• Welcome to ASR. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!

Are stereo and 8 channel DACs too wimpy for you?

S

SHB

Active Member
Joined
Sep 1, 2025
Messages
240
Likes
532
Well, bucker up there, Johnnie! DCS has you covered.

They have announced that they are going to make a 16 channel DAC using their latest and most manly technology. According to the press release, this DAC will increase the strength of your pimp hand to Snoop Dogg levels.

www.audioholics.com

dCS to Demo New 16-Channel DAC at Vienna High End

dCS will debut its first multichannel DAC, at the Vienna High End Show. The MCD 16 will be demoed along side Trinnov AltitudeCI, Perlisten S-series speakers, and Grammy-winning producer Justin Gray.
www.audioholics.com www.audioholics.com

Meant only for manly men who do manly audio things.
 
Kal, baby, you’re harshing my mellow.

I mean, you’re bringing me down, man. You’re bringing us all down.:confused:

Out of curiosity, are these other 16 channel DACs of the pro or consumer variety?

Personally, never seen anything about them before.
 
Those are marketing matters. There are 16 channel DACs that qualify for both categories.

I am not throwing shade on dCS and I'd love to get my hands on one but, for the moment, I am more than happy with my Merging Hapi.
 
Last edited:
SHB said:
Kal, baby, you’re harshing my mellow.

I mean, you’re bringing me down, man. You’re bringing us all down.:confused:

Out of curiosity, are these other 16 channel DACs of the pro or consumer variety?

Personally, never seen anything about them before.
Click to expand...
www.thomann.co.uk

Antelope Galaxy 64 Synergy Core

64-Channel AD/DA / DANTE / HDX / Thunderbolt 3 Audio Interface 64 Analogue input channels over 8 D-Sub 25 connectors (TASCAM standard), 64 Analogue output channels over 8 DC coupled D-Sub 25 connectors (TASCAM standard), Dante connector with...
www.thomann.co.uk www.thomann.co.uk
 
I've never used a multi-channel DAC - do they deploy DSPs for filtering so you can do miniDSP-type stuff, and if so, are there easy s/w interfaces to set them up? Is this their purpose?
 
Redacted said:
I've never used a multi-channel DAC - do they deploy DSPs for filtering so you can do miniDSP-type stuff, and if so, are there easy s/w interfaces to set them up? Is this their purpose?
Click to expand...
Varies, of course, but a DAC is just a D/A converter. However, many pro DACs do have S/W interfaces that support plug-ins and apps, as well as expansion across multiple devices.
 
I know what a DAC is, I made a very early one at Uni. I'm also aware of plug-ins, APIs and apps that I use every day.

My question was really what is the application for 8 or 16 channels, if not for multi-band filtering (and that is a presumption of possible use-case on my part, given that DACs implement filters anyway)
 
I am using multi channel DACs because of Dsp Xover and room correction. That is my use case for years.
 
Redacted said:
I know what a DAC is, I made a very early one at Uni. I'm also aware of plug-ins, APIs and apps that I use every day.

My question was really what is the application for 8 or 16 channels, if not for multi-band filtering (and that is a presumption of possible use-case on my part, given that DACs implement filters anyway)
Click to expand...
Multichannel monitoring/playback. For example, my basic playback system is 5.3 with possible future expansion to Atmos or additional subs.
 
It is as I assumed, i.e about filtering, but 16 channels seemed a lot before I thought surround systems.
Maybe multi-surround channels, each possibly with actively filtered tweeter/mid/bass and then subs too (for example) - is that where these devices are headed? Might need a x32 device!
 
Tom C said:
Atmos or not can be an important distinguishing factor, depending on your use case.
Click to expand...
Indeed. The use case in the original post is a setup that includes "eight total Perlisten S7i speakers reproducing surround channels, and eight Perlisten S4 speakers used for height channels."
 
Yes, speaker building, even if not 7.x, can use up lotsa channels.

Active DSP xovers, separate channel per driver, "virtual floorstanders" just in stereo can use up to a dozen.

Center channel might be another 2-3.

Then multiple mono subs for free placement to tackle room nodes.

Then surround, height...
 
[
Kal Rubinson said:
no one needs to justify a personal preference.
Click to expand...
My preference is no pricey AV gear, no proprietary codecs. But I do want to try upmixing, from vanilla stereo sources. So far I do enjoy Schiit SYN for some content, what do you recommend that might be better?

Pre-level only, if possible rather than integrated
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom