2. digital
  3. 144404-20253

High resolution digital is dead. The best DAC's killed it.

Something that came as a surprise to me is how good DAC's have gotten over the past 5-10 years.

Before then, there was a consistent, marked improvement going from Redbook (44.1/16) to 96/24 or higher.

The modern DAC, the best of them, no longer do this. The Redbook playback is so good high resolution is almost not needed. Anyone else notice this?
erik_squires
emcdade
95 posts
 
@gosta  

All local files and streams including Tidal, etc. are first converted to DSD 512 on my server PC before heading to my Windows 10 streamer and finally through the DAC 8 DSD chipless converter.  As long as you have server horsepower, you can even use DSP while doing this, which is fantastic to tame a bass mode or to use as a balance control.

The PCM side of the DAC is ok, but once you hear DSD 512 there's no going back.  There's more texture, better tone, soundstage expands in every direction, imaging is more precise AND has more density (that is the hardest trick to pull off IMO).  It really is something.
prof
3,474 posts
 

I think digital has sounded great for a long time.  Loved my system way back when I used to use my Meridian 508.20 CDP.  Still sounds great using a benchmark DAC and streaming.
gelle
80 posts
 
I’m just starting to learn this now. My new MHDT Orchid sounds amazing streaming Redbook. 
More to discover