2. digital
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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
tvad
9,467 posts
 
Few, if any, MODs involve new DAC chips.
Eldartford (Reviews | Threads | Answers)
You can start a list of MODs that involve new DAC chips with APL players. New DACs have been the starting point of APL mods since the APL Philips SACD1000. The new DACs installed by Alex make a stunning difference, IMO.
mrtennis OP
3,295 posts
 
hi onhwy61, you are right, but it is that coloration that makes cd listenable.
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
Tvad...I'll take your word for that. Any others?
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
Tvad...Checking the APL website I notice that the DACs which they use for the update are AKM. That's what I have in my Behringer DAC2496 which may be why it sounds good.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
05-25-06: Eldartford
Tvad...Checking the APL website I notice that the DACs which they use for the update are AKM. That's what I have in my Behringer DAC2496 which may be why it sounds good.
APL previously used Crystal DACs, which sounded excellent. The AKM DACs Alex uses are the top-of-the-line offerings from AKM, and they do indeed sound superb.

I am not aware of any other moddders who change DACs, but I could be mistaken.

The DAC swap performed by APL is one of the primary reasons Alex's mods sound so good...IMO, FWIW, YMMV...
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