Best practices when conducting a DAC comparison


Reaching out for general advice on how Agoners have compared DACs in their own systems.....

....and how you have determined the 'better' or the 'preferred' component, based on your comparison.

This will be my first in-depth comparison.

Feel free to mention whatever you believe will help and stuff I may need to look out for / be aware of.

Thank You.
david_ten

Showing 2 responses by audioengr

First compare the same interfaces, whether USB, Ethernet, AES/EBU or S/PDIF coax. You should obviously level-match using a SL meter. Tracks should all be .wav and high quality. Some should be non-music, like falling rain, tinkling glass, blowing wind, percussion, drums. Try Doors Riders on the Storm. Andreas Vollenwider. One track should have deep bass, one track should have serious dynamics. Limit it to 3 or 4 tracks.


Try going direct to your amps and also through your preamp or linestage with both. You may find one blows away the other if you go direct.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

Here are a few considerations:

1) if you plan to play FLAC files only, then make sure to do FLAC in several sample-rates

2) If you plan to use a preamp, make sure you have that preamp on-hand, not something in your future...

3) Use a test tone track to match levels using a sound level meter

4) Make sure your source has low-jitter if you plan to use S/PDIF or AES/EBU.  If one DAC has reclocking and another doesn't, the difference will be large due to that alone.  Get a reclocker if you need to lower jitter.

5) Make sure you have a really good S/PDIF cable if that is the method you plan to use.

6) If you are using USB, make sure you have a good USB cable.  Your PC, Mac or server will need to be optimized for USB.

7) If you are using USB, make sure your playback engine is a good one, like Amarra on Mac or an Antipodes or Aurender server.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio