Is the DAC the digital equivalent of a cartridge.

Sorry, the phono stage does not decode anything

wrong. ever heard of the RIAA equalization curve? what do you suppose it does?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RIAA_equalization

some phono stages have multiple output curves besides RIAA for optimizing various early pressings. but your records would sound like crap without any output ’decoding’ circuit. lp groove cutting realities and playback technology realities require this equalization to work.

there’s no boosting or amplifying in a standalone DAC

wrong again. the only way a dac does not have an analog output stage to amplify the dac output is if the dac chips develop enough voltage on their own (very rare) or the dac is feeding an amp inside an active speaker system (very rare). dac chips rarely develop sufficient voltage to raise the signal to line level to feed the preamp. that is what the analog output stage circuit inside the dac does.

maybe the dac in your phone might develop enough gain to power your ear buds, as everything is miniaturized. but likely it has an output stage of some sort too. but it’s a special case.

The question asked by the poster is if a DAC has have "the same influence on the sound because it's as close to the source as the cartridge is?". What makes the question problematic is that a cartridge's signal has to be amplified and equalised to bring it to line level so any meaningful comparison is between a cartridge/phonostage and a DAC. As a related comment, I don't really buy the "closest to the source" argument. Back in the day, when Linn were preaching this, people were spending big money on an LP12 with an Ittok, sticking a vile K9 cartridge on it (having spent all their budget on the turntable and arm) and getting dreadful sound for the investment involved. Hi-Fi systems are exactly that - systems - so the relationship between the parts is critical.

in your analogy:

1. stylus = dac

2. cartridge innards = over-clocking; up-scale; anti-jitter; filters; the mix of all the other things that are happening to the 1s and 0s.

3. critical arm/cartridge alignments =  not required: a great appeal of digital to many  

@tyan42 

For most of us, “yes” - start with the DAC, which I think will create the largest difference (and thus closest to impact of changing a cartridge). But think about the DAC/streamer as an integrated chain - I wouldn’t let the quality of one lag too far behind the other (in the same way it wouldn’t make sense to put a $2,000 cartridge on a $200 table)

Based on very sophisticated engineering and psycho-acoustic analysis (a “guess”), for me, I’d probably go 4:1 on dac vs. streamer on a first try (I think ratio smaller on cartridge/table).  DAC is the piece really chewing up the bits. Accumulate more money, and try a better streamer. (n.b., the lower the budget, the closer the dac and streamer will get in price, in any event)

I just went from a six year-old Meridian Explorer2 to a Benchmark DAC3 HGC, and it was a fun “wow” moment. Better in every way - put a smile on my face.  So for me, a recent big leap in DACs made me very happy

Let us know what you decide to do!

Have a great day

@holmz I agree with you on the streamer. I too run roon on a NUC and am having trouble finding any real evidence that a streamer improves digital performance. There are people I respect who say it does so I’m keeping an open mind. I would go out and plop down $10k on a streamer tomorrow if I thought it was an improvement but so far, can’t see it.

As for the DAC, there are lots of great DACs out there that sound great. Glad you found one you like. There is a lot of difference in the various analog renditions that are presented by various manufacturers. While measurements tell you a lot, I’m in the clear, transparent, vivid soundstage camp of enthusiasts so I find some DACs muddy that. My DAC is the most expensive component in my system.

Jerry