All DACs sound the same...

[nima]

So... as we all know all DACs sound the same... but some must sound more the same as the others.

So what's the cheapest DAC that sounds the same as let's say Rega DAC? And at the same time doesn't sound the same as the DAC in my Fiio X3 (which IIRC uses the same DAC chip)?

It would have to have optical and coaxial SPDIF input. USB not necessary.

P.S. Is there a DAC that sounds the same as Chord Hugo? Which one and how much?

... Naim DAC V1 ... same question - is there a chinese mini box out there that sounds the same for pocket money. Please...

 

[Gazzip]

Put an Audio Research DAC8 up against a Chord Electronics QBD76 and I can guarantee that you would not consider any longer that all DACs sound the same. Chalk and cheese. Completely different sound.

 

[nima]

I'm on a budget here, so I'm seriously asking which DACs sound the same as the ones I or Gazzip mentioned. - But at the same time sound significantly better than Fiio X3.

It will be used with those cables that sound the same and a competent amplifier that is operating within its limits and must also sounds the same into a pair of BBC-inspired speakers.

 

[Vladimir]

Can you swing for the £65 SMSL Sanskrit?

 

[nima]

Can you swing for the £65 SMSL Sanskrit?

If it sounds the same, absolutely? As long as it will be significantly better than Fiio X3.

 

[Anderson]

Most DACs sound the same, there can be differences, some use different filters, some allow user selection of multiple filters. The D to A conversion as you say is usually done by 1 or 2 chip fabricators (I'm sure you know the names) as a result, before being filtered or amplified they probably do sound the same.

None of what I've typed has probably helped.

 

[MickyBlue]

if as you say they all sound the same why ask the question?

just buy the cheapest old bit of tat you can get your hands on, its bound to sound the same as a thousand pound plus dac *dash1*

 

[SteveR750]

They don't all sound the same, just that the differences are small / ££ ratio.

That said a QBD76 is in another dimension.

 

[Vladimir]

Can you swing for the £65 SMSL Sanskrit?

If it sounds the same, absolutely? As long as it will be significantly better than Fiio X3.

I have no way of knowing but for £65 I wouldn't loose much sleep even if they don't. If you buy it and like it, you can upgrade the PSU to a linear regulated one for just £40.

 

[Gazzip]

They don't all sound the same, just that the differences are small / ££ ratio.

That said a QBD76 is in another dimension.

It is in another dimension but it is also an acquired taste. I found it to be an all out assault on the ears leaving no stone unturned. Accurate? Maybe. Revealing? Definitely. Musical? Possibly but I did not think so. It just throws absolutely everything that is there at you which was a bit much for me.

 

[iQ Speakers]

As usual when talking about DAC's we forget that the implementation of the A in DAC analog is the difficult expensive side.

 

[Anderson]

Chips are cheap as....... The D / A conversion is the cheapest part of the process, it's everything that comes after that adds up if the manufacturer is so inclined.

 

[SteveR750]

As usual when talking about DAC's we forget that the implementation of the A in DAC analog is the difficult expensive side.

Absolutely.

I heard the QBD cvonnected to a Roksan K2 driving some MA Golds. It was stright after we had got to a Cyrus pre / mono bloc power plus separate PSU for each box (circa £7.5k IIRC). The Chord + K2 sounded better to me, on that day in that room / those speaksers etc. I ended up buying the Caspian that afternoon.

Back to the OP, I'm listeining to spotify web player on a laptop in a hotel room this evening. I have 3 DACc to choose from: the one in my laptop (a Vaio Pro13, A realtek probably), a Beyerdynamic A200p and the cheap as chipsets dacmagic XS. Listenig with a pair of Klipsch x11i it's obvious between the PC and theother two, and there is still an easily distinguishable difference between the other two. My personal preference is for the XS, it's extrememly good sounding, and better still for being so relatively cheap.

 

[Anderson]

@steve do you think the difference you're hearing is due to the output stage from the laptop rather than the laptops DAC being of poor quality?

 

[steve_1979]

DAC's can sound different. Here's why:

Some DAC's give off more RF interference than others and some amplifiers are more immune to this RF interference than others which is why differences can sometimes be heard. Some DAC's are badly designed or are deliberately made to sound different with the use of filters.

So... A more accurate way of putting it is that all compentently designed DAC's that are audiably transparent (even the very cheap ones) will sound the same. An amplifiers immunity to RF interference is also a factor when partnered a badly designed DAC that gives of an excessive amount of RF interference.

 

[iQ Speakers]

Listenig with a pair of Klipsch x11i

Did you have the x10i before? I have the x10i which are falling to bits are they any good?

 

[nima]

DAC's can sound different. Here's why:

Some DAC's give off more RF interference than others and some amplifiers are more immune to this RF interference than others which is why differences can sometimes be heard. Some DAC's are badly designed or are deliberately made to sound different with the use of filters.

So... A more accurate way of putting it is that all compentently designed DAC's that are audiably transparent (even the very cheap ones) will sound the same. An amplifiers immunity to RF interference is also a factor when partnered a badly designed DAC that gives of an excessive amount of RF interference.

So, which is the cheapest compentently designed DAC that is audiably transparent and will therefore sound the same.

No theory, no BS, straight answer, please.

 

[nima]

And must have optical and coaxial SPDIF input. USB not necessary.

 

[SteveR750]

Listenig with a pair of Klipsch x11i

Did you have the x10i before? I have the x10i which are falling to bits are they any good?

No, These are the first Klipsch product I have owned. Much better than the Sennheiser IE80 they replaced.

 

[SteveR750]

@steve do you think the difference you're hearing is due to the output stage from the laptop rather than the laptops DAC being of poor quality?

More than likely, yes. I was using these examples as DAC amps.

That said, I searched for ages for an upgrade to my dacmagic plus. It was only once I'd got to a chord qute that I could hear a real improvement. That was using the same PC/J River and Caspian M2

 

[Vladimir]

Add the Emotiva XDA-2 to the list.

 

[Anderson]

Add the Emotiva XDA-2 to the list.

Do they sell Emotiva gear this side of the pond?

 

[steve_1979]

DAC's can sound different. Here's why:

Some DAC's give off more RF interference than others and some amplifiers are more immune to this RF interference than others which is why differences can sometimes be heard. Some DAC's are badly designed or are deliberately made to sound different with the use of filters.

So... A more accurate way of putting it is that all compentently designed DAC's that are audiably transparent (even the very cheap ones) will sound the same. An amplifiers immunity to RF interference is also a factor when partnered a badly designed DAC that gives of an excessive amount of RF interference.

So, which is the cheapest compentently designed DAC that is audiably transparent and will therefore sound the same.

No theory, no BS, straight answer, please.

The Cambridge Audio DACmagic is an audiably transparent DAC which is as good as a Benchmark DAC so maybe this one.

http://kenrockwell.com/audio/cambridge/dacmagic-plus.htm

 

[steve_1979]

So, which is the cheapest compentently designed DAC that is audiably transparent and will therefore sound the same.

No theory, no BS, straight answer, please.

The Cambridge Audio DACmagic is an audiably transparent DAC which is as good as a Benchmark DAC so maybe this one.

http://kenrockwell.com/audio/cambridge/dacmagic-plus.htm

Or maybe the O2 DAC.

http://nwavguy.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/o2-headphone-amp.html

 

[nima]

Add the Emotiva XDA-2 to the list.

Where can one get one and for how much? Is it in the all DACs sound the same price range?