When Will the DAC Singularity Be Reached?

One other word about improving DAC performance. It was recommened by Alvin Chee (owner of Denafrips distributor Vinshine Audio), that adding a Denafrips Iris between my Bluesound Node 130 and my Denafrips Pontus II DAC might improve overall performance. If it didn't work, I could sell it for not much less than the purchase price. Alvin has never steered me wrong, so I bought one.

What does it do? The Iris DDC (and I assume most DDCs), takes an input signal and filters it galvanically and optically to reduce jitter and noise. The Iris then re-clocks the signal prior to outputting (via I2S HDMI in my case) using a TCXO which is superior to the one in the Pontus II.

Does it work? Absolutely it does in my configuration. The SQ improvements were immediate and not subtle. Soundstage width and height were improved (but not depth), the noise floor was lowered and I could more easily separate instruments and hear detail that was not as obvious without it, it took away some of the sharp edges while at the same time allowing more detail in higher frequencies, and improved vocals beyond what I thought were already great qualities in the Pontus II through my Buchardt Audio S400 MKII speakers.

Others have shared with me that the improvement will be less noticeable when I migrate to a better streamer (Innuous, Aurender, Lumin, or the like) as they have a far superior treatment of the signal path.....less noise, less jitter, more stable clock, etc.....and I may find the Iris redundant in this scenario. We'll see when I get there

I lived through the same experience and reach the same conclusion...

I’m sure that better DACs exist with more modern chips, clocks, etc. but basically, they need to sound musically involving and have great resolution, not leaving anything musically important out. I’ve achieved that on the cheap and I tried $9K DACs also superbly constructed/art works but lacking in musicality (electronics design failed due to a noise laden conversion algorithm).

Exactly right ...Thanks to say it clearly..

What I don't understand is why some are so attached to this idea that to get the basic function right, it must take a lot of money?  Filters, tube output stages, and I am sure many more ways exist to create a differentiated sound. Attractive cases, nice displays, added functionality. So many ways to differentiate your product. Why the need to insist getting the basics right is expensive?

Cin Dyment: we both know very well you never owned such DACs. You don’t own any audio system. Maybe in your rhetoric trolling the audiophiles you hate so much, lies.

Sorry for the threadjack but....

Wait, THIS guy is all over the audio Facebook groups saying he has some long history of commercial audio experience, former director at Sony Electronics, went to Harvard, Berkeley, Tufts, and Rensselear...and he just...MADE IT ALL UP???

Man, if so, that dude is a piece of WORK.

Also, I have three DAC's...and even though it's limited to redbook, the Sonic Frontiers SFL-2 mkii sounds pretty damn good with those Ultra Analog DAC chips.

It's "smoother" than my Gustard X-26 Pro and compares favorably (read musical) to my Spring 2 KTE (which I recently sold to upgrade to a Holo Audio May).

@othercrazycanuck +1

THIS:

I used to be on the equipment ferris wheel, going around and around and around. Maybe equipment roulette is more fitting? This DAC, that DAC, this cartridge, that cartridge, amps, etc. Never quite happy.

Once I learned all the nuances of speakers in a room, got appropriate speakers, subs, and fixed my room, then I finally got off the equipment merry go round. All those changes I thought I was making, that never seemed to quite do it, were not doing anything. I have easily spend over $20K on DACs over the last decade. Now every DAC in my main system sounds good.

Maybe I am the man out in this discussion, but I would rather be happy and confident in my system than yearn for yet another lateral change.

Because of my journey, like the op, I question the value of expensive DACs. They may be different but different is not better, it is different. Maybe that works for you, maybe it does not. It is working for some people here, but I wonder what are they putting a bandaid over.

(and definitely not this, which has never been glibly true, and could be argued is actually the opposite of true when it comes to 'the nature of advancement'):  "Low cost DACs will sound like low end DACs and high end DACs will continue to sound way better. It is the nature of advancement."