Open the box you have at home. I'm speaking about the analog output stages, those close to your RCA connectors. There are usually some op amps, and discrete components, resistors and capacitors. The characteristics there are fixed, don't change according to PCM or DSD rate.
If you think post filter detailed characteristics may have an incidence of the output analog signals, I would appreciate detailed specs for those also.
Yes, you are talking about the post filter which also functions as the line driver.
As said they are usually set to around 70 to 100kHz depending on the max sample rate of the device.
They are fixed but the cut off point may vary from product to product depending on the max sample rate and used DAC chip and its HF content.
You can look at schematics of post filters yourself. I don't need to provide them for you. Just look at datasheets for known DAC chips.
Topping (just an example, other do the same) only communicate: 20-20kHz (-0,1dB).
specified for 44kHz sample rates only. I don't give a crap about what manufacturers specify. It's advertising material.
They could specify frequency range per sampling frequency but they don't.
I would appreciate do see more details specs about those outputs lines, (the analog section close to your RCA or XLR connectors):
- bandwidth at -3dB also (if it is a 1MHz BW, all vendors will be very proud to present the full specs)
- output impedance curve over that bandwith
- phase shift curve over that bandwith
Edit... they could also add:
- distortion over that bandwidth
- SNR over that bandwitdh
- maybe slew rate (shall be pico seconds order for 1MHz bandwith and low distortion there)
I merely mentioned it is easy to design a line output stage that can reach 1MHz. I never said this is present in a DAC.
Usually the output stage is the post filter which is BW limited because of the filtering it does.
Then you should ask manufacturers to specify this. Maybe just for you and a handful of others they are willing to change their marketting materials and get lots of other questions in return.
The info you want is
product dependent. The phase behaviour is determined by the digital filter and the post filter so also filter setting and sample rate dependent.
When you want Amir to measure all those aspects for every sample rate he would have to spend days of testing on every DAC and publishing, creating plots etc. Getting schematics and/or disecting each device. Not going to happen.
All of this has nothing to do with the OP and his subjective found differences.
This is with a high degree of certainty caused by the 1.2dB (15%) higher output level which was not compensated for.