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What DAC upgrade made you say “DAMN, that sounds SO MUCH better than my last DAC”?

As the title suggests, what was your overall system and DAC at the point where you bought only a new DAC and said “DAMN, that sounds SO MUCH better than my last DAC”?

I’m a novice and so many people talk about improvements from new equipment as if they were only listening to varying degrees of static until they bought more and more new equipment which added up to them finally being presented with music. It’s like Salome and the seven veils. But when does the last veil get peeled away? 

So what system did you have and what DAC did you swap in that made you say “DAMN!!!!”?

I guess I’m looking for night and day differences, not gradual progressions……


pip_helix
recluse
268 posts
 
Ive heard 2 versions of the AKM based DACs, RME and Topping, and neither sound better than the Oppo 205 ESS Sabre. Implementation may play a roll.

What I like about RME though is the functionality, especially right/left balance! Equalizer and loudness etc.

Are there and other similar DACs that have RL balance?
jjss49's avatar
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jjss49
6,609 posts
 
Apologies if this was already mentioned, but it’s important to consider DAC type. Depending on implementation, there can be "night and day" differences between a tube-based DAC, a delta-sigma style DAC, an R2R NOS DAC, etc.

dac architecture matters, but no more than other implementation items, most specifically power management, form and quality of output stage, dsp (if any), jitter management/reclocking

schiit makes r2r units that can sound too tizzy and shrill, ej at w4s can take an ess sabre application in his dacs and make them uber smooth and warm... the converse of the conventional wisdom...

so dac ’type’, meaning its architecture is NOT a reliable descriptor of the sound of a given dac
jetter
2,952 posts
 
I didn't realize that any of the Schitt DACs sound tizzy or shrill.  But I have never heard one.
sutts
697 posts
 
Just acquired the 'old school' Zanden Reference 4-box setup (model 2000 transport; 5000 Sig. tube dac- $44k combo when launched).  Best solution after 25+ years digital only, but as a 'dac only' limited in resolution to the newer stuff- but oh so relaxing and plain musical for the redbook cd fans out there...
sutts
697 posts
 
As a 'dac only' in my second system, the Jeff Rowland Aeris with supercap PSU has upped the ante vs all my previous solutions- will add that it sounds amazing driving amps direct...
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