Are DAC's overpriced?

You are so misleading with your specs (when it suits you). Yes, a room wouldn't have more than 60-70db of dynamic range, if that. But to say that if one can increase the dynamic range that the additional bits would be of no consequence is a flat out lie.

When the dynamic range is increased, it's not just at the extremes where they are heard and appreciated. It's across the board. You've gone from hiding behind your slide rule to openly using tactics that would work on the uninitiated or those who are ignorant of that fact to work your case and what seems to be a grudge against @audioengr with your several (so far) digs at him. You're not as clever as you think you are.

That, and if you truly believe that having more dynamic range is a futile endeavor, then why do you promote cheap DACs with class leading specs (including increased dynamic range) as the way to go?

Enjoy your lamp cord and <$200 DACs. 👍

All the best,
Nonoise

When the dynamic range is increased, it’s not just at the extremes where they are heard and appreciated. It’s across the board. You’ve gone from hiding behind your slide rule to openly using tactics that would work on the uninitiated or those who are ignorant of that fact to work your case

No, an increase in dynamic range only results in a lower noise floor. To suggest it has any other benefit (effecting the sound “across the board”) shows that you do not know what dynamic range is on a fundamental level. We are not talking microdynamics here.

grudge against @audioengr with your several (so far) digs at him. You’re not as clever as you think you are.

He gives out some good advise, but certain claims he makes can easily be seen as untrue if you know simple facts about digital audio (he may believe it’s true, in which case I suggest he does some quick-switching level-matched double-blind listening tests).

mzkmxcv
“No, an increase in dynamic range only results in a lower noise floor. To suggest it has any other benefit (effecting the sound “across the board”) shows that you do not know what dynamic range is on a fundamental level. We are not talking microdynamics here.”

>>>>Dynamic range is a ratio of loudness levels and is independent of noise.

@geoffkait

In terms of music mastering (like the DR Database may score one song a 6 and one song a 12). This is the comparison of RMS vs peak levels (or some variant).

In terms of digital audio as a format, it’s the amount of bits. CD is 16Bit, so, if undithered, it has ~96dB of dynamic range (20*log10(2^16)). Meaning from the loudest sound possible all the way down to the lowest noise possible (due to the noise floor), it is a difference of ~96dB.

If you haven’t, I suggest watching this video by Chris Montgomery.