Do hi-end DACs offer true value or diminishing return...

@ghpprentice my system should have been available not sure why you may not have seen it.

@danager - comparing DACs to what we build, through different audio society members in the NY & NJ area, local dealers, ones we have repaired and ones we have upgraded.  For example, we recently upgraded a Lampizator DAC that has a built-in preamp.  The owner left every very happy with our upgrades.

Value is what you get for you dollar in our opinion.  The quality of our DAC has a 25-pound power supply.  Probably better than any one of the components you have heard or owned.  Point-to-point wired with the parts I mention above.  That is how we know.  We can build any type of audio component that we see/hear.  We have upgraded and repaired hundreds of audio components.  Sound quality?  Well, I have said everyone thinks they know sound, right?  Until you hear something that is better you don't know.  It comes down to experience and knowing what makes something sound the way it does.  Most people do not know why one component sounds the way it does or why one they feel sounds better than another.  We can change the sound a typical component with a few parts changes.  It really is that simple.  So, value to us is what you get for your money which is the sound versus the money.  Money has nothing to do with how a component sounds.

I hope I explained myself correctly.  We have a demonstration room set-up in Northern New Jersey.  Everyone is welcome to come in for a listen and even bring one of their components to place in our system.  We welcome all as we are always willing to listen and willing to learn.

Happy Listening.  

@danager What is your definition of value? Are you talking merely dollars or the importance of sound? 

The value refers mainly to the SQ.  You could argue that the techonoloy and quality of components such as power supply module should also be counted, but ultimately what really matters is whether that can be translated to the SQ enhancement.  Take Denafrips product as example, if Terminator Plus ($6.5k) costs 3.6 times over Pontus II ($1.8k) but the SQ is just twice as good, we have diminishing returns.  However, the hard part is that how the SQ is perceived is heavily individual dependent and always a contentious subject.  Let us change our perspective in sound a bit here.  Can we even "measure" the quality of sound?  Can we create metrics and standard procedure to measure the SQ?  We understand a microphone and software could be used to measure SPL but not the subjective perference of a human auditory neurons and brain?  A perfectly flat response curve may be ideal but the sound reproduced from such a stereo system might be boring to some.  I am by no means an expert but there is psychoacoustic theory behind it that talks about the measurement of quantifiable psychoacoustic "entropy."  One aspect of theory relates to analyzing certain types of musical harmonies, such as the even order harmonics give smooth, rich more pleasing sound and odd order harmonics give edgier more exciting sound.  Also, part of entropy can be measured through the SPL via some methematical algorithm, etc.  

I am hopeful such a matric and process can be implemented in the near future to measure the quality of sound reproduction and help us make an informative decision.  Right now, leap of faith seems the only thing we could count on, whether right or wrong... 

On Youtube? You are kidding.

I have a problem understanding % of sound quality improvement.  Improvement is binary it's either better or it isn't.  Its also personal what sounds better to you doesn't mean I will agree with your assessment.  So if the difference is miniscule the upgrade may or not be worth the bother / money.  So it is a value assessment but the hobby for me is a comparative endeavor.

@lanx0003 the Ares II can sound grainy on the top depending on the o/s non o/s selection, I found in oversampling mode it could be grainy on some tracks, the Pontus is just pure silk, I’d love a terminator but 1 I’d need to lose the wife and too I fear it would open Pandora’s box in the expensive quest to then search out new speakers etc. so for the foreseeable I’ll stick with my wife and the Pontus. 🙂