We hit the plateau around 2010. Sometime around here something happened, and the quality of CD quality files (44.1 kHz/16 bit) got radically better and shortened the gap between it and high resolution files. I know this isn't my ears because I still hear the wide gap with older DACs.
My guess is that this was a result of consistently better and cheaper clock and jitter elimination circuits. To my ears, this finally proves taht 44.1/16 is a very good format, but that DAC's were lacking.
High resolution files and upsampling sound only slightly better than they would have a decade ago. The DAC's which do not do internal upsampling still do a smidge better, but we can attribute that all to the better high frequency performance, which is measurable.
R2R and zero upsampling DAC's are fun, but probably no more than colorful in their own ways. Enjoy them if you like them.
My guess is that this was a result of consistently better and cheaper clock and jitter elimination circuits. To my ears, this finally proves taht 44.1/16 is a very good format, but that DAC's were lacking.
High resolution files and upsampling sound only slightly better than they would have a decade ago. The DAC's which do not do internal upsampling still do a smidge better, but we can attribute that all to the better high frequency performance, which is measurable.
R2R and zero upsampling DAC's are fun, but probably no more than colorful in their own ways. Enjoy them if you like them.