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dacs are really big diffrents at all ???

hi my friends.
im aowner of LEBEN CS600 AND DEVORE NINES .
im search about 1 years for dac or something really good that will be good combinations with my system .i used pc-q1500 of fujitsu (ion computer) small one but quiet and good i really cant uderstand what about all the big deal around dacs im test few dacs around 500-2000 $ and reall dont know why its worth to buy dac more then 500$ im never hear such abig diffrent and yes i have agood ears and few people hear it with me and they say no diffent at all.
i know all about to set my pc i use foobar2000 and play with kernal streaming and asio .
people hear suggest me the dac of metrum octave nos but i cant hear it and try this in my country .someone in my country sell hegel dac he suggest me the hd2 or hd11 dac .
what people u can say about it ? is it worth ? is it really more good then good soundcard around 300$ ??
any help suggest opnion pls ?
bolero32

Showing 2 responses by audioengr

audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Sounds cards are no competition for a good DAC. Not even close.

However, spending at least $1K for a DAC is a good idea if you want to get close to the best sound quality.

Dont expect the USB interface to be excellent however. Very few DACs have good USB interfaces. You can add an outboard USB converter to most DACs that have S/PDIF input to improve the USB interface.

As for your playback software, I recommend you try Foobar2000 with Jplay plug-in in ASIO mode.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Eugene makes a revelant point. If you are using an inexpensive active preamp, then all bets are off. The distortion, noise and compression caused by this will undoubtedly mask the differences between most DACs.

Replace that thing with a good transformer passive linestage and you will begin to hear the live music.

The digital source jitter is critically important. If you are using an inexpensive CD transport to drive the DAC, this will kill the SQ from the start. Replace it with a more expensive low-jitter transport or with a good computer audio source with low-jitter.

This is like buying a $10 turntable and tonearm and then putting a $100 cartridge on it.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
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