yes, I’m sure many do, and logically you would expect more modern kit to sound better, and in no way was I suggesting that from a sample of one currently available Chinese DAC and one 90s DAC that I could draw any blanket conclusions, that would not make sense at all, and bear in mind that this was based on the same 16/44 cd, ( well a few different cds ) and did not include any hi res streaming. its worth noting that the current DAC is about 400 in todays money, and that the linn numerik was over 1200 in the 90s, So would be more expensive in todays money. It’s probably fair to compare it with a DAC priced around 1500 quid today. But there you go. Which DAC are you currently using ?No. My experience is the opposite of yours. Older DACs and CD players don't sound as good as modern DACs.
Not dissimilar for a setting of say 60 on the linn kairn pre amp.How was the output level of the various dacs matched?
I'm currently using HQPlayer software to upconvert Redbook (ripped CDs) to DSD 256, and feed that to a RME ADI-2 FS DAC.yes, I’m sure many do, and logically you would expect more modern kit to sound better, and in no way was I suggesting that from a sample of one currently available Chinese DAC and one 90s DAC that I could draw any blanket conclusions, that would not make sense at all, and bear in mind that this was based on the same 16/44 cd, ( well a few different cds ) and did not include any hi res streaming. its worth noting that the current DAC is about 400 in todays money, and that the linn numerik was over 1200 in the 90s, So would be more expensive in todays money. It’s probably fair to compare it with a DAC priced around 1500 quid today. But there you go. Which DAC are you currently using ?
Yes, it’s markedly better.I'm equally happy with CD or streaming and don't really care where the bits come from.
While I remember being pretty unimpressed with CD playback in the 80s, I was pretty happy with it in the 90s but that's likely because the quality of discs (or more accurately the transfer and mastering quality) got better. Is the sound from today's hi-res wonder dacs really better and more enjoyable than a good disc on a 90s CD player? - no probably not.
Of late, I am not convinced that DAC technology has improved all that much since the 1990s. I recently tried an old Sony pro player from the mid 1990s for fun and was shocked at its performance. It's certainly not the 'best' but very enjoyable overall. There are some shortcomings but I could easily live with it. The difference in performance in comparison with a more modern unit costing 10X its price (used vs used) was minor.
Technology has improved but sound quality less so. I'm lucky enough to be able to listen to a dCS dac, but I'm sure the Sony you tried would still be enjoyable to these ears.Of late, I am not convinced that DAC technology has improved all that much since the 1990s. I recently tried an old Sony pro player from the mid 1990s for fun and was shocked at its performance. It's certainly not the 'best' but very enjoyable overall. There are some shortcomings but I could easily live with it. The difference in performance in comparison with a more modern unit costing 10X its price (used vs used) was minor.
Yes. It's easy to stop a DAC chip from reaching its potential with poor surrounding implementation.My current belief is that the implementation is more important than the silicon chip. By that I mean how the chip is used, PSUs, analogue output stage etc. ...
Sold my Ikemi over 15 years ago to try this streaming malarkey, lovely cd spinner it was too.Hello all,
whilst watching a video by Phil at Cheshire audio, (he prefers spinning discs to streaming) - it got me thinking to a recent experience.
listening to a Karen Carpenter song through my karik 3, I noticed if not just the drum rolls, ( she was a great drummer ) but then later, just the whole track blowing me away, comparing this to the same recording, same cd ripped to my streamer via Roon, just not even in the same league.
did some investigations and by feeding my streamer up to a linn Numerik - wow, the recording was now sounding just as superb as
from the karik 3 outputs, it turned out to be the SMSL DAC the streamer was connected to Previously.
a change has taken place and now the Roon based streamer is connected to a much older Numerik DAC via a digital processor that feeds it at a max of 48 kHz and the ripped carpenters cd is sounding very much like the karik, in other words, brilliant,
so, it seems that with cd quality source material I tracked things down to the DAC, a Chinese smsl su9 hi resolution DAC.
So we have at least with cd 16/44 material the 90s DAC is by far more convincing, musically.
There are a great deal of Chinese dacs out there these days, lots of kit, ever solo, gustard, smsl, just to name three brands, getting lots of attention on you tube etc, and online reviews, from the likes of Darko etc, and admittedly the smsl is a 400 quid product, but if a musical product, a DAC, from linn, from the 90s can out perform this, well it can’t all be about DAC chipsets and s/n ratio etc can it? It’s got to be more about the holistic whole of the product? What comes out of the phono sockets / XLR’s at the end of the day…
the rest of the system is klouts and active kabers, so revealing of source, I used to work in hifi shops in the 90s and then went on to spend 15 years in pro audio & lighting sales.
Can you relate? do any other PFM members have other similar experiences and stories to tell?
I used to be a meridian dealer in the 90s, running a hifi shop in the days before internet sales! What is the meridian product and does it allow for room correction? AndrewMy current belief is that the implementation is more important than the silicon chip. By that I mean how the chip is used, PSUs, analogue output stage etc.
That’s how I’ve ended up with a 15 year old Meridian AV processor as my preferred streamer/DAC/pre-amp.
Things that I believe have helped include:
- room correction as the biggie
Then at a finer level:
- balanced output
- replacement of the switch mode PSU with a linear unit
- avoidance of the use of a digital interconnect (SPDIF/USB), by the use of a plug in card for the unit
The last sound comparison was against a far from cheaper Linn Akurate DS streamer and pre-amp. My processor has its PSU updated after that.
I have to say that I’m curious about the latest “hype” DACs, but have no expectations.
I used to be a meridian dealer in the 90s, running a hifi shop in the days before internet sales! What is the meridian product and does it allow for room correction? Andrew