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Next best exponential DAC quality level?

I recently did a shoot out of three DACs using my Hint6 + routing each of the other DACs to analog input on the Hint6:

(1) Hint6: ESS Sabre32 -- Integrated 

(2) SMSL M500: ES9038PRO D/A   ~$400 

(3) Khadas ToneBoard(v1): ESS ES9038Q2M - ~$99

I played the same song passages on Amazon Music and was able to cycle through each Hint6 input corresponding to each DAC.

The result?  Very small difference in terms of rendering.  Maybe a more open sound stage with better overall balance using the Hint6 DAC.  The Khadas was more bass / midrange pronounced w/ a more narrow soundstage.  However, I wouldn't suggest that any were head-and-shoulders "better" over the others.  In fact, they were all pretty decent with only small nuances (certainly not worth the price differences.   

I decided to keep the Khadas for my small headphone listening area. 

But it got me thinking - how much would one have to spend to realize an exponential difference in quality?  Is the Khadas that good, or is DAC technology differences more nuanced than I originally thought (meaning, we're paying 10x for only 5% better).  

 

128x128martinman
fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,582 posts
 

How can one hope to hear any difference streaming from a computer?

soix
9,456 posts
 

Steve Stone did a comparison of the various HD music services and Amazon HD did not fare well.  They’re just not there yet.  Do a free trial of Qobuz and see for yourself. 

djones51
4,947 posts
 

I’m always amazed how anyone can hear differences in DACS where even lousy ones will have a SINAD of -85db with background noise in most homes around 30db and the distortion from even great speakers can reach 1% . It’s a miracle on par with Stevie Wonder regaining eyesight, but to each his own.

erik_squires
16,039 posts
 

I got a chance to talk to the CEO of Parasound.

 

He was extremely pleased with the DAC's they got for the original HINT, and felt it was a significant upgrade to the DAC they put in the preamp that went before.  Also, the ZDAC was one of the best cheap DACs I've heard.  It was really really good, so I'm not surprised you are happy with the performance. :)

 

Best,

 

Erik

martinman's avatar
martinman OP
93 posts
 

Steve Stone did a comparison of the various HD music services and Amazon HD did not fare well. They’re just not there yet. Do a free trial of Qobuz and see for yourself.

Yep, here’s the orig. source:

https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/amazon-music-hd-wants-you-but-do-you-want-amazon-music-hd

Pretty lite on technical content though.

Steve takes issue with the HD vs Ultra HD terms and also cites the lack of "Ultra HD" content when compared to Qobuz.  They have come quite a long way in terms of content.   

Anyway, my assumption going into this test was that a 24/192 source is good enough - no matter if it's AmazonHD or Qobuz... amirite?

 

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