Hypothetical question about 2 source

Quote:

Originally Posted by absoluNewbie 

help a newbie, If 2 hypothetical sources contain true LOs, SQ wise, is there any difference?

SQ primarily depends on the DAC and the amplifier. By using true LO and external amplifier, you're eliminating a source's amplifier influence, but SQ still depends on the source's DAC.

Quote:

Originally Posted by absoluNewbie 

DAP=DAC??

That was a typo 

Quote:

Originally Posted by absoluNewbie 

i was baffled there for a sec.

really? so there only difference between two source with true LO is the DAC?

 

so can conclude great DAC+ LO=great player?

 

this seems a little simple?? for the amount they're chargin!?

DAC is a relatively loose concept. In my opinion, everything after digital, but before LO is also DAC.

After a DAC chip there could be some wires to LO (because there usually is some physical distance between DAC and LO), and these wires could be great or bad, and there could be some interference on these wires etc... but this as well applies to the cable you're using to connect LO to the amp.

Basically - yes, it all depends on DAC. And different DAC chips = different prices, and some popular manufactures are using the worst DAC chips, some are using just bad DAC chips, some are using acceptable DAC chips, but maybe only head-direct, amp3 and others are using good DAC chips.

There are a lot of minor things that can theoretically affect the LO. DAC as mentioned (including the buffer opamp if applicable), the output caps (or any passive components between the DAC and the LO connector), the codec in the DAC or the processor, the firmware, as well as the overall hardware design.

Line-out only means the signal is in line-level = the maximum output with minimum possible distortion. It is not an indication of how good the signal is compared to another source, but merely an indication of the best possible output a particular system can have.