Help: Anthem STR dac vs Bryston BDA-1 and others - sounds the same to me


I wanted to go ahead and throw this out there, I know there will be differing opinions but here’s my experience THUS FAR... I cannot hear one shred of difference between the internal DAC of my Anthem STR preamp vs my Bryston BDA-1. Are you surprised?

I’ve listened back and forth on two sets of speakers and test tracks via Qubuz with Roon - speakers are Klipschorns and KEF Reference 5.
I know the Bryston is older so perhaps that has something to do with it. OR, do we often overemphasize what we THINK we hear when we say a DAC sounds so much better than another?
I no longer have the Lumin T2 but I think I remember it sounding better but now I can’t be sure of what I was hearing. I do believe in hearing bias but I would expect to hear something more drastic.. Or are my ears just shot? I don’t think so - but who knows.
Is the DAC in the Anthem just that spectacular?

I’m asking because I’m thinking about adding a Denafrips Potus for fun.
Anyone else have the Anthem and think its DAC is on par with other reasonably priced external dacs?


dtximages
jasonbourne52
A DAC is NOT a computer! Hence NO programming
A DAC is very much a computer. How else do you think a DAC can perform the mathematical computations necessary to convert digital code to an analog signal?
Well, I do like the Anthem sound a great deal.  They are currently my favorite HT processor.

If you can't tell the difference in DAC's, may I suggest you turn your attention to your room acoustics? :)
A DAC is merely a special kind of computer designed to do just that one task.