Why do modern DACs over $1,000 sound different?

You should ask this over at AVSForum ;)

Steve nailed it.

I have done experiments with low jitter sources (an Off-Ramp and Audiophellio). They are both below 10ps, which is very very low, so low you need specialist equipment to measure it, and they sound different.

I have done the experiment with the WFS DAC (as well as others). With the WFS the USB sounds dreadful compared to either the Audiophellio or Off-Ramp with the Off-Ramp sounding the best. In fact the Off-Ramp has slightly worse jitter than the Audiophilleo - so why does it sound better? It has a better spectrum.

In my experience the biggest determinant of sound differences is the jitter of the source. The SABER everyone touts as jitter immune simply isn't - simple as that. This does not mean DAC chip output stage etc do not make a difference - they do - but jitter seems to be the main factor.

For example SABER based DAC's are not my favorite but when fed with a low jitter source I can easily live with them - otherwise I couldn't.

Thanks
Bill

Steve nailed it.

I have done experiments with low jitter sources (an Off-Ramp and Audiophellio). They are both below 10ps, which is very very low, so low you need specialist equipment to measure it, and they sound different.

I have done the experiment with the WFS DAC (as well as others). With the WFS the USB sounds dreadful compared to either the Audiophellio or Off-Ramp with the Off-Ramp sounding the best. In fact the Off-Ramp has slightly worse jitter than the Audiophilleo - so why does it sound better? It has a better spectrum.

In my experience the biggest determinant of sound differences is the jitter of the source. The SABER everyone touts as jitter immune simply isn't - simple as that. This does not mean DAC chip output stage etc do not make a difference - they do - but jitter seems to be the main factor.

For example SABER based DAC's are not my favorite but when fed with a low jitter source I can easily live with them - otherwise I couldn't.

Thanks
Bill

A follow up question (or two) about jitter and how to reduce it.

After reading this thread, I have a question. I have a Sony cd changer that I use because of the convenience. It has an optical output. I am thinking about trying a DAC to learn if I can hear an improvement in. Am I right to read Steve's response as suggesting that I'd have to put a device between the changer and the DAC that would reduce the jitter? If so, what's that device? Or would I just be better off buying a cd player when I want to do some critical listening? TIA

Jim

Steve N is right, but I want to share and support him in stating that the use of the W4S I2S input is a much better than the USB or bridge to S/PDIF.

I have enjoyed the W4S very much, but still found it lacking vs high-end vinyl until I put a CIA USB to I2S bridge between the Mac Mini and the W4S.

Holly Moley, 2D to 3D and all of a sudden I am listening to digital files one after the other. I bought the associated CIA power supply for the bridge and this eliminated the USB noise, solidified the 3D illusion (depth not only width), and I think improved the bass and timbre in some instances. I used a Harmonic Technology 1.4 HDMI cable. Also, the USB to the CIA is the W4S USB cable which was better than my previous Kimber USB cable.

Bottomline. I am grateful to Steve Stone for mentioning this I2S bridge approach for the W4S DAC-2 in a recent Absolute Sound. Fantastic.