When Will the DAC Singularity Be Reached?

I think the quality of Delta-sigma DAC chips had gotten very good and will continue to subtly improve, but there is more to a really good DAC than these chips. Quality clocks, output stages, power supplies, enclosures, and even connectors, are quite expensive and not getting any less so. All these things contribute to the sound quality (some more than others).

If anything, I suspect that the sound quality from inexpensive DACs (under $2500) has probably nearly reached its peak since the other parts necessary to build a good DAC are only getting more expensive.

Or will the need for DACs be simply eliminated. I predict that DACs will eventually be used only in the esoteric realm like turntables and CD players are used today. The "audiophiles" are ageing and as technology moves past them more products like the Peachtree GaN1 with only a Coaxial S/PDIF input will replace the DAC.

There is a broad misunderstanding that is encouraged by the manufacturer that the Peachtree GaN1 is a "digital amp".  There is no such thing.  Inside the PT amp, there is a DAC.  My guess is it is a common chip and if you open it up you'll find all the markings polished off of it.  The GaN-FET is a different type of class D amp--an analog amp.  They have just put everything together in an integrated and marketed it as something it is not.

So no, that isn't going to make DACs obsolete, it just moved them inside.

Jerry

That wasn't my understanding of how class D works.  Yes the digital signal is being converted to an analog signal but at the amplifier section not at the input section.  A DAC converts digital to analog but a class D amp to my understanding does the same thing but with gain.  So typically a digital signal implementing a DAC converts it twice using a Class D amplifier.  Digital to analog then a ADC in the amp converts into what the Amp can read and then outputs analog.

According to PeachTree

• Coaxial S/PDIF input with native support up to 24-bit/192kHz 
• DAC-less design 

I'm not an engineer or do I play one on TV but I believe (which can easily be full of whatever is in that bucket)  That it truly is a DAC-less design.

here is a youtube reviewer who pretty much specializes in reviewing affordable dacs, reviewing one that is much more expensive

among the talking heads on yt covering hifi gear, this fellow is one of the better ones -- articulate, honest, no nonsense, relatively complete in his disclosure and approach

https://youtu.be/ncZdxm0khTg