Are DAC's overpriced?

The question of the thread is a very good one. You can even ask this question regarding most audio products. When a market is decreasing manufacturers do everything still to make a profit. When you take a look at the facts they proof that manufacturers are using cheaper parts these days.

To answer your question I hear and audition that most dacs are overpriced. But this counts for many different audio products. We see it in all price ranges. It has become more common than in the past.

They blame the youth is not that interested in audio anymore. I think and believe that the limited quality is the main reason why people are less interested in audio.

I think that you cannot blame the youth not to be interested in audio products who lack emotion. When we visit clients of us first we see that their children are not interested in what we install. But.......when they hear both in stereo and surround a stunning 3D stage with all the layers in sound they become very excited as well.

People love emotion and music. For children counts the same. But when audio lacks emotion and intensity children don’t care about it anymore. By using cheaper parts the youth will become even less interested in audio. I think and believe that this is a normal and even predictable reaction.

There is only one solution; a superior level in emotion and realism in sound in each price range. All other options than this are 100% useless.

I dont know much about dac, because all those I own were not truly great, except the last one that is low price and that is truly great … Starting Point Systems nos dac tda 1543...I cannot hear any fault with it....Even the defects that some reviewers speak about, unbeknown to them, comes from their own audio system more than this dac...I know that because before my room treatment, vibrations controls, and cleaning of the electrical grid, this dac was good with some limitations that the reviewers described...But now with all my tweaks no defect for me with this dac of minimalistic design, that is the best kept secret in audio...

 The more difficult purchase to make in audio is a dac, because of the high price of the very good one,this one is the exception...

Amen viridian!