The DAC scam

[twinkletoes]

Vinyls are nice. 😉

 

[Witterings]

Can You Really Hear the Difference Between DACs? (Explained)

There is a school of thought that all DACs have a unique sound signature that sets them apart from each other. What this means is, the sound produced by every DAC is different. This belief is mostly fueled by audiophiles, most of whom claim that it is possible to tell the difference between DACs...

geekmusician.com

Interesting comment just before the table of contents

To hear this difference, the same amp and headphones must be used with the DACs, with no EQ applied. Unfortunately, most people are not able to make out this difference.

Maybe this is why some people are adamant they can hear a difference and some are adamant they can't.

 

[Jasonovich]

Interesting comment just before the table of contents

To hear this difference, the same amp and headphones must be used with the DACs, with no EQ applied. Unfortunately, most people are not able to make out this difference.

Maybe this is why some people are adamant they can hear a difference and some are adamant they can't.

I suppose if you compare DACs similarly priced there's possibly small tonal differences but when matching off against a more costlier DAC, the differences can be night and day.

In fairness to put it into perspective, it's a small difference compared to the differences amps and speakers make to the system but it's all part of the chain, a little tweak there and a little tweak there all helps towards achieving a balanced system, which compliments your own personal (mental) disposition in terms of how you would like your hifi to sound.

It's never about the perfect measurement and even if you had that, other components of the chain is likely to taint the sound. 🙂

 

[Covenanter]

I'd be willing to bet that in a properly conducted double-blind trial nobody could tell the difference between any properly constructed DACs. 🙂

 

[davidf]

I'd be willing to bet that in a properly conducted double-blind trial nobody could tell the difference between any properly constructed DACs. 🙂

I refer to my previous comment.

 

[SeattleChris]

Thought I'd reiterate my findings from a test comparing the Schiit Bifrost 2 to the Schiit Bifrost 2/64 (newer with different components). Yes, I heard the expected differences and felt it was fairly obvious, but the interesting point is that I couldn't decide which one was better. It seemed the better DAC depended on the recording, so my conculsion was that within a given level of performance there's not too much point in worrying about it. However, I felt both were better than the Modi 3+ which is much cheaper.