I would not worry much about the DAC as the technology is not as rapidly evolving as some say. Also many DAC builders are seeking out NOS Chips for higher end DAC's .
From Google AI.
In audio, the core performance of Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) chips has advanced significantly and quickly over the last decade, with even budget options now providing high technical performance that is audibly transparent
. The faster evolution is seen more in connectivity and feature integration rather than a revolutionary change in basic sound quality among competent modern DACs.
Key Areas of Evolution
- Connectivity: Modern DACs have rapidly evolved to include diverse input options like USB, optical, and coaxial for versatility, and support for wireless technologies like Bluetooth for seamless integration with mobile devices.
- Feature Integration: Many current DACs integrate additional functionalities, such as built-in headphone amplifiers, preamplifier capabilities, and support for high-resolution audio formats like MQA (Master Quality Authenticated).
- Performance Improvements: While older, built-in DACs in general consumer electronics (like older CD players or basic computer sound cards) may not perform as well as newer models, modern external DACs have largely reached a point where noise and distortion are below the level of human hearing.
- Chip Availability: The industry has seen shifts in the market, with various high-end audio products using chips from different manufacturers like ESS, TI, and Cirrus Logic to ensure supply and provide different sound tunings.
- Price/Performance Ratio: You can now get excellent performance for a relatively reasonable price compared to high-end gear from previous decades, making high-quality audio more accessible.
Different Perspectives
- Audiophile Community: Opinions vary among audiophiles. Some argue that the analog output stage and power supply have a much greater impact on sound quality than the specific DAC chip itself, and that high-end DACs can offer a "black background" and better soundstage that basic DACs can't match. They might chase these subtle differences as technology advances.
- Objective Measurement Community: Others contend that once a certain level of performance is reached (which most modern, competent DACs achieve), further improvements in specifications like higher sampling rates or bit depths don't make an audible difference to the human ear. They view transparent conversion as a "solved problem".
In summary, while the fundamental goal of a DAC remains the same, the technology is rapidly evolving in terms of integration, features, and the achievement of transparent performance even at lower price points. The necessity of the DAC component to convert digital to analog will remain, making it a critical, though perhaps less rapidly sonically evolving, part of the audio chain.