@sns - thanks for your kind and detailed replies - best if I take this off the thread, I’ll make response in your system page if you don’t mind : )
In friendship - kevin
The law of diminshing returns?
Came across this article today, just wanted to share it for your perspectives. https://hometheaterhifi.com/blogs/expensive-dacs-what-exactly-are-you-getting-for-the-money/
@sns - thanks for your kind and detailed replies - best if I take this off the thread, I’ll make response in your system page if you don’t mind : ) In friendship - kevin |
I have since my last post, updated my system with the matching pre-amp, Westminster Labs Quest 2. It is superior to the Poseidon in stock tube form. I then realized that the Poseidon is highly analytical in my now very highly resolving system and I required a more analog/more body digital source. I purchased the Rockna WaveDream Reference Signature to replace it as it is also reportedly a terrific server and I don't require the Poseidon's pre-amplifier any longer. |
My most recent DAC comparisons were somewhat eye-opening for me, because of how my comparison process highlighted not only the differences between the DACs, but the similarities. Connecting multiple DACs in a manner that allowed me to basically toggle between them on-the-fly, showed me that the actual differences between the DACs were less than I had previously perceived when I would need to move various cables, re-cue music, and futz around before making comparisons between components. These were all good sounding DACs but my observations made me wonder about the accuracy of the review comments and comparative assessments we read about in cases where the components were listened to days or weeks apart and when, at a minimum, the comparison required moving and re-connecting the components in the reviewer’s system. I suspect our aural memory is fleeting and our predisposed biases and other outside influences may be greater than we would care to admit.
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Interested for someone to point out specific differences they have heard with specific tracks say in Qobuz with different DACs only so I can attempt to replicate. What specifically do you hear on a specific track with your high end DAC not heard otherwise? Be specific please. Any specific cases of better results delivering massed strings in a high quality recording, for example? More natural sounding cymbals? Individuals in a chorus heard better? Demonstrably deeper or wider sound stage? Things like that come to mind. For reference I am currently using a Cambridge mxn10 with excellent results. Thanks. |