The DAC scam

[ToppingSMSL]

The audiophiles favourite YouTuber (wink wink) is back and today he's making a point I've been pushing on here and other forums for a year or so now.

View: https://youtu.be/7Sg1nYLmLCw?si=6mUFb67eZbkTKC27

 

[Deliriumbassist]

First time I've seen this guy, and whilst I don't disagree with a bunch of it... it's very 'source: trust me bro.' It's a rant, pure and simple.

Also have to chuckle at his 'military spec' thing, because he also doesn't understand what it means. Military spec just means that it's passed muster for use in a military setting. It doesn't necessarily mean it's better than something else. So those chips are still probably going to be audio DAC chips, because there will be situations where a DAC needs to be used in a military setting and needs to be MILSPEC. Durability, place of manufacture... all sorts can be involved with MILSPEC.

 

[ToppingSMSL]

First time I've seen this guy, and whilst I don't disagree with a bunch of it... it's very 'source: trust me bro.' It's a rant, pure and simple.

Also have to chuckle at his 'military spec' thing, because he also doesn't understand what it means. Military spec just means that it's passed muster for use in a military setting. It doesn't necessarily mean it's better than something else. So those chips are still probably going to be audio DAC chips, because there will be situations where a DAC needs to be used in a military setting and needs to be MILSPEC. Durability, place of manufacture... all sorts can be involved with MILSPEC.

I think his source is the multitude of measurement results and scientific hearing research which backs him up. And the fact the audiophiles who claim to hear differences don't tend to do blind listening tests with matches volumes (the volume thing is very important and why it's pointless demoing DACs at a hifi dealer as the output voltages are more than likely not the same).

 

[Deliriumbassist]

And at zero point does he reference any sources. As I said - I'm not disagreeing with a bunch of his stuff, output voltages being different being one of them. It's just a crap video on par with other ranty videos which have been done to death before.

 

[ToppingSMSL]

And at zero point does he reference any sources. As I said - I'm not disagreeing with a bunch of his stuff, output voltages being different being one of them. It's just a crap video on par with other ranty videos which have been done to death before.

I agree he doesn't site sources but it's not as crap a video as any subjective DAC review video. And there's plenty of those out there.

 

[Gray]

A favourite quote from a poster on another forum:
'No DAC under £1000 is worth considering'

Mind you, on the same forum somebody bought a £200 audiophile mains fuse....and said that, after careful evaluation, he couldn't detect an audible difference.
BUT, he went on to (seriously) suggest that he'd have benefitted by buying a more expensive fuse.

There will always be those that equate higher cost with products necessarily being better at the job they do.
(Or are supposed to be doing, in the case of audiophile fuses 🤪).