Point of diminishing return for a DAC

I think anywhere past $2500 has diminishing returns.
plus, in order to realize the benefits of ”more” in a DAC, you need to keep,spending on other stuff first,

then you’re on the audiofool merry go around.

mtdining48 posts12-26-2019 1:46pmSince I have recent experience from Pi DAC through DCS Vivaldi stack, I might as well chime in. I ended up with an Ayre Codex fed by a Roon Nucleus. I have been quite underwhelmed by the Rendu products - Digital and lifeless, reminiscent of the recent McIntosh preamps.
The Codex was a massive step up in musicality, pace, as well as micro detail and soundstage over every less expensive option. Meaning full up grades cost nearly to over $10k. If I were to upgrade, I have to say the DCS Bartok is the most affordable DAC through which vocalists sound human.
As a side note, the R2R people and to a lesser extent the Chord people make me laugh. 1) are you really going to find two resisters that match?

2) a billion taps does not make your DAC sound as good as anything from DCS.

OK...this is just downright absurd.
To the OP...this is the kind of thing that your post of "diminishing returns" should warn against...;p-)

First, what this dude fails to mention is that the DCS Bartok lists for $15,000 before you are victimized by a $1,000 power cord and a pair of $1,500 interconnects so you "can extract the best from it".

In fact, this post defines the absurdity of "diminishing returns.

Second, make your system "balanced".
Meaning, invest in proportionate amounts between "source" (DAC/streamer), amp, speakers and cables.

A $2500 DAC mates well with adjacent components in the relatively same price zip code. This is nt a fixed rule, but a decent one.

This same gut who thinks a DCS is the only DAC to make vocals sound human also might mandate $15,000 speakers so that the DCS has the chance to shine on good speakers.

Me..?..like I have said three times recently: I'm happy at the 92% level of audiofoolery and beloieve that each 1% on the way to the unattainable can cost $2,000 - 5,000 and if you have the money and value that...then GO FOR IT.

I just believe that there is a threshold at around the $2500 price point. This includes:

1. Mytek Brooklyn +
2. Chord Hugo 2
3. benchmark DAC3
4.Schiit Yiggy
5. Sure, it can include your entry, too...;-)

After that, you need to spend more on all your other stuff commensurately to have a balanced system that can reveal the quality of a $5k+ DAC.

IF that is important to YOU, then go for it!!!

if you have other priorities for your hard earned money, then step off the gerbil wheel and  turn up the volume!! 

12-27-2019 8:51pm

I went from a bifrost to a chord hugo. Law of diminishing returns didn't apply there. HUGE difference. -Elevik

+1 - I upgraded to Chord M Scaler and Chord Hugo TT 2 this summer and quite happy.  

Wow..again, this kind of thing DEFINES diminishing returns for the OP.
LOVE the Chord rig, but it must be pointed out that the combo lists for about $10,000...maybe more.

This is 1% sh*t right here...as in pair it with a $5K streamer, $10K+ amp/pre and $15K speakers and you do have rocking rig for $30K.

But, at what price point do the increment quality gains begin to have "diminishing returns".

I believe that it is in the $10-$15K TOTAL system price range.(Assuming you dont have a "night club sized room"...-)
A proportionately priced DAC within the context of a budget like that may be around $2,500.

12-31-2019 9:06amIn my experience, albeit somewhat limited, I believe the 80/20 rule applies; you get roughly 80% of the sound quality with 20% of the cost. Its the remaining 20% sound quality where you spend most of the cost, and time. The proverbial rabbit hole....

80-100% agree with this...;-)

80/20 or 90/10...whatever you believe but we think hat diminishing returns are real. Music lovers seem to be happy at 80-92% while audiophiles and "gear lovers" pursue that last 8% with passion...and real dollars.

12-31-2019 12:41pm"Percentages require a fixed point for a calculation. None of you, and none of us, have that reference point."

Maybe yes, maybe no. Like you say, nobody knows....maybe.

Then again, my take is that those who kinda know where that point may lie are super happy with their $1,00-$2,000 DACs while those who dont  are are already $8,000 deep into a DAC and wondering why they detect a touch of timbral harshness in the upper highs at the 75hz crossover point...

Maybe if you spend $1,500 more on a better power cord,  you will be happy...;-)

I'm just kidding, of course, but you get my point.
Cheers.