Poll: Ultra with external DAC

[vdp]

As a newcomer within Hifi, they make you believe that your amp/speakers must be of high enough quality to perceive/be transparent/to notice differences in DACs.

I don't know. Also define quality etc...

But then... besides model of DAC, should we get info on amp and speaker models etc?

Also if you say differences. I wonder if that is continuously audible or "if you listen to album Y track X min 2:54 to 2:59 you can hear a difference in..."

 

[adias]

The benefits of USB audio have been repeated many times. Would help if you actually shared which model of DAC to get a better idea!

It does not matter what I have. Perception of audio playback should be compared to one’s recollection of how live sounds sound - the decay of a piano note, the speed of a tympani note, the timing and flow of a score. Some playback components approach that better than others. Some people are not sensitive to that and then it does not matter. Is it subjective? Sure is, but I live in a subjective world.

 

[adias]

As a newcomer within Hifi, they make you believe that your amp/speakers must be of high enough quality to perceive/be transparent/to notice differences in DACs.

I don't know. Also define quality etc...

But then... besides model of DAC, should we get info on amp and speaker models etc?

Also if you say differences. I wonder if that is continuously audible or "if you listen to album Y track X min 2:54 to 2:59 you can hear a difference in..."

Sure. Any element of the chain matters, but for a given chain a given component can be compare to another.

 

[cnowacki]

Initially, I tried WiiM Ultra line out > VTV Purifi 1ET400A EVAL1. I thought it sounded very good but I was curious about how it compared to my DAC. I honestly wasn't expecting much of a difference given that both should be transparent. Typically, I find little difference between good measuring equipment. So I was surprised to find a difference when I tried WiiM Ultra USB Out > Topping E70 Velvet > VTV Purifi 1ET400A. If I had to guess, it's something to do with USB output and/or using the DAC's clock due to asynchronous USB.

 

[pieterv1]

It does not matter what I have. Perception of audio playback should be compared to one’s recollection of how live sounds sound - the decay of a piano note, the speed of a tympani note, the timing and flow of a score. Some playback components approach that better than others. Some people are not sensitive to that and then it does not matter. Is it subjective? Sure is, but I live in a subjective world.

It's exactly because of the fact that there is no definitive answer why I started this poll...

Yes "audio quality" is not just about numbers, but also how close to real-life the sound is perceived. Why not just simply answer the question and tell us with which components you achieve this?

 

[adias]

It's exactly because of the fact that there is no definitive answer why I started this poll...

Yes "audio quality" is not just about numbers, but also how close to real-life the sound is perceived. Why not just simply answer the question and tell us with which components you achieve this?

Several, but mostly R2R DACs, like Schiit Audio Yggdrasil+ OG.

 

[Smartplug]

The problem on this is that everyone is different. Some can hear some don’t. It’s also their ability to tell what have changed but since most are casual listeners they don’t know what have changed. As long music comes out even a Spotify as source or air play it’s all that matters. Casual listeners are majority.

 

[adias]

The problem on this is that everyone is different. Some can hear some don’t. It’s also their ability to tell what have changed but since most are casual listeners they don’t know what have changed. As long music comes out even a Spotify as source or air play it’s all that matters. Casual listeners are majority.

Where's the problem? Do not hear a difference keep what you have and be happy. Just do not assume others may not hear/act differently. All good!

 

[Vignus]

Using USB out to a Gustard X16 DAC, and it sounds clearly better: more