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.

 

[Rui]

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

If it wasn´t like this wouldn´t make any sense in buying one , allthough today when people talk about a dac isn´t the dac itself but a component sold as a dac that evolves a lot more than a simple dac wich isn´t itself that expensive, as a internal one,

that can be assembled in a cd player, i have a late 80´s Pioneer that still works today the only part that desearves improvment it´s his Burr Brown PCM 58 DAC , everything else is built with superior quality compared to new transport or players,

as it´s lenses and laser also reading system is more advanced than what we see now for sale, at the time i was buying my first standart size cd player ,so i made a litle efort to buy a PD-7300 ,

it doesn´t get old or stops working with a very heavy use, the late 90´s Rega cd players look so bad today in comparison, also was released a PD-75 as Pioneer´s top end components known by URUSHI, not ELITE .

As in America it sells not only high-end equipment but a lot of wanted multi-players that are not that good, i remenber a brand ,Audiophile one that people with money would buy,

than trash Pioneer quality but the cd players they were using wasn´t more than a minimum quality pioneer cd player putted in a diferent box , that shows what audiophiles as comunity really are, i myself started to have interest in music players when only 12 years old, i think i´m a muisic enthusiast,

i also remenber that some like me were using their parents old hi-fi system from the 70´s and when cd players ,cheap ones were in the mix some that defend the cd format , was because of their sound in a 70´s receiver or integrated amplifier, that was above any new amplifier or receiver sold in the 80´s, this at afordable prices, today a DAc isn´t a dac only it as equalization given to make it sound smoother, the part that makes all say that it was a great imprvoment at minimum 100€ , DAC component

By the same time Meridian released a very nice working hi-fi system by components with a cd transport separated and dac also common functions both joined side by side would make a standart size cd player that wasn´t above Pioneer, but prices were higher and bought by people with more money as if it was a big improvment to a Pioneer system, who some forget or never heard that was one of the best brands in hi-fi in the 70´s.

that is Audiophiles , as they have money and not interested in music listening but as an old gadjet. As today are smart tv´s , surround system´s also smart-phones ,with high quality sound .

Some here might remenber a science ficton tv series Space 1999 and their comunicating devices , already runned over by today´s technology, or what is available to common people.

Some might disagree with me but we all weren´t born in the same year , some younger man seem to forget that, has i´ve heard some talking but running over 30 years of evolution, sorry if i´m confusing but technical specifications i can´t translate them well to english.

 

[Deliriumbassist]

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.

Long delay in my response, I know. But anyways - I didn't say what he says is crap - but the video itself is. The way he presents his 'arguments' has no footing, the presentation is faux rage and borderline condescending, and he does nothing to back himself up, just like the subjective DAC review videos you mention. He could do so much better and actually educate rather than come across as dogmatic - but that doesn't get views.