No such thing as a future proof DAC...

The 'future proof' DAC stands right behind the 'future proof' media streamer.

anyone who tells you a piece of electronics is future proof either (a) believes they are psychic or (b) as a smart manufacturer has hedged their bet with a trade in program. I deal with product life cycles... 3 years is about as far as anyone can predict in a technology field

128 bit word, 384khz/32 bit audio stream DAC's anyone?

Future proofing DAC's, or virtually any electronic device, would be difficult because of the rapid change in technology and materials.

However, there are manufacturers who future-proof their equipment through excellent upgrade service, such as MUSE, who will still upgrade any of their disc players to either of their two current top models. They will also upgrade any of their other previous amps, preamps, and DAC models to the highest level before production of the item was discontinued. Unfortunately, they do not have a DAC in their current line-up as I suspect Kevin has been spending his time on the HRT line for now.

Dracule1, I did not include in my definition of the better sound characteristics of the newer generation of DACs a description of their timbral qualities because they do vary widely, and imo this seems to be vastly influenced by the ancillary equipment. i.e. cables have much more influence over the tonal sound of a DAC than many realize.

However, that in no way suggests that I consider the older DACs superior in that regard. I have owned and compared directly older Parasound, Denon, Adcom etc. players to the newer DACs/Players and I would not place any of them tonally over the EE Minimax DAC Plus (reviewed), one of the "flavor of the month" DACs. My experience has been that the newer generation of DACs is superior in every respect, ceding no sonic qualities to the previous. Or, to be consistent with my statement about system influence, the newer generation of DACs within systems I find to have more tonal "correctness" and appeal than older ones.

"most newer DACs seem to miss the mark when it comes to naturalness of timbre, pace and rhythm, and smoother sound compared to the older ladder DAC chips and some NOS designs."

Absolutely agree. Its due to the digital filtering. If one could use a modern D/A converter, but eliminate the digital filtering, you would have the best of both worlds: resolution and smoothness. Its possible.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio