Redbook Keeps Surprising

Jon2020,
You are making a very rational point. The type of chip or conversion (Delta Sigma vs R2R ladder ) is just one aspect of what determines the final sound quality of a DAC. Implementation of either method is the more important issue. I’d make the argument that I/V conversion, power supply quality and the output stage quality and execution are of greater influence on the sound quality. You can not overemphasized one isolated aspect and then attributes that this is the only explanation.

I’ve heard numerous examples of both approaches to DAC design and there’s considerable overlapping between them. Based on listening I don’t believe that one is " inherently" superior to the other.  I'd encourage people to just listen and come to a decision based on what you hear rather than dogma concerning isolated design /part  choices. 
Charles,

Thanks,  Charles, for chiming in. 
I guess we should leave the dogmatic one well alone.  

Rgds.
Jon.

Nothings perfect.

Glad to see a thread praising CD sound quality.

I’ve been using Dbpoweramp to my own homegrown PC based music server and couldn’t be happier.  I haven't actually played a CD in years.  Alll CDs are ripped to music server and backed up immediately up front.

CD playback like everything can only be as good as the weakest link in teh chain, but many ways of assembling a robust chain these days.

Redbook Keeps Surprising....

What is more surprising is that the thread gets hijacked and becomes which "type" of DAC is better - DS or R-2R.

I love the CD playback on my simple Teac player or even the good old Oppo 970H. Yes, the Teac sounds better than the cheap old Oppo. But that happens only when you are comparing the equipment, and not listening to the music. CDs now-a-days sound damn good.