After my experience with a Benchmark DAC years ago that got rave reviews but for which I hated the sound (ear-bleeding highs), I learned something.
There is sound. But there is also music. They are not necessarily the same thing...
Six DAC Comparison
I am in the middle of comparing the sound of six different DACs in my system. I own them all (I know weird) but one of them is still within a trial/return timeframe.
Not to share specific comparisons today, but a couple of observations so far are that first, they all definitely sound different from each other. On one hand, they all sound pretty good and play what is fed to them without significant flaws but on the other hand there are definite sonic differences that make it easy to understand how a person might like the sound of some of them while not liking others.
Second, raises the observation that most of them must be doing something to shape the sound in the manner the designer intended since one of the DACs, a Benchmark DAC3 HGA, was described by John Atkinson of Stereophile as providing "state-of-the-art measured performance." In the review, JA closed the measurements section by writing, "All I can say is "Wow!" I have also owned the Tambaqui (not in my current comparison), which also measured well ("The Mola Mola Tambaqui offers state-of-the-digital-art measured performance." - JA). The Benchmark reminds me sonically of the Tambaqui, both of which are excellent sounding DACs.
My point is that if the Benchmark is providing "state-of-the-art measured performance," then one could reasonably presume that the other five DACs, which sound different from the Benchmark, do not share similar ’state-of-the-art" measurements and are doing something to subtly or not so subtly alter the sound. Whether a person likes what they hear is a different issue.
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@yyzsantabarbara My modest Hyperion HPS-938 speakers (that I believe you're familiar with) work great with DAC3HGC+AHB2, Sometimes warmer sound (2nd or even euphonic 3rd harmonic) helps to cover "hot" tweeter or distortion in the system at the cost of very little loss of transparency (no right or wrong here). Benchmark gear is extremely revealing - punishing in some systems and wonderful in others. I believe you graduated to higher end speakers, but proper matching still remains true |
@ghdprentice "part choices are made on just choosing appropriate parts or on cost not sound". I guess youve never actually done a value-based design before. Component decisions are made based on value - optimizing the design within the budget. Cost is a consideration, but only in the context of the entire project budget. Will a modest DAC chip surrounded by premium resistors and capacitors sound better than a premier DAC and more modest supporting componentry? Is an advanced filter algorithm in the budget? Can it be used as market differentiator? How much can be allocated to casework? Do you want it to look like a d'Agostino baroque steam punk device or the much more mundane (and cleaner and quieter) Topping Pre 90 for less than 1% of the cost? Cost is not value and vice versa.
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