Why Are Most Popular DACS in Head-Fi the Couple Few, but In 2 Channel Much Wider Range of "Popular Options"

[iFi audio]

Chip DACS = Less Colored
FPGA DACS = Colored
R2R = Colored

^are the above general true statements? If not please correct me!

This is probably accurate to some extent, but I doubt that dCS (R2R DACs) users find their DACs any colored. On the other hand, we hear a lot that i.e. our Pro iDSD (a hybrid DAC based on a chip D/A converter) plays it on the warm colorful side

 

[eskamobob1]

This is probably accurate to some extent, but I doubt that dCS (R2R DACs) users find their DACs any colored. On the other hand we hear a lot that i.e. our Pro iDSD (a hybrid DAC based on a chip D/A converter) plays it on the warm juicy side

Not sure the ring dac is considered r2r Fwiw. It does use a resistor network but doesn't realy work the same way as a ladder AFAIK.

And yah, burr brown and akm based dacs have coloration all over the place. I've yet to hear an ess dac that strays too far from a clean/bright signature but I think that's the only one I can put a rule of thumb on. I've hear hyper clean ladders and thick gooey fpga. Ultimately I think it's just down to designer goals

 

[ThanatosVI]

Not sure the ring dac is considered r2r Fwiw. It does use a resistor network but doesn't realy work the same way as a ladder AFAIK.

And yah, burr brown and akm based dacs have coloration all over the place. I've yet to hear an ess dac that strays too far from a clean/bright signature but I think that's the only one I can put a rule of thumb on. I've hear hyper clean ladders and thick gooey fpga. Ultimately I think it's just down to designer goals

On top Oversampling filters can make a huge difference.
It's all about the Implementation

 

[iFi audio]

I've hear hyper clean ladders and thick gooey fpga. Ultimately I think it's just down to designer goals

Exactly. A skilled engineer wouldn't have issues with making a Burr-Brown DAC that sounds primarily clean, open and airy rather than thick and warm. Designer goals matter indeed

It's all about the Implementation

It sure is

Not sure the ring dac is considered r2r Fwiw. It does use a resistor network but doesn't realy work the same way as a ladder AFAIK.

You're right, Ring DAC isn't a typical resistor network, but it fits that family.

 

[chesebert]

PSA: basic dac architecture type has very little to do with the actual final sound once you have moved beyond chi-fi and cheaply made/engineered dacs.

 

[F208Frank]

In general would one say DAC plays bigger role in final sound or amp?

I go back and forth on this often, they obv both matter a lot but if gun to head, Id prob choose amp. Otherwise I am sort of near 50 50 on this.

 

[chesebert]

In general would one say DAC plays bigger role in final sound or amp?

I go back and forth on this often, they obv both matter a lot but if gun to head, Id prob choose amp. Otherwise I am sort of near 50 50 on this.

DAC (I am grouping streamer/transport along with DAC) for sure, assuming you are not driving using an inadequate amp. This has been my experience and why I put most of my budget into dacs.

 

[eskamobob1]

In general would one say DAC plays bigger role in final sound or amp?

I go back and forth on this often, they obv both matter a lot but if gun to head, Id prob choose amp. Otherwise I am sort of near 50 50 on this.

In the lower end, amp dominated, but in the top end I definately think dac matters more. I think that may be because there seem to be more options that work fantastic but in different ways as opposed to amps (for HPs) in the very upper echelon though

 

[F208Frank]

In the lower end, amp dominated, but in the top end I definately think dac matters more. I think that may be because there seem to be more options that work fantastic but in different ways as opposed to amps (for HPs) in the very upper echelon though

So with that logic would you say digital cables such as streamer to dac matter more than cables going from dac to amp?

 

[eskamobob1]

So with that logic would you say digital cables such as streamer to dac matter more than cables going from dac to amp?

I'm not sure those can be equated at all. Just tbh, I have some alright cables cause I feel like I should but I've never realy played with them outside of HP cable

That said, what I tend to see is HP/speaker, then digital, then interconnect, but again, I'm just parroting stuff here.

 

[chesebert]

I feel like with the right gear, most well constructed cables that are the right gauge all sound pretty good. Different cables will all sound different, but I am not sure if one is necessarily better than the other, especially when you are mixing and matching components and cables. Let's put it this way, my system sounds better on a rainy day with medium humidity than on a bone dry cold day At some point you just have to say "it's good enough" and forget about tweaking.

 

[eskamobob1]

I feel like with the right gear, most well constructed cables that are the right gauge all sound pretty good. Different cables will all sound different, but I am not sure if one is necessarily better than the other, especially when you are mixing and matching components and cables. Let's put it this way, my system sounds better on a rainy day with medium humidity than on a bone dry cold day At some point you just have to say "it's good enough" and forget about tweaking.

This is kind of my opinion. I have some alright cables cause I got a steal on a combo of power and digital cables and they cost like 3% the rest of my chain and that seems a readable expense. I have a great HP cable cause I consider the builder a good friend and I'm happy to support him for a small step up.

I just use worlds best interconnects cause I haven't seen the ones I want pop up used in forver.

Ultimately my mood changes the sound more than I've heard cables change it in my own chain, so while I won't be selling off all my cables, I'm not realy in any rush to change stuff up either

 

[chesebert]

I agree. Supporting passionate DIYer and engineers is the best way to make this hobby great. If it weren't for the support of this community, Justin could never have gotten off the ground and Headamp would never have existed. I support ETA headphones now for the same reason. I would like to support Andreas but his MPD8 is so damn expensive (relatively speaking obviously). One day

 

[iFi audio]

PSA: basic dac architecture type has very little to do with the actual final sound once you have moved beyond chi-fi and cheaply made/engineered dacs.

DAC architecture matters just as a power supply, output stage, digital receiving end, chassis, software layer etc. We hear the effect of multiple components, not just one.

 

[kumar402]

may be 2 Ch users have been in this hobby for long time and have established some relationship with dealers who in return let them demo esoteric DACs at home condition however most of the headphones users are driven by Youtube videos etc and end up buying what feels like FoTM or hyped product by some famous youtubers.