assuming it really is sig'ly better than say a $4k DAC, in a few years $4k or less will buy better SQ

- this even happens in the slower moving worlds of speakers and pre-amps - Look at the history of Maggie designs & ARC
shadorne's avatar
shadorne
7,491 posts
 
Not better just different.

A good 1K DAC can be world class.

You are right wth your example of speakers - after going far up in price eventually it is more about cosmetics and prestige.

My speakers have have a beautiful burl magnolia veneer hand built in the UK. The beautiful wood work does not add anything to the sound but adds significantly to the cost!!! ATC make an equivalent pro black 150’s that would be one third the cost.

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