2. misc-audio
  3. 173737-20253

I'm not all in on digital systems because I'm not all in on DACs

We were lucky to have the makers of the @Arion1 speaker line join us in another conversation.  One of the points the rep made was he didn't understand what the problem was with digital among audiophiles. 

I am in many ways a digital music guy.  I have no vinyl and use Roon for all of my playback but this all stops when it leaves my Mytek DAC.  I've taken a great deal of care in selecting my integrated amplifier, and my speakers and how they are configured.  I rely heavily on OmniMic and Roon's DSP before the DAC... so why won't I just let go and go 100% digital?  Why don't I use digital crossovers after my preamp and convert my system to fully active?

The answer is in a series of experiences I've had with digital playback.  DAC's can sound wildly different.  I'm staring at two right now.  A Topping DX3 and a Mytek Brooklyn.  One sounds thin and lacking energy and bass while the other sound really good.

The same thing happened to me when I was trying to upgrade from my Theta Casanova.  I was looking for a processor that was HDMI friendly and inexpensive.  I went through a number of them which had the same problem:  Thin and gutless until I got an Oppo BluRay player which sounded better than all of them.  Sadly the Oppo DAC/headphone amp was a horrible ear drill to my ears.

So I'm not against digital signal processing or DACs, but within my budget I'm not willing to give up control over the sound of my DAC to a new crossover in the chain without listening.

What are your thoughts?

erik_squires

Showing 3 responses by djones51

djones51
4,947 posts
 

My system, which consists of a Roon Core and active speakers is all digital until conversion and sent to amps then drivers which are controlled DSP active.  This all happens within the speaker as well as volume control. Of course I’m not obsessed with DACs or amps just give me nice measuring components and they all will sound the same after speaker and the room are factored in. Not to say you can get DACs and amps, preamps that add distortion and coloration but I dont bother with such lousy measuring gear.

djones51
4,947 posts
 

Yes, measuring DACs is quality assurance and as long as a DACs THD+N is beyond human audibility I’m satisfied, the engineering was competent. In my particular system any DAC before the speakers is superflous, every input goes through ADC then DAC. I’ve heard a lot of DACs as well and I make no claims as to which sounds better by memory or sighted listening. The only way to tell if they can be reliably differentiated is level matched blind testing. Not to mention the speakers distortion is exponentially greater than a competently designed DAC so I have no idea how I would "hear"a DAC unless it was really a mess. 

djones51
4,947 posts
 

. I like being an active participant. Let’s say I were to evaluate an all in one package, that went from streamer to speaker. I feel like I give up so much engagement in my hobby.

That's what makes it interesting,  the different perspectives. I became interested in how minimal can I go but still have excellent sound. My latest sold component was the Lumin U1 mini, now it's all ethernet based the roon core connects to the router as well as the speakers.  Everything is done in the speaker. 

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