Next best exponential DAC quality level?

“There is so much more then a spec sheet and measurements. Those are most certainly important, but its not the end all, not even close.

It really is a preference thing and in this hobby it’s ultimately about SQ and how well that SQ moves you on an emotional level. You either understand that point of view or you don’t, since for most in this hobby that is what it’s all about.

If that aspect isn’t important or not what you’re after, that’s totally fine. Reaching that elusive emotional aspect with either the best measured or not best measure component isn’t the goal.“

@redlenses03 nailed it!

@redlenses03 +1

I also think there’s a bit of a messiah complex at work here. There are certain underlying assumptions that form the basis, and certainly the tone, that is evident in many posts ...

1. Most audiophiles are fools who can be parted with their money easily. Since I’ve read about specs and multiple wikipedia articles on the technical aspects, it is my moral obligation to save these fools from themselves.

2. The higher DACs, or any audio component for that matter, are nothing more than unscrupulous manufacturers and designers who are out to fleece the audiofools.

3. I have a background in network engineering, and therefore that makes me an expert on all things ’audio’. I need to save the uninformed audifools from themselves.

4. Specs are vastly superior to actual listening experience. I can tell everything about a component by reading specs, graphs, and charts. Actual listening is vastly overrated. The audifools are incapable of understanding things like implicit bias, double blind tests, and pretty much anything. I need to save the audiofools from themselves,

5. Those who buy high end DACs only do it because they've got money to burn and its more about bragging rights than actual music enjoyment. It's my moral obligation to set these pretentious bastards right.

6. If I can't hear a difference between a $99 and $10K DAC, this must be the ultimate truth. Everybody else who claims otherwise is an audiofool.

7. I’m the smartest man on this forum, therefore anyone who disagrees with me is an audifool.

Smartest man? No, but I appear to be one of the only people who acts like an adult @arafiq, as once again, your post is all about discrediting me, not addressing point by point or at all really my argument. Same tired points in a tireless need to discredit because you cannot address the topic properly.

I would not claim to be the smartest man in this thread, but based purely on the observation of what has been written, I appear to have by far the most actual knowledge of DACs, how they are designed, how they work, what impacts performance, what does not, how they truly behave in systems, not how I think they behave or have been told they behave. That's not from Wikipedia either. Have you ever injected various levels of jitter into a DAC to see what happens and both measured AND listened? I have. The op was looking for an informed opinion on what he experienced. I gave him one.  Have you ever tried a $99 DAC (I would suggest $200 for a nice case) connected to a low cost USB isolator with basic linear power supply and compared that to a $10,000 DAC designed to accurately replicate a signal. More likely you accuse others of what you are guilty of.

I have been quite clear that many high priced DACs are designed with a specific sonic signature targeting personal preference, not to accurately reproduce the waveform. I have no qualms, and am quite supportive of this pursuit, but I will take issue when said supplier that does that claims "improved accuracy". I am totally with @lalitk on this point that sound preference (lets not use quality) is the most important thing.

On the other hand, many high end DACs are statement pieces that may have slightly better measured performance, though inaudible. If someone has the money to buy one, or doesn't and still does, again I have no issue. Do I take issue with companies that claim they are "technically superior" but don't back it up, and when put to the test fail, I do, and I would hope others do as well. That is not ethical.

The op was right, this thread ended 1.5 pages ago. Unfortunately the outrage has not.

Lol @ outrage! There's only one person here who's been foaming at the mouth since the thread ended 1.5 pages ago. How dare these fools don't bow to my greatness? I am the self-appointed ethics czar of audio, don't you understand?

@arafiq ,

No need for me to reply to this.

Lol @ outrage! There's only one person here who's been foaming at the mouth since the thread ended 1.5 pages ago. How dare these fools don't bow to my greatness? I am the self-appointed ethics czar of audio, don't you understand?

I also think there’s a bit of a messiah complex at work here. There are certain underlying assumptions that form the basis, and certainly the tone, that is evident in many posts ...

1. Most audiophiles are fools who can be parted with their money easily. Since I’ve read about specs and multiple wikipedia articles on the technical aspects, it is my moral obligation to save these fools from themselves.

2. The higher DACs, or any audio component for that matter, are nothing more than unscrupulous manufacturers and designers who are out to fleece the audiofools.

3. I have a background in network engineering, and therefore that makes me an expert on all things ’audio’. I need to save the uninformed audifools from themselves.

4. Specs are vastly superior to actual listening experience. I can tell everything about a component by reading specs, graphs, and charts. Actual listening is vastly overrated. The audifools are incapable of understanding things like implicit bias, double blind tests, and pretty much anything. I need to save the audiofools from themselves,

5. Those who buy high end DACs only do it because they've got money to burn and its more about bragging rights than actual music enjoyment. It's my moral obligation to set these pretentious bastards right.

6. If I can't hear a difference between a $99 and $10K DAC, this must be the ultimate truth. Everybody else who claims otherwise is an audiofool.

7. I’m the smartest man on this forum, therefore anyone who disagrees with me is an audifool.