What to expect from a new DAC?

Tom6897 - I really doubt if the "system" jitter is 10psec. Most clock specs are in this range, and that is when they are driven with very expensive low-noise power supplies. In systems, this number goes up usually by a factor of ten. Also, even with the best chips, the internal PLL is affected by incoming jitter.

I have used the Sabre chip that is purported to eliminate jitter. It doesn,t. I had a Wired 4 Sound DAC2 here about 2 weeks ago, which uses the Sabre chip. Each of the inputs; USB, S/PDIF and I2S sound different. The best of these is the I2S driven by an Off-Ramp 5. World-class sound quality. The others are not interesting compared to the I2S IMO. If the Sabre reduced jitter as much as advertised, none of these differences would be audible.

Virtually all DACs benefit from a low-jitter source. Maybe the only exception is the PWD in NativeX mode.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio

Knghifi - No joke - read this:

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/musicfirst/passive.html

This is an old review. New units are even better I understand.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio

As time goes by the new DACs are definitely better.
Apart from radically different designs they are all pretty well using the same chips.
I started with an Apogee some years back and even at one point questioned what the beneficial difference was.
Then I got into the Bel Canto's DACs.
The difference was like turning the lights on.
We then went into tubes and compared Ayon's SC1 to the Bel Canto VB models.
Yes the Ayon is better but marginally.
The latest buzz was the Lampizator and yes we ordered a level 5.
The wait time was so absurd we eventually cancelled.
I was happy we did as their build quality continued to haunt me throughout the waiting.
Needless to say we did not listen to the Lampi.
However after attending CES and THE this year I was presented with the holy grail.
Out of the 100 some odd exhibitors I visited one that continued to stay with me was Bluelight Audio.
Both their Evolution line and Playback Designs were a revelation for me
I couldn't get over the clarity of the source and inquired as to what chip they were using. Playback's president explained it was a proprietary system and not the same old chips.(Burr Brown or Sabre)
The system automatically recognizes any source (such as a PC, IPod, Discman, etc.) and uses new technology they have developed called PDFAS (Playback Designs Frequency Arrival System) to completely eliminate all jitter.

A special note should be given to the book shelves they presented at 2500.00 retail I have never heard anything remotely close at that price point.

Its a matter of preference, i know some people who like their older gear better than newest models. This is sort of like tubes vs SS.

WOW you guys are making feel a lot better. Recently my Musical Fidelity Tri-Vista 21 DAC died. So, I went in the closet and pulled out my old CAL Alpha DAC. I was surprised how well it sounded, in fact it sounds so good I've been debating weather to repair the MF T-V 21 or even buying a new DAC. For now I'll just enjoy the music.