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bravomail
125
May 4, 2017
anyone who owns this - pls chime in. but not in Zeos style where couldn't find the difference between the dacs :)
spiritofjerry
194
May 9, 2017
bravomailDifference between DACs that are actually decent (which is the vast majority of modern D/S DACs) is so small, that it is normally indistinguishable by the lay listener.
bravomail
125
May 9, 2017
spiritofjerrywould have to strongly disagree. the difference between 3 DACs I have cannot be more obvious. And even if u watch Zeos's reviews he sometimes ranks them. That is your clue :) You cannot rank if you think they are the same. :)
spiritofjerry
194
May 9, 2017
bravomailThe DAC is just the DAC chip itself. Many DACs use the exact same chip. What matters more is the circuitry, the opamps used, and the amp used for the headphone output. The sound is much more influenced by the amps and circuitry than the DAC chips themselves. On paper, the AKM DAC is quite good -- you can read the actual specs of the DAC here: http://www.akm.com/akm/en/aboutus/news/20150522AK4452AK4454AK4456AK4458_001/
EDIT: Also, I wouldn't trust any reviewer who claims to hear large differences between DACs. Unless you are A/B'ing them with a proper setup and are listening super critically, there is no way to tell the difference, unless they are complete trash.
bravomail
125
May 10, 2017
spiritofjerryI am not a reviewer. But I can hear the difference. I do exactly that - A/B compare them on the same song, same game (GTA V), same movie. I use AKG K7XX as my reference headphones. HifiMe 9018 - very best. FX Audio X6 - decent USB, but much better over optical or coaxial. SMSL M6 - utter pile of garbage over USB in games and movies, haven't tried optical or coaxial. So. Here you go.
spiritofjerry
194
May 10, 2017
bravomailWhen you A/B, are you A/B'ing the DAC using a separate amp? You need to be using the line out (not the headphone out) and also volume matching for a true A/B of a DAC. I highly doubt you are testing the DAC in this manner, and as such, I cannot believe you.
Megatheron
6
Jul 18, 2017
bravomailYou're comparing the dac and amp not just the dac. I've tested a 0dac and a Schiit Modi feeding the same amp (a Schiit Asgard) and couldn't tell the difference.
Rashomom
4
Feb 12, 2018
spiritofjerryAre you completely incapable of accepting that someone has a different subjective experience with DACs? @bravomail continues to present you with his experience and take on dacs. Additionally you completely disregard them because they don't align with your rigid views. Reading your responses are so absurd that they're just silly, haha.
"I highly doubt you are testing the DAC in this manner, and as such, I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU". Haha good lord...
spiritofjerry
194
Feb 13, 2018
RashomomAlas, it is you that is the one ignoring all of the electrical engineering concepts that I have clearly laid out for you. The circuitry influences the sound far more than a DAC. The only silly one is the one that ignores basic concepts of audio engineering and circuitry, and that is you.
Do I believe people hear subjective differences in DACs. Yes, I do. I also believe people are healed by placebo. What's the difference between DACs and placebo? Not much.
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