How is your dream DAC like?

[majingotan]

I prefer to be mobile all the time so I have a DAP which can do the following things aside from playing music:

- measurements in the green zone of SINAD chart
- can be used as USB DAC (UAC2 compliant) in Windows
- can be used as transport (USB out and SPDIF toslink out) to a DAC
- can be used as Bluetooth transmitter for TWS headphones/IEMs and DACs with Bluetooth inputs
- can be used as a preamp (digital volume control)
- can be used as DLNA/UPnP to function as endpoint streamer/DAC/pre/amp all-in-one
- supports any format available in the wild, including full MQA decoder, native DSD512 playback (without downsampling to quad-rate or lower)
- Also has parametric EQ and 11-band EQ if you needed
- Zero pops/clicks/other noises during sample rate changes and PCM playback to DSD playback and vice versa

Yes you can get a phone + dongle to get most of these features, but I prefer a streamlined all-in-one device instead

 

[Racheski]

C'mon people, this is supposed to be a dream DAC, so dream big dammit:

Build

• Titanium chassis with angled pieces that resemble the SR-71 blackbird.
• Knob for digital volume control, that you can toggle between clicky and smooth like a mouse wheel
• Power button
• Physical Remote
• Wireless phone charger on surface
• Bezel-less 60hz 4K OLED Touch Screen with anti-burn in technology

Wireless

• BT 5.1 - LDAC/AAC/S-BC/APTX/APTX LL/APTX HD
• Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) capable
• Alexa integration
• AM/FM Radio (why not?)
• Spotify Connect, Pandora, Tidal, Qoboz, and Roon certified

Hardware

• AK4499 with a SINAD of 140dB
• MQA, DSD512, PCM32bit, 768kHz
• 1 TB M.2 NVMe SSD

I/O

• USB 4.0 port for data & power (eff Intel and TB3)
• AES, IIS, Coax, Optical In and Out
• 2x XLR/RCA Out
• SD-Card
• USB 3.0 type A
• 10Gb ethernet

Software

• 11-band EQ, Dirac support
• Displays detailed explanations of AK sound colors and filters
• Phone App & Desktop App for firmware updates and as a remote

All for $1,000 please.

 

[LaLaLard]

C'mon people, this is supposed to be a dream DAC, so dream big dammit:

Build

• Titanium chassis with angled pieces that resemble the SR-71 blackbird.
• Knob for digital volume control, that you can toggle between clicky and smooth like a mouse wheel
• Power button
• Physical Remote
• Wireless phone charger on surface
• Bezel-less 60hz 4K OLED Touch Screen with anti-burn in technology

Wireless

• BT 5.1 - LDAC/AAC/S-BC/APTX/APTX LL/APTX HD
• Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) capable
• Alexa integration
• AM/FM Radio (why not?)
• Spotify Connect, Pandora, Tidal, Qoboz, and Roon certified

Hardware

• AK4499 with a SINAD of 140dB
• MQA, DSD512, PCM32bit, 768kHz
• 1 TB M.2 NVMe SSD

I/O

• USB 4.0 port for data & power (eff Intel and TB3)
• AES, IIS, Coax, Optical In and Out
• 2x XLR/RCA Out
• SD-Card
• USB 3.0 type A
• 10Gb ethernet

Software

• 11-band EQ, Dirac support
• Displays detailed explanations of AK sound colors and filters
• Phone App & Desktop App for firmware updates and as a remote

All for $1,000 please.

Sounds like a product called “iMancave” designed by Apple for a price higher than top configuration Mac Pro

 

[solderdude]

What no DSDx8 and no DXD.. ?
The remote must also be titanium and there must be the possibility of elaborate onboard digital EQ/processing so your source/software doesn't have to.
Filters designed by Miska of course and easy updateable with at least 10 years support.

For the dreamers a coldplate on top to keep beveridges cool and the sound warm

 

[Archsam]

Titanium chassis with angled pieces that resemble the SR-71 blackbird.

