A DAC that crushes price vs. performance ratio

@nonoise

@teajay

I’m stubborn to back down from my position as there are countless human trials showing that my position is valid. All your comments are dealing with what you believe or have experienced, which is invalid unless these comparisons between products were done double-blind, level matched, switched within ~10sec (humans can’t accurately remember sound past that point), etc. Many people believe digital audio is in stair steps and thus doesn’t accurately represent recorded music, that doesn’t make them right.

Don’t you think it’s odd how Revel, KEF, Magico, Focal, Sonus Faber, PSB, GoldenEar, Vivid Audio, Monitor Audio, Tekton, Dali, etc. all aim for measured idealness (transparent), and pretty much all solid state amplifier companies try to do the same as well? Whereas B&W and Wilson tune for their own house sound and their reviews are divisive (10kHz peaks for B&W aren’t as audible if you are >50)?

Answer me this, if you had a recording of a piano, are you saying you want some keys drastically different in volume than other keys? I want to hear my music, not my speakers nor my room (not anechoic of course, but to be within recommended reverb times), that’s also why I also use DSP to tame room modes mainly in the bass (as bass traps take up a lot of room and cost quite a pretty penny).  
  
If you feel I’m wrong, I welcome useful discussion. I’ve been proven wrong on some things I’ve believed before and welcome further learning. If one believes one solis state DAC can sound lifeless and another can have some more midbass slam, I’d like to be shown that that’s indeed the case, saying silver cables sound different than copper is also just wrong, silver is only better as it’s a better conductor, but a thicker gauge copper can easily have the same results for cheaper.

@mzkmxcv  From your above post, you are validating @teajay  's point regarding starting your own thread.

Your position is clearly well thought out and worthy of discussion, which is why starting your own thread on this is an ideal way forward. You will get the quality of debate and discussion you are looking for.

" . . . that’s also why I also use DSP to tame room modes . . . "

@mzkmxcv    By introducing DSP circuitry from a different manufacturer that is entirely designed to alter the signal created by the source component, your argument for measurements is completely nullified.

" . . why I also use DSP to tame room modes mainly in the bass (as bass traps take up a lot of room . . ."

DSP is digital. Bass traps are analog. DSP alters the source signal. Bass traps affect room reflection points. You’re mixing apples & oranges.

" . . (as bass traps take up a lot of room and cost quite a pretty penny).

In other words, your solution takes into account budgetary factors as opposed to scientific measurable factors.

" I’d like to be shown that that’s indeed the case, saying silver cables sound different than copper is also just wrong"

Really? Have you had your hearing checked lately?

"I’m stubborn to back down from my position . . "

Sorry to hear that your learning curve has a disability.

Hey bigkidz,

Take a look at my review on the Lab12 at hometheaterreview.com for the details about its performance.  I sold off a 10K DAC for the Lab12 that had been my reference, and compared the Lab12 to three other highly regarded DACS ranging in price from 14K to 20K and the Lab 12 was at least as good and bettered them on certain parameters.  I'm very lucky being a professional reviewer. I get to hear many pieces in the context of my systems, instead of a showroom or at an audio show were you really can't get a take on a specific piece of gear for the obvious reasons.