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Six DAC Comparison

I am in the middle of comparing the sound of six different DACs in my system. I own them all (I know weird) but one of them is still within a trial/return timeframe.

Not to share specific comparisons today, but a couple of observations so far are that first, they all definitely sound different from each other. On one hand, they all sound pretty good and play what is fed to them without significant flaws but on the other hand there are definite sonic differences that make it easy to understand how a person might like the sound of some of them while not liking others.

Second, raises the observation that most of them must be doing something to shape the sound in the manner the designer intended since one of the DACs, a Benchmark DAC3 HGA, was described by John Atkinson of Stereophile as providing "state-of-the-art measured performance." In the review, JA closed the measurements section by writing, "All I can say is "Wow!" I have also owned the Tambaqui (not in my current comparison), which also measured well ("The Mola Mola Tambaqui offers state-of-the-digital-art measured performance." - JA). The Benchmark reminds me sonically of the Tambaqui, both of which are excellent sounding DACs.

My point is that if the Benchmark is providing "state-of-the-art measured performance," then one could reasonably presume that the other five DACs, which sound different from the Benchmark, do not share similar ’state-of-the-art" measurements and are doing something to subtly or not so subtly alter the sound. Whether a person likes what they hear is a different issue.

mitch2
debjit_g
289 posts
 

Every DAC manufacturers claims their implementation is the best and sounds the best. What’s new here ?

Whatever Mojo Audio has stated in that post is right and wrong at the same time. Many folks already know those facts but they are all theory, however in practice they don’t really agree irrespective of what a manufacturer claims.


Talk to Esoteric and they will tell you that their external clock can take their DAC to a different level and this is true - I have heard the stark differences running the external clock with 1M cable.


Talk to PS Audio, and they think their I2S interface sounds better and their are huge number of folks who uses I2S with their DAC simply because it does sound better and I used to own their DAC.

 

Talk to Taiko Audio and they will tell you their proprietary ultra high speed XDMI interface is the best for Audio with ultra low latency.

Talk to MSB and they will tell you their ProISL is the best since it can completely isolate noise from the source.

I have heard many DAC whose AES sounds mediocre at best. Then how come it’s the best interface for audio ? How come USB, which wasn’t even design for audio sounds the best with many DACs ?

and so on…

 

so, who is right ? Does anybody (especially the consumers) think there is a winner ? I doubt….

devinplombier
1,676 posts
 

Posts like @fuzzbutt17 's latest add a lot of value to this forum imo. Thank you for taking the time.

tksteingraber's avatar
tksteingraber
785 posts
 

Posts like @fuzzbutt17 's latest add a lot of value to this forum imo. Thank you for taking the time.

Agreed!  +++

sns
4,218 posts
 

@debjit_g +1 Exactly!  Is there an objective best with  streaming components and chains, streaming is the wild west these days, so many devices and ways to implement these devices. Only with direct comparisons within one's own system could we begin to develop a hierarchy for so many designs, implementation of those designs. And still, that hierarchy may only hold for that individual. I've read plenty of white papers over at Audiophilestyle forum, the rationale and logic makes sense, does it result in higher sound quality? Sometimes yes and sometimes no, and this based on anecdotal evidence from any number of users. And then we make our choices, add our voices, and so it goes.

debjit_g
289 posts
 

@sns you have already experienced the I2S input in your Musetec and how much better it can sound compared to other inputs, given a good source. Its all about the design choices and how much care you take to implement it - some DACs have the common inputs just for the sake of having it to be competitive in the market, some DAC designer simply goes beyond with the implementation.

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