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What to expect from a new DAC?

There has been a lot of discussion about whether newer DAC's/CD players are truely better sounding then older ones. I'm curious, what would one expect in terms of improvement from say a Raysonic 128, which is viewed as an excellent sounding now older CD player and say a Berkeley DAC, older version. Is the improvement, going to be subtle or really apparent.
redcarerra
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
It is all realative. I have not been impressed with a new DAC and returned it.
My 10 year old DAC is just as good.
I am sure some will find a new DAC better than the old one.
But it is a total crapshoot.
So be certain you CAN return the new one if it is no better.
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
i have heard older digital equipment, like the naim cdx, 2 box cd player of the 90's, sounding every bit as good as anything in production, that i have auditioned.

then again, we encounter the connotation of "{better", which makes audio, a subset of philosophy.

it is very difficult to come to a definitive conclusion, when the subject is what component is better than another.

it is obvious that there are different criteria used to evaluate audio components.

this is an issue when discussing the sonic merits of components, on a relative basis.
tcatman
54 posts
 
Ah the philosophy of better....

Still there is another technical factor to consider in what will be the source for your DAC....? A low jitter transport was critical back in the day for your discs.... Now you seem to need a low jitter USB source for digital files on your PC or server.

I have a nice Sonic Frontiers SFDI Mk II DAC with a nice tube output stage... How good of an asynchronous USB interface should I invest in....before I leave well enough alone and get a newer DAC with higher resolution format support and the Asynch USB DAC and transport interface.

IMO, the discussion of better becomes even more difficult.

(opinions wanted!!!)
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