A simpler answer is that the analogue stage of a DAC is voiced by its designer to sound they way they want it to sound. Even if the digital stages of the DAC are "perfect", the sound will be "coloured" (shaped) by the analogue stage, and its choice of op-amps/transistors/valves, caps, resistors etc and general circuit design (feedback etc).
This is the basic reason why Pre-amps, cd players, DACs and power amps sound different. It's the way they were designed and the components involved. The real problem (as I guess we all know really) is that there is no objective benchmark - they should all be a "straight wire with gain", but none of them are exactly that. Therefore, the only way forward (IMHO) is to choose components with which to construct a system that works for YOUR ears and sounds great to YOU. It doesn't matter what it sounds like to anyone else... Unfortunately, this translates into effort and choice which are both stressful. So, we'd like to just buy something that we know (ie are told) is great. Oddly, hi-fi is the only thing I can think of that that works like this - maybe photography is close? I'm sure there are others. -- Phil Leigh You want to see the signal path BEFORE it gets onto a CD/vinyl...it ain't what you'd call minimal...SB3+Stontronics PSU - Altmann JISCO/UPCI - TACT RCS 2.2X with Good Vibrations S/W - MF X-DAC V3/X-PSU/X-10 buffer (Audiocomm full mods)- Linn 5103 - Linn Aktiv 5.1 system (6x LK140's, ESPEK/TRIKAN/KATAN/SEIZMIK 10.5), Townsend Supertweeters, Kimber & Chord cables ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Phil Leigh's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=85 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=49316 _______________________________________________ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
