Click to view our Accessibility Statement or contact us with accessibility-related questions
Solarium
12
Jan 29, 2015
Regarding the DAC:
According to http://wooaudio.com/manuals/WA7_Fireflies_Owners_Manual.pdf the WA7 uses the TI PCM5102A DAC (SNR 112dB, 32-bit): http://www.ti.com/product/pcm5102A
My Asus Essence STX II 7.1 sound card uses the TI PCM1792A DAC chip (SNR 127dB, 24-bit): http://www.ti.com/product/pcm1792a
I wonder if the WA7's DAC will be a downgrade for me (SNR 127dB 24-bit to 112dB 32-bit).
Solariumthe chip is only one part of the puzzle. I doesn't matter if you use the best chip money can buy if the implementation is not up to par.
Solarium
12
Jan 30, 2015
utdeep
40
Jan 30, 2015
SolariumHonestly, the numbers game does not work for DACs or even headphones. There is way more to it than "stats" which are as meaningless as comparing the gigahertz for different generations of computers. The implementation of the PCM5102 is pretty important. There is a reason why it is the chipset of choice for most of the budget conscious highly rated gear out there.
D3Distracted
16
Jan 30, 2015
utdeepTotally agree, implementation is key. Also important is the quality of the recordings you listen to as well as the style you like to hear them. Many higher end DACs can be better at detail and resolution but seems to be at a cost to warmth and musicality. When I bought a Burson Conductor SL last year, I wrestled with getting the baseline PCM1793 DAC vs. the 'higher end' (read more expensive) ESS9018 DAC version. I went with the latter because it was the latest, numerically superior and found to be more detailed/resolving by reviews. It is very revealing but that isn't necessarily a good thing on many recordings. I often wonder whether I would have been better off with the 1793 which is described as less detailed but more musical. Thankfully, it is a board so I can purchase and swap out in future. But net is that higher end resolving DACs have their place if ultimate accuracy is paramount to you. But if you enjoy the actual listening to music you might find a highly resolving DAC plays more to your head than your heart and isn't as enjoyable of an experience. So, I wouldn't write off the DAC in WA7 by any stretch. In many ways, a more musical rather than the most analytic, technically accurate rendering pairs well with the whole argument of using a tube amp vs. SS in the first place. Just my .02 based on experience.
PRODUCTS YOU MAY LIKE
Trending Posts in Audiophile