Difference Between DAC Types

A friend of mine, who has some age-related hearing loss that affects his ability to hear high frequencies, prefers a Sabre DAC because it's a little tipped-up in the highs. 

I still have good hearing (knock on wood) and I prefer my PS Audio DirectStream DAC because it sounds laid back and analog to me.


 

I don't think you can generalize by type, there's a lot more to the DAC than just the chip used and different people hear things differently and have different tastes.  At the end of the day the only way you're going to know if one is better for you than another is to listen.

@jaybe 
It's not so much about the chip. But it is all about the implementation. 

@elizabeth 
Agree with much you say. 

In the end, by the DAC you like the sound of BEST, regardless of chip.

I agree with everything above, especially that making generalizations can be very misleading and are mainly for those who find it easier or more comforting to compatmentalize things rather than having to make the effort to think about and assess each component on its own merits.

HOWEVER, and please don’t flame me too hard on this -- I’m just trying to help the OP out with some observations that might be helpful -- I do have a thought that might bring some perspective. So, my analogy between delta-sigma and R2R (and especially R2R NOS DACs), strikes some similar chords with me as comparing solid state and tubed electronics.

Distilling down lots of reading both of audio reviews on sound and scientific observations, delta-sigma DACs tend to measure better overall and sound more detailed and maybe sound quicker. R2R/NOS DACs, on the other hand, don’t measure as well overall but tend to sound more "analog" with richer tonal colors and nuance but can sound less detailed or sparkly in the treble region. Sound a little like the tubes vs. solid state debate? Sure does to me. And, just like in that debate, both can be excellent in their own right and there is no right or wrong -- just personal preference.

Anyway, you have an excellent, and interesting, combination of components in your system, and my guess is you have an idea of what you’d like to achieve from a system perspective with a new DAC. Hope this gross generalization helps at least give you some direction in some small way as to which way you might want to look. Best of luck.

The best dac is nos dac ! So natural and analog specially with tube nos and you can do tube rolling with them