Are DAC's overpriced?

When my trusty warhorse and high moded  Pioneer PS65 (stable platter) died, I went into a deep search mode as my budget was/is limited. after days of searching and reading, I settled on a Marantz HD CD 1.(MSRP $650) In addition to being a player it has toslink AND coax out.

My dac/pre is Audio Alchemy, which even has inputs for a streamer. My intent was/is to use it as a transport, so I never listened to the player circuit.

I had been using it all long with toslink but something in my system was not as it should be. I started a hunt to replace my AA DPA-1 amp with AA monos, then PS Audio 700 monos, or Nord Ice/N Core

FORTUNATELY, before I pulled the trigger, I got to hear my system via a prototype coax (not at liberty to say whose)  but the cable was TRANSFORMATIVE

SO, IMHO, MAKE SURE WHATEVER YOU REPLACE IT WITH HAS COAX

HTH

mzkmxcv289 posts01-06-2019 6:38pm@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.

>>>>The dynamic range is independent of noise. It’s the ratio of two levels of loudness. Loudless level to softest level. Noise has nothing to do with it. Signal to Noise ratio provides the relation (ratio) of signal level to noise level. Dynamic range compression has nothing to do with noise.

Just a little point here - I had a 2900 and it was a well-built unit with a smooth, non-offensive sound.  I hope you find a nice dac you are happy with, but don't automatically assume you will prefer it to what you have.  That's why you really have to try and see for yourself.  Personally, I prefer 1-box units for their simplicity and not having to deal with digital cables, reclockers, whatever.  But I'm a simple guy.  :)

@elizabeth 

Believe we have. Just don't necessarily need a 7k dac for that  :-)