DO ALL DACS SOUND THE SAME??

[voodooless]

I believe out brains can focus more on sound when they are not having to process information from other sources at the same time. So sitting in a dark room will allow us to focus on what we are hearing better.

Sensory deprivation does not let you defy physics.

 

[Lao Lu]

Comparing two DACs without controls is like comparing two brands of distilled water, and then pretending one tastes better than the other.

Neither would taste good......

 

[VientoB]

Sensory deprivation does not let you defy physics.

True.

 

[TTT15]

May I ask which dCS you tried?
And what did you compare it to?

I’ve heard the dCS Lina with Audeze and Meze headphone versus various other sets ups at a HiFi show. Blind in sense I went there with no prior knowledge or preconceptions just trying various sets ups. So certainly not a blind testing comparison but i didn’t perceive anything noticeable about the dCS that said buy me or offended me.

I don’t doubt that DACs are capable of producing a very accurate frequency response with inaudible noise and distortion. I only question whether the interpolation could make a very subtle difference in ideal conditions in particular on revealing headphones given the Shannon Whittaker infinite formula or if some people may genuinely prefer a dac if for instance a r2r dac produced harmonic distortion not that it appeals to me personally. I’m just wary of definitive absolutes by training even though something might apply most of the time. I certainly didn’t notice any differences between the majority of the set ups at the HiFi show but that doesn’t mean I could categorically rule out the possibility that there might be very subtle differences in ideal conditions with blind testing.

 

[Vlad Soare]

the proven mathematics do suggest that there is at least the possibility for subtle differences in ideal circumstances at the margins.

that doesn’t mean I could categorically rule out the possibility that there might be very subtle differences in ideal conditions

If there is a possibility for subtle differences, but those differences happen to be at -130 dB, or at 50 kHz, or both, then it's an absolute certainty that you won't hear them.
If "ideal conditions" means that you're Superman and hear things that no human being can ever hear, then it doesn't matter what theoretical differences there may be, because those ideal conditions will never be met.

 

[TTT15]

Agreed but I’m thinking of Shannon-Whittaker effects at audible volumes due to the interpolation mathematics and natural human biology and revealing transducers in particular headphones in quiet conditions. Certainly not everyday listening on most equipment for which lossy is fine. I’m merely not sure with absolute 100pc certainty that there isn't ever any subtle differences whatsoever in any circumstances or that there isn’t some people who may have different preferences and I’m not saying that there is either.

 

[Purité Audio]

Absolutely Rob Watts for example he hears everything, the aural equivalent of Heimdall.

 

[DivineCurrent]

Difference is ESS picked a company name that sounds sibilant, and a product line “sabre” that sounds sharp. So people think that’s how they sound. Otherwise there is no difference.

I picked up a JDS Labs Element IV recently, as a second option alongside my RME ADI-2 DAC.
There was something about the feel of the cold aluminum knob on my hand, the sharp clicks of the relays, and the knowledge it had an ESS Sabre DAC compared to my AKM version ADI-2 DAC, that I could swear the Element IV sounded sharper and cleaner than the ADI-2 DAC. Of course, it is absolutely my brain playing tricks on me, but it is just funny how these other external factors can have an effect on what you think you're hearing.

 

[TTT15]

Unfortunately humans are inherently subject to cognitive biases and prefer to ignore science and find it difficult to be open minded if it contradicts their beliefs as demonstrated on all forums.

 

[aedagnino]

And that's without getting political...