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You want a DAC that sounds *different.* What factor helps you find it?

I'm thinking about trying a new DAC, adding one to the stable. 

What's most important is that it sound different than my present DAC.

If you were to look for a new DAC to try, what weight would you assign to each of these factors in predicting a different character of sound? 

1. chipset
2. design of DAC --- R2R etc.
3. power supply
4. tube or no  tube
5. ? (some factor or combination not mentioned)

I've become somewhat skeptical of user reviews because of uncontrollable variability related to tastes, system components, and vagueness of language used by reviewers.

So, without some appreciation of the ability for the above factors to affect the sound character, singling out just one or another factor seems like random guessing.

I'd love to learn from you all. I'd be curious to know, for example, that most R2R DACs sound similar, overall. That would help by directing me away from trying another R2R DAC. Or maybe they don't all sound similar; ok, that keeps them in consideration.

Same question with chipsets, power supply, tube/no tube.

So, again the hypothetical -- simplified:

You want to get a DAC that sounds much different than what you have. What factor helps you find it?

128x128hilde45
audioman58's avatar
audioman58
3,836 posts
 

What is your budget most important ?

jjss49's avatar
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jjss49
6,608 posts
 

@tvad

happy to see you back and posting, sharing info

@hilde45

to answer your question -- what @tvad says!! 😁

i'm not kidding...but bear in mind the price level of dacs listed, to which i would add several others i experienced in a similar fashion - msb, chord stack, weiss

also, i would add that to achieve this ’convergence’ it is paramount to get the network and streaming noise and clock management done to a high level

sgreg1
612 posts
 

If your end goal is to get a DAC with a signature sound you need to focus on the output stage. Weather it is class A or tube output stage you can influence the sound character. I my self want my DAC to be neutral with no sound signature, just want a clear high end delivery of the 1’s and 0’s. I want the tubes in my ore and my speakers to be the influence on the sound.  

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rudyb
141 posts
 

When will it be *different* enough?

I'd say, install the free 'Equalizer APO' on your PC / laptop and use it as your digital source for a while, feeding your current DAC. You can now experiment with changing the sound spectrum with unlimited frequency bands to figure out where your preference lies. How to then find a DAC that shows that same behavior ... I don't know. But no one says you can't keep using Equalizer APO. :)

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