Are DAC prices reflecting sound quality?


I'm very confused here. While I know the price of a unit doesn't define how good it will sound, I do expect a significant positive correlation between the two.

But right now there is an Esoteric D70 DAC on Agon going for almost $3k. While the unit was very highly reviewed back in 2004, many claim digital has evolved A LOT over the last 5 years, and some claim the Berkely Alpha (a.k.a. BADA, @ $4k) and the PS Audio PWD (@ $3k) to be the best ever DACs. So is the D70 that good, or should its market price be lower to compensate for the lesser sound quality?

Opinions?
lewinskih01

Showing 1 response by tpreaves

The name on the box has a lot to do with the price.People are comfortable buying certain names and tend to pay more for them.Market pricing is primarily determined by the interaction of supply and demand in most cases.When it comes to high-end audio,you can forget what you learned in economics class.You see folks buying vintage equipment for big money all the time.Now if a 20 year old amp, whos electronics are more than likely on their last leg,and a brand new amp cost the same,it's up to the buyer to determine if the quality is worth the cost.It's all in the eye/ear of the beholder.This is just my opinion,simple as it may be.