What about all those Chinese DACs?

I have found that the specs only tell a small part of the story. How does the DAC sound? How does the music it produces make you feel? Does it sound real and alive and true?

FWIW, I find the Audio Mirror Tubadour VI is the most beautiful DAC I have heard to date with spot on timbre, organic and rich. Full spectrum sound with deep articulate bass and complete highs with all the detail, yet never bright or harsh. Live instruments in the room. Best of luck in your search!

They do measure very well and have dramatically improved the entry-level category and, to a lesser extent, the mid-fi and hi-fi categories, if only through pressuring non-Chinese manufacturers to step up their game. I think a decade from now, we'll look back and realize that Chi-Fi as a whole, not just DACs, saved the hobby, but reestablished the upgrade market, which was fading fast.

It's all junk, throw them in the trash and don't waste your money!

12-15 years ago Chinese audio equipment was regulated by poor chip manufacture and extremely poorly designed internal structure. Both mechanically and electrically. Things now are much better because of the manufacturing base knowledge brought by designs outside of mainland China. Eventually they will take over because of the cost performance ratio. Personally however I cannot bring myself to purchase some Chinese equipment, because of the Balls Up I have witnessed. The best source in my opinion is still CD data and so, that's my take on it all. I am sure if I built a DAC it would be better than pretty much anything simply because I do not care for any other than Art.

Ive read quite a few mot recent dac reviews. At under $1000, the Topping D90 Discrete ONE BIT is fabulous HTH