DAC Comparisons using AI

Don't trust AI.   It is just an aggregate of Q and A that gets regurgitated whether it is fact or opinion.   

Do a search on any component , your hits are all pulled from the very forums we all belong to along with Reddit and every other site out there.  

Trust your ears 

@mitch2 - I have absolutely been using ChatGPT for research on audio equipment. I have actually found it very useful when I provide my entire system, with all the details, down to USB and power cables, in the evaluations of potential options. 

And here is the thing, when I ask questions related to how a configuration of different components will sound (I own lots of different amps, dacs, speakers), the descriptions of the likely sound signature are pretty spot on. 

@bluethinker - My experience is the same as yours.  I have found it helpful in confirming thoughts I already have about certain gear.  For example, no matter how highly regarded the EMM Labs DV2i, and no matter how convenient it would be to have the streamer and volume control all in one unit with the DAC, it is simply not going to provide the type of sonic signature I enjoy so, even when one comes up for sale at a good price, I need to pass.  My AI query confirmed this.

It would be great if every time I become interested in a component then I could try it in my own system but, of course, that is not possible.  If using AI as a tool, I can reduce the field of components I seriously consider, then that is helpful to me.  As pointed out by @oddiofyl, AI does pull information from a wide variety of sources including these forums, professional reviews, product marketing BS, and more.  However, by providing enough background facts and information, and asking questions that are specific and concise, I have been getting what seems to be practical, realistic, and helpful responses. 

On another point, the computing power required to perform the inference and generate responses associated with AI must be huge. It is hard to believe AI activities can be accomplished so quickly and at a cost of basically nothing to the end user.  It is not hard to understand why so many new data centers and power plants are planned since what we are doing with AI so far is barely scratching the surface.

For example, no matter how highly regarded the EMM Labs DV2i, and no matter how convenient it would be to have the streamer and volume control all in one unit with the DAC, it is simply not going to provide the type of sonic signature I enjoy so, even when one comes up for sale at a good price, I need to pass.  My AI query confirmed this.
 

@mitch2 why? What have you heard with this DAC that turned you away from it?

I have used Google Gemini numerous time to research audio equipment. I would never make a decision based solely on AI when it comes to a purchase but have to admit its data collection capabilities and ability to help with making comparisons is top notch. I just see it as a new tool in assisting me in my research when wanting to upgrade my system! BTW I'm 65 years old but won't shy away from using new technologies. This has saved me numerous hours of research and exposed me to information I previously never had. As others have said the ultimate solution is a listening session but why not use everything to help you make decisions!