Will a digital file sound the same regardless of the source?

[hybridauth_Google_116171451358878895149]

I'd assumed that the same digital file would sound the same through a DAC regardless of the source. However I've being reading some reviewers saying that a particular DAC sounds different depending on the source e.g. better with a hi-res player than with a smartphone. Is this true?

 

[Gray]

If the same DAC receives an IDENTICAL file ('bit - perfect' and with identical timing) then your assumption is correct Jeff.

If they really did hear a difference then their source compromised the file.

 

[muljao]

It also could be that the differnt sources go to different inputs on the DAC. It seems quite common that a usb or optical in may sound differnt than say a co-axial when using a dac for example

 

[Native_bon]

I'd assumed that the same digital file would sound the same through a DAC regardless of the source.  However I've being reading some reviewers saying that a particular DAC sounds different depending on the source e.g. better with a hi-res player than with a smartphone. Is this true?

You will be surprise what smart phones are capable of these day. Paul Miller from hi-fi news, recently reviewed and measured the preformance of the new HTC10 showing excellent performance.

HTC by passes the dac that comes with the processor & uses its very own. Resulting in very high output levels. In the test review the HTC10 was used to drive Oppo's flagship headphones with excellent results.

As per dedicated dacs, I once had an Audio lab M dac. My new Chord 2qute out performs the m dac, especially in the high frequency department.

I currently got the HTC10 driving a pair of master & dynamics MH30's with excellent results.

 

[hybridauth_Google_116171451358878895149]

Ok thanks for that. That answers my question.