DAC Shootout Starts This Weekend

@verdantaudio
I agree with @dbb in that accuracy to the sound of real instruments is essential for an audio component to be recommendable.

You have written, "I had an interesting conversation last night on the topic of 'accuracy' with a gentleman who is both an audiophile and a professional musician.
When discussing the concept of ’accuracy’ his concern is tonal exclusively. Does the instrument sound like the instrument in question? Can it reproduce the difference between say a Steinway and Yamaha piano.
Beyond that, ’accuracy’ has no meaning." Exactly.

But what has audio reviewing become? The well known Goldensound on ebay raves about a $1500 DAC being the best in class though he says it cannot accurately reproduce the "timbre" of instruments.

Reviewing has too often become simply an expression of personal taste or an attempt to sell. Many people calling themselves reviewers have rarely heard a musical instrument except through a loudspeaker. I do not include you here as I respect what you have written and you do it with integrity, even including acoustic instruments as part of your listening and writing.

@melm You make a very interesting point and I think it raises a bigger question.  And that is, what is your actual preference.  

If a DAC can't accurately reproduce the timbre of instruments and that is your preference, great!  Alternatively, if you are looking for accuracy in reproduction and want to be able to tell the difference between a Yamaha and Steinway piano, great!  The key is being intellectually honest with yourself.  

An example - for years I wanted an "accurate, transparent system that simply let me hear what the artist and engineer intended."  I think I achieved this to my great dissatisfaction.  I got to a point where I didn't enjoy listening to my music on my system.  I engaged in a long thread with a few folks over in the Stereophile forum at that time and realized I was pursing the wrong thing. 

What I really wanted was accurate reproduction of the timbre of instruments with an augmented soundstage that helped correct the flatness and generally poor presentation one finds in a huge percentage of recordings.  Since then, my system has changed 100% and my approach and thinking has changed 100%. 

I have spent a lot of time talking about the differences between these DACs and very little time talking about the similarities.  One thing that is universal across all of these units including the tube based Vu Jade is that all of them are tonally pretty neutral.  The difference between the warmest (Rockna Wavelight) and brightest (Weiss 501) is a relatively small difference in high frequency extension.  All of them are reproducing instruments in a way that sounds realistic and are basically uncolored.  

There are definitely products out there that do not reproduce sound accurately but I have been fortunate enough not to bump into them recently.  

You are correct that reviewing has become a matter of persona taste and reviewers tend to pick products that they like to review.  That is even largely reflected here in that most of what I wrote about are products that I carry.  I only really carry products that I like which is why heavily colored DACs aren't making this list.    

My taste is not everyone's taste which is why I have been focusing on differences and was so clear about the gear I am using.  The ultimate goal is to help folks make a good choice.  These small differences across multiple pieces of equipment add up and can be the difference between being pretty happy with your system and being in audio nirvana. 

I know what audio nirvana is for me and it would be great to see others get there.   

@verdantaudio @melm

https://www.psaudio.com/askpaulvideo/the-audience-is-all-wrong/

interesting take on the subject

i agree on valuing correct reproduction of timbre/tone, esp. of real (non electronic) instruments we play and hear live... the real thing and how it sounds is unambiguous

imaging, though, is another matter, as nice as it is when well portrayed on our rigs -- but what is real or not is highly debatable (and suspect), in fact it is pretty much entirely ’manufactured’

@verdantaudio 
@jjss49 

You are quite right to speak if the importance of imaging.  I just picked up on what verdantaudio had written about accuracy to the sound of a piano, to wit, a piano should sound like a piano,  Better still, a particular piano.

Normally, though, when I write of accuracy as being the bottom line in an audio component I take it directly from HP* who wrote of real instruments in real space.  (He would require his reviewers to be regular acoustic concert goers.)  There's your imaging--and width--and depth.  But a piano MUST sound like a piano; an oboe like an oboe, etc.   One cannot judge accuracy in studio manufactured music.

Anyway, I've tried not to intrude into this very important and well accomplished thread.  I do sense that it is winding down, at least a bit.  Kudos to verdantaudio for his honest and intelligent writing.  

*Whose writing turned me on to the "high-end"

@melm You are correct.  This is winding down.  I am going to do one more post on the headphone side of this which is far from my expertise but will offer my rudimentary POV.  

Otherwise, I thank all of the thread participants for being incredibly kind to me and each other.