Are "vintage" DAC's worthwhile, or is this a tech that does not age well


Hello,
whether it’s worth looking into old dac such as
Spectral SDR 2000,
Mark Levinson No.35 (36)
or so Sonic Frontiers Sfd-2 Mk2 DAC.

Digital audio is the fasted moving, now improving category out there
Because to this day they have no usb connection or other options.
But is it necessary?
Or is it better to still focus on a truly time-tested sound?

(sorry for my English)
128x128miglos

Showing 3 responses by jasonbourne52

Back in the 80’s the first test done was comparing the Theta DAC (designed by Mike Moffat) against the Sony Discman. Electronics used were by Boulder and speakers were Quad 63’s. After many trials the final scores were no better than 50/50.
Clever marketing psychology drives the market for new DACs. In controlled A/B tests nobody can distinguish a $100 DAC from a $1000+ one. The loudest complaints against this will of course be from those with the most money invested. 
All competently-designed DACs will sound alike. This applies to ones from 20+ years ago to the present. There is NO ever-upward increase in sound quality. The proliferation of ever more expensive DACs is a marketing ploy based upon confirmation bias to get the gullible to spend more!