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What is the average life expectancy of a DAC?

Hello folks, 

With the recent profusion of relatively inexpensive DACs that are now available, I'm wondering what the average life expectancy of a good DAC is? Or, to put it another way, is it cost-effective to invest in a high(ish) end DAC like a Denafrips Terminator or a Halo May with the expectation that it will last at least 5 or more years?

Thanks!  
aamiransari
aamiransari OP
11 posts
 
Thank you, kijanki and jond4!
jjss49's avatar
jjss49
6,612 posts
 
how long will my vpi magic brick last?  ;)
chorus
976 posts
 
Aam-

Your question is more than valid and very insightful.
The answer will depend upon whether you have money
to burn on gear or want to be more prudent with your money.

DACs are the fastest evolving, most influential gear digital people
buy today. 

I think the life a DAC -not how long it will operate but how long you
will be satisfied with- is two years. 

Everyone has there own threshold of how much money they are willing
to burn on a churn for a yearn. 

If you feel it is likely you will want the next greatest DAC in a couple years, then know what you are willing to burn and buy at no more
than double that amount. 

In my case $1500-$1750 is the number I will spend. 

Any help?
mahler123
3,671 posts
 
It's a great question that I've been wondering about.  I love my DAC, the Bryston DAC3, and it has a feature set that isn't common-4 HDMI inputs.  I think I've had it now going on 5 years.  I get curious about newer DACs but between the HDMI feature and the AKM chip, which may be hard to replace now given the fate of the AKM manufacturer, and the fact that I might retire in a few years and some concerns that we might be heading into an inflationary cycle given the levels of Government spending, I might want to hang on to this forever, perhaps.
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