Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

09-10-14: Erikminer
In the TAS review there is an interview with the designer (s) of the Dac. They feel that building a USB input with the associated hardware degrades the SQ of the unit. Could that be BS since they sell the pricey outboard unit? Who knows but I'll give them the benefit of knowing what they're doing.

It's not BS, as introducing signals having significant high frequency content (e.g., fast risetimes and falltimes), and that likely have significant amounts of noise riding on them, can potentially cause issues at supposedly unrelated circuit points elsewhere in the design. On the other hand, given enough attention to those kinds of possibilities in the design and development process, I see no reason why they couldn't be overcome. And S/PDIF has tradeoffs of its own.

As usual, IMO, quality of implementation is likely to trump the theoretical advantages and disadvantages of any particular design approach.

A brief off-topic comment: Matt, congrats on the new Porsche. I (and my wife) have been thrilled with our 2014 Cayman S, which as you no doubt realize is the hard-topped counterpart of your Boxter. Be aware, though, that its stock high performance tires cannot handle snow or ice (assuming they are the same tires as on the Cayman S), and MUST be changed to winter tires if you want to drive on those surfaces.

Regards,
-- Al

That's pretty much what was said in the interview..

Thanks, Erik.

Re my previous post, that was a typo on "Boxster," of course.

Regards,
-- Al

NP Al.. and FYI all the European high performance cars pretty much all come with Summer tires, which simply don't stick much below 40 degrees,, Even Audio on their S cars which of course are all Quattro come with Summer tires..

"Could that be BS since they sell the pricey outboard unit?"

IMO, yes. Implementation is everything.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio