It might not be ALL in the chips, but the chips certainly make a difference.
Maybe it IS all in the DAC chips
I’ve often pushed back against the idea of purchasing any piece of audio gear based on the parts contained, especially DAC’s. While the Digital to Analog Converter (DAC) itself is the key component, so much goes into making a good sounding product, like stream buffers/jittter removal, power supplies and analog output stage that I thought this could lead buyers astray.
Still, having done that, and still thinking that I correctly warned others to avoid buying just on DAC brands alone, I have found myself after many years, returning again to vintage Burr Brown based DACs and home theater processors.
Color me changed with experience.
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- 51 posts total
I will say I’ve only ever heard Sabre ESS chips in NAD and BlueOS equipment; not very lively or life-life in those components. On the other hand, the pair of Burr-Brown PCM58P dac chips in my Mojo Mystique Z Q let it (along with the very well designed built output stage) generate beautiful, dynamic, three dimensional and life-like sound (but then again, it is paired with very fine other components). And my little Gato DIA 400S-NPM all-in-one in our bedroom uses the PCM1794 dac chip to great effect. I love that unit so much. |
@kirkwallace that Gato looks amazing! I want one but I have no practical use for it (ATM) |
- 51 posts total