[Bigfish]

I want to thank the experienced Audiophiles on this board for sharing your knowledge and experience with people like me who are embarking on the musical journey.  My impression, after frequently visiting these circles over the past month, is that DACs are commonly used between CD Players or Squeezeboxes and preamps.  I know you are supposed to trust your ears but you have to purchase a DAC first based on expected results.  You guys talk about the differences between speaker cables and interconnects.  I would suspect we are talking sutle differences with cable connections but hope to experience this for myself.  Since many of you have purchased DACs would you clasify please comment on the immediate impact to the sound from your system?  I would also appreciate your comments as to why you initially chose to purchase a DAC?

Thanks,

Ken

[Kim S.]

Hi Ken, I can only speak from limited personal experience.  I have not been exposed to any real highend systems (except my own, which I hope could be considered highend!).  That said I found one of the greatest improvements to my system was adding a dac.  Improvement was across the board, more detail, a fuller sound and more analog, less digital sound.  I have a MSB gold dac and with my cd player as transport have been modded by Empirical audio which I reccommend.  There are plenty of dacs around that are less expensive and probably just as good.

How did I get started with dacs?  It was a progression(like a disease!)  I read some reviews which intrigued me.  I tried a tube buffer, an old Musical Fidelity X-10-D and was impressed.  I went on from there and have never regretted the expense or effort.  Have fun!  Kim

[miklorsmith]

A DAC is just another way to flavor the sound of your system.  If you have a transport you like, it's an easy way to keep the mechanics and interface while changing the sonic outcome.

DACs come in many flavors.  What do you feel the system is lacking that you hope to achieve?  What kinds of music do you listen to and what do you hold dear in audio?  What is the rest of your system?  How much money are you looking to spend?

There are many, many good choices at all price points.  The folks here have a lot of experience and will likely cover you three feet deep in great choices, but the field must be narrowed somewhat.

[avahifi]

CD playback devices can essentially be divided into two parts, much like a computer.  The first part is the disk reader, which reads the digital data on the CD and outputs a digital data stream, much like any storage device reader on a computer.  For what this is worth, the digital data stream is essentially perfect as long as the drive is in good working order and has a full implementation of the error correction circuits.  Green felt markers and belt drive systems not really required. 

The second part is the active circuits that do the digital filtering, analog filtering, digital to analog conversion, and analog output circuits.  Much like the capability of your computer hardware and software.  Results will vary. 

Most cannot even define what the second half of the CD playback device is supposed to do, let alone do it correctly.  There are major differences in the linearity and capability here from design to design.  Many are done with a few 25 cent op-amps, with musical results expected from a Walmart state of the art audio system.  Some are done better.

To suggest the the differences in engineering sophistication and results is simply a "different flavor" to your music is essentially sanctioning the whole mid-fi commercial approach of blinking lights and bells and whistles and 2000 watts of peak music power flavoring to your quest for outstanding audio performance.

There are better ways to do some things, differences in DAC design are not attempts by serious designers to serve your toast with chicken ripple jelly.

Want to know what a DAC needs to do?  Call me at 651-330-9871.  Would take far to long to write it all up here, but if you are actually curious, and not just close minded, let me know and i will do my best to explain it.

Regards,

Frank Van Alstine

[miklorsmith]

Wow, nice semi-veiled criticism Frank.

What I meant is there are different, well-engineered solutions with variable signatures.  Which would be best for a situation depends on a lot of factors.

You're not going to tell me your DACs are the One Best Solution for all, are you?

[avahifi]

Nope. 

Frank