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dac chip vs analog stage as to sonic impact

when buying a cd player or dac, which has more impact on the sound of the component, the dac chip or the analog stage ?

to what extent can a tube analog stage "offset" the effects of a dac chip ?

if one were to assign a percentage contribution to the dac and analog stage as to the affect upon the overall sound, what might the numbers look like ?
mrtennis

Showing 4 responses by mrtennis

mrtennis OP
3,295 posts
 
hi alex, do you mean that a tube analog stage may not overcome the faults of a dac chip ?
mrtennis OP
3,295 posts
 
hi alex. it seems to me that the better dacs are not 24/192. i have yet to hear a cd player or a d/a converter with such a chip regardless of mods sound anything but digital and forced.

the old cal aria and the old cal tempest were ideal products.
mrtennis OP
3,295 posts
 
hi onhwy61, you are right, but it is that coloration that makes cd listenable.
mrtennis OP
3,295 posts
 
gentlemen:

my main concern is the possibility that a tube sensitive analog stage may be able to improve the over all sound of a cd player or d/a when the dac hip is of dubious sound quality.

i guess only experimentation will answer this questions.
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