What about all those Chinese DACs?


It seems like everywhere I look, there are DACs from China that have these amazing specs on paper. SNR: >133 dB; THD: 0.000004%;

Dynamic Range: 124dB. If you really think about it, these were specs that almost didn't exist outside of pro-audio gear. A lot of these units have chips from ESS, Cirrus Logic, Texas Instruments and very sophisticated conversion circuitry.

So, my question is, what do you all think?

usatran

@mahgister 

You cannot correct stupidity and blinders with sarcasm, or underlining his one sideness...

That, my friend, is an attack on my opinion. It is also an affront to the first amendment of the US. You live in Canada, so maybe you are expressing your freedom to ridicule another's opinion? Cute.

The low cost product of BYD should be apparent (maybe not in your neck of the woods) in your society within a few months. That low-cost product will change your culture. 

@willywonka 

Dynamic Range: 124dB. If you really think about it, these were specs that almost didn't exist outside of pro-audio gear.

I used to think specifications are what mattered the most but changed my mind over the years with my own observations. While some specifications matter they don't tell the whole story!

The amazing specs you are here to talk about are imperceptible to human ears.

You are right, they don't tell the whole story!

If a Chinese DAC specifies an inaudible sound, does it exist?

I stop listening when I can't hear it. 

 

I never made the quote above about the 124dB dynamic range! Don't attribute it to me!

@goodlistening64 - Unless Mahgister is acting on behalf of the US government, the first amendment has nothing to do with any of this; it just says what the government supposedly can or can't do if it chooses to pay any attention to the law.

@goodlistening64 +1.I generally think that personal insults say much more about the attacker than the target, but its the internet and I'm sure I've been guilty of typing faster than I think. When there is an easy choice, I avoid Chinese gear and Russian gear as well. I do that for my own reasons and its none of my business what others do, certainly not for me to judge. Some things are a little more complicated than labelling it with "stupid." which in the realm of speech, is little more than a grunt.

With that said I don't have a lot of experience with most Chinese gear, but have spent some time with the FiiO headphone stuff. Seems to be well built, attractive, and functional. Not the best I've heard, but certainly a reasonable cost/benefit proposition. I'm sure Chinese gear will continue to improve, if that's your cup of tea.