Audio Science Review = Rebuttal and Further Thoughts
@crymeanaudioriver @amir_asr You are sitting there worrying if this or that other useless tweak like a cable makes a sonic difference.
I don’t worry about my equipment unless it fails. I never worry about tweaks or cables. The last time I had to choose a cable was after I purchased my first DAC and transport in 2019. I auditioned six and chose one, the Synergistic Research Atmosphere X Euphoria. Why would someone with as fulfilling a life as me worry about cables or tweaks and it is in YOUR mind that they are USELESS.
@prof "would it be safe to say you are not an electrical designer or electrical engineer? If so, under what authority do you make the following comment" - concerning creating a high end DAC out of a mediocre DAC.
Well, I have such a DAC, built by a manufacturer of equipment and cables for his and my use. It beat out a $9,000 COS Engineering D1v and $5,000 D2v by a longshot. It is comparable to an $23,000 Meridian Ultradac. Because I tried all the latter three in comparison I say this with some authority, the authority of a recording engineer (me), a manufacturer (friend) and many audiophiles who have heard the same and came to the same conclusion.
Another DAC with excellent design engineer and inferior execution is the Emotiva XDA-2. No new audio board but 7! audiophile quality regulators instead of the computer grade junk inside, similar high end power and filter caps, resistors, etc. to make this into a high end DAC on the very cheap ($400 new plus about the same in added parts).
@russ69 We must be neighbors. I frequented Woodland Hills Audio Center back in the 70s and 80s. I heard several of Arnie’s speakers including a the large Infinity speakers in a home.
@fleschler, I hear you. First generation DAC1 owner, turbo-modded in 2007 by legendary Steve Nugent of Empirical Audio (accomplished DAC, USB, and Ethernet designer.) Even after extensive mods these older Benchmark DAC's still benefit from a re-clocked data stream. |
@fleschler +1 "it's not so much the DAC chip but the implementation of the entire DAC unit” I prefer DACs with: 1) separate DAC Chip for left and right channel, two or four in parallel for each for better interpolation 2) avoiding OPAMPs in signal path, ideally class-A discrete output (Gustard A-22). 3) separate digital and analog power supplies, and ground 4) at least two stage linear power supply, with lowest possible ESR capacitors 5) low noise discrete transistors 5) decent clock generator 6) at least four layer PCB |
Add to Charles Hansen’s list the quality of the USB implementation. While asynchronous USB can be the preferred connection, much depends on the RMI/EFI rejection of the USB port. And not to forget: the clocking accuracy of the USB connection. If I may, a little hint: anybody who hasn’t regenerayed the 5V USB connection from the streamer hasn’t yet heard what their DAC is capable of. |
@westcoastaudiophile My COS Engineering D1v $9K DAC is built like the DAC you prefer, exceptionally well. https://6moons.com/audioreviews2/cos/3.html (innards) However, it lacks body in the midrange compared to the D2v, my modded Benchmark and my friend's modded Emotiva. C'est la vie! |
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