2. digital
  3. 1417757498

DAC improvements slowing down?

24/192 optical in
24/96 USB

It seems like those two figures would be the highest values most supposedly audiophiles need to have capable.

Beyond that how are DACs going to be a game changer? Most sources are regular CDs and streaming audio, no SACD for 99% of us supposedly audiophiles.

I read that people recommend using an external DAC as the technology is constantly improving but have we hit the point of diminishing returns or is there a good argument for using an External DAC still?
dinmax82
scvan
99 posts
 
I believe you are familiar with Dr. Kiryu's study jitter detection in humans. His findings were that even trained people could detect less jitter than what the BBC reported.

https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/ast/26/1/26_1_50/_pdf

Where are the scientific studies published by any non-marketing organization showing jitter is detectable even in the sub 200ps range?

It doesn't because it can't be done. It is great to develop an ultra-low jitter device for a feat in engineering, but for sound benefits??? I suspect the dust on speaker drivers has a bigger distortion impact than modern day jitter.
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Scvan - until you experience really low jitter, you will not understand. It is never low enough IME. I perform jitter demonstrations at nearly every trade show, as well as contrasting the sound of AIFF, ALAC and FLAC with wav files. Every single attendee hears the difference.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
lewinskih01
910 posts
 
I think along the lines of what Mapman said, given my limited experience. My music coming from a PC, when I moved from a previous configuration to having an Audiophilleo in the chain there was a very noticeable improvement. I recently tried an exaSound e22 that has femto clock and it didn't sound better than the Audiophilleo plus Metrum Octave.

Obviously, several factors at play here, not simply jitter, but I was expecting a big impact from the femto clock. Just didn't happen for me.
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Lew - I tried a Femtoclock and even designed a module for it with regulators etc. It didn't measure any better than my previous clock module. It may have lower jitter at 20MHz, but this is not important with audio.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
williewonka
3,110 posts
 
I own a Schiit Bifrost - had it over a year now. It is 24/192 across all inputs

They just came out with an upgrade to the USB which blew my socks off - such a huge improvement.

Will things keep getting g better - I believe so if this latest upgrade is anything to go by.

The Gungnir is even better.

What will happen is the cost of the better technology will come down.

Regards
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