[santiclaws]

Not any specific ones. I'm just wondering what makes the DAC on a $2,000 CD player better than the DAC on a $200 CD player or a $50 computer sound card? Is it the actual chip?

 

[Towert7]

Quote:

Originally Posted by santiclaws /img/forum/go_quote.gif Not any specific ones. I'm just wondering what makes the DAC on a $2,000 CD player better than the DAC on a $200 CD player or a $50 computer sound card? Is it the actual chip?

What makes a DAC on a 2000$ cd player better than that on a 20$ CD player? You would *hope* the more expensive CD player's DAC reproduces the music in a more pleasing nature.

Bottom line, it comes down to sound.

 

[Gradofan2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Towert7 /img/forum/go_quote.gif What makes a DAC on a 2000$ cd player better than that on a 20$ CD player? You would *hope* the more expensive CD player's DAC reproduces the music in a more pleasing nature. Bottom line, it comes down to sound.

It most definitely "comes down to sound"... and... the sound you like compared to the sound produced by various components.

"All other things equal," those DACs that can produce sound (from digital samples of the complete sound wave, which is digital sound), which sound closest to the actual complete sound wave (which is analog sound)... sound better. They sound richer, warmer, more weighty and organic - more musical, more like the live analog sound wave, rather than just a sample of it. Of course, since the analog sound wave is the complete sound wave it is the reference point to which all digital sound is compared (i.e. how close does it come to the analog sound wave).

Of course all the components (not only the mics, mixers, recorders, transports, DACs, amps, phones, etc., but also the combinations of components that comprise those components - such as the ICs, transistors, caps, diodes, resistors, tubes, etc., etc.) that are in the electronic chain influence the sound quality - from the live performer to your your audio nerves and brain.

Every one of those components impart a different character to the sound - in essence they add distortion, more or less. Determining what type of distortion you like best... determines what type of sound you like... and what combination of components you like best. Some types / brands of components cost more than others... and often the more costly components produce the sound quality persons like best.

Thus, more costly components often sound better than less costly components - up to the point of "diminishing returns." That is... there is very little improvement in the sound quality after you reach a certain price point for a selected type or class of audio component (e.g. SS CDPs, or SS DACs, or SS Amps, or Tube CDPs, Tube DACs, or Tube OTL amps, or Tube TC Amps, etc.) For me... and perhaps most... that price point is typically somewhere between about $400 and about $1,000+.

Unless you're "one a them there audiophiles with OCD" who is compelled to justify their huge investment in all sorts of "high-end" audio equipment... you may find it very hard to decern the improvement in sound from equipment above that price point... or at least to justify spending the money for those small improvements in sound quality.

And of course... products made in the Far East... at lower labor rates... and which are not carrying the major brand names, which command ridiculous price premiums (e.g. Krell, etc.) often sound equivalent to the "high-priced spread." Which explains why the $1,000 Monarchy M24 Tube DAC is considered by the reviewers to sound virtually as good as the $17,000 Remiyo. And... there are many more examples of "value priced" components sounding virtually as good as the "high-priced audiophile components."

So... unless you're "one a them there audiophiles with OCD," (with an unlimited budget) you're challenge is first, to identify the sound you like (digital sound, or analog sound, SS sound, or tube OTL sound, tube TC sound, or whatever), and second, to seek out those "value priced" components that can produce your preferred sound.

But... then you likely knew that already.

 

[krmathis]

Component quality (chips, transistors, capacitors, resistors, tubes, diodes, pcb, lead, connectors, etc.).
Which I expect to be of higher quality on a higher priced product, leading to a step up in sound quality.