Do some DACs "handle" sibilance better than others?


I recently watched a  Hans B. review of the Ferrum Wandla in which he states that it "handles sibilance well," or something to that effect. Up to that point, I'd never come across such a comment, so I'm wondering whether anyone here has found that certain DACs are more/less prone to sibilance?  

 

 

 

stuartk

So my goto sibilance test is the terrific Cowboy Junkies Trinity Sessions CD.  I know this is considered an audiophile recording, mine is the regular CD,  but despite meticulous technique and "special" mics, sometimes and throughout the album Margo's just too close miked and with enough ssses and ttts it overdrives the mic to "hard sss";  not enough to spoil the performance but noticeable on this chain:  OPPO95, I2s, Pontus II (12th gen FPGA software), Holo Bliss KTE, OG Susvara HPs.   Much more noticeable thru my Vandersteen HT system. 

I don’t believe in sibilance vs non-sibilance DACs, but rather some DACs can tame some sibilance caused by the audio chain+recording

Your DAC is likely to have the least effect on sibilance of any component in your system unless it’s badly engineered. You’re more likely to hear a lot more difference between different speakers and different preamps than between different DACs, so long as the DAC is well-designed and doesn’t introduce a lot of jitter.
 

But in general, R2R DACs are considered to be somewhat darker and more euphonic than Delta Sigma DACs. This is only a generalization and some Delta Sigma DACs won’t sound hyper-detailed, revealing sibilance in the recording. 

Sibilance used to drive me nuts.  The last thing that I figured was the problem was my preamp.  But, that's what it was.  My system is more revealing than it's ever been and sibilance is not an issue.  

@stuartk 

If some DACS handle sibilance better than others it means that those particular DACs are surely enough altering the original sound.
 

If sibilance is there and a certain DAC reduces it, then that DAC would alter the original sound of all the music. I would conclude in this respect that it must be inaccurate, and in doing so is “colouring” the sound, so to speak.
I thought that term was only ever applied as a criticism of analogue turntables and tape players.

Maybe DACs are as coloured as analogue?

l know to my ears digital is more “analytical” than “coloured”, but which is perceived as best is a question of personal taste.