If you are looking for a nice case for your DAC here's a nice looking one:
https://www.nagraaudio.com/product/hd-dac-x/

 

[DWPress]

Some options just to get the discussion started:

• Bluetooth (at least 5.0) support
  • Aptx-HD, LDAC
  • Low latency mode (good for games and movie)
• EQ
  • IIR filter support
  • FIR filter support
• Firmware upgrade
• Digital out option
  • Digital in -> processed (e.g. EQ, upsampling .etc) -> Digital out
• Headphone out (not required for a DAC but definitely nice to have, and one less set of plugs+cable means less jitter anyway)
  • XLR plug output
  • 3.5mm output
• Phono Stage (SMSL A8 has it, but are people on this forum still use turntables?)

Get a MiniDSP board and add your own choice of BT, phono and headphone boards and put it in your own enclosure if you're into DIY!

 

[LaLaLard]

Get a MiniDSP board and add your own choice of BT, phono and headphone boards and put it in your own enclosure if you're into DIY!

I kinda thought about it, but I recall that MiniDSP isn't that versatile when it comes to Filter application (one of the expensive model got dirac for what I remember but not much other choices) and it has got no BT. But it is a good prototype for what I like to see on a DAC.

 

[Soniclife]

https://www.anthemav.com/products-current/model=str-pre-amplifier/page=overview

Get's close.

 

[LaLaLard]

https://www.anthemav.com/products-current/model=str-pre-amplifier/page=overview

Get's close.

oh mine... that's the price of 5 iPhone...

 

[Count Arthur]

I'm really happy with my ADI-2 DAC, but there are a couple of features that would be nice:

1. The ability to import and store REW EQ settings, or a room correction feature of it's own.
2. An analogue line in, although you could use an ADC to add that function fairly cheaply: https://www.thomann.de/gb/swissonic_converter_ad_24_192.htm?sid=d184fe94933f5cef7f29e979633ff63b

 

[LaLaLard]

I'm really happy with my ADI-2 DAC, but there are a couple of features that would be nice:

1. The ability to import and store REW EQ settings, or a room correction feature of it's own.
2. An analogue line in, although you could use an ADC to add that function fairly cheaply: https://www.thomann.de/gb/swissonic_converter_ad_24_192.htm?sid=d184fe94933f5cef7f29e979633ff63b

1: spot on, that's what I want to achieve too. EQ settings are exported as FIR filters. as for the second option, I think RME will direct you to buy ADI-2 Pro as that's what it is designed for

 

[Jimbob54]

Hi all,

We now live in an era in which people -those who know how to spend money- are spoiled by reasonably priced but well-performing equipments.

I've tries quite some well-engineered versatile DACs over the year and am now settled with RME. In the last 5 years or so, there had been a lot of Chinese brand of Hifi equipment, mainly aimed at students and young workforce, making good-valued products that suits their taste.

So instead of giant heatsink and overkilled transformer, these brands have nicely added some much more useful features into their products, such as Bluetooth and USB input, which wasn't all that common before they entered the market.

I recalled prior to 2010 I was using Creative 1212M soundcard with Logitech transporter, through Coaxial, for my PC hifi. Back then there were lots of criticism against ANY PC hifi but I'm glad to see this hatred is now gone. Due to the small number of PC hifier, back then, there wasn't many option with USB at all, let alone to any reasonably priced ones(apogee got USB but the price back then...)

Now DACs have not only all adapted to USB input, but many also DSD processing, IIS input. And it is no longer just a DAC, I've bypassed preamp for many years now without any issue. The sound is so clean.

Folks, what would you like to see on a resonably priced (<800USD) DAC now? Talking about low level of distortion seems irrelevant now, given that a well-engineered product could easily go above 110db SINAD.

Personally I would like to see RME making their next ADI with these feature:

• Bluetooth. This can be very handy when you need it.
• FIR&IIR filter support, which means you could upload your filter ONTO the DAC. Currently, I'm suffering from the need for EQ with my HD800. I'm limited to use my MAC to play music as ADI-2's EQ isn't comprehensive enough to save the dire Frequency response of HD800...

Some options just to get the discussion started:

• Bluetooth (at least 5.0) support
  • Aptx-HD, LDAC
  • Low latency mode (good for games and movie)
• EQ
  • IIR filter support
  • FIR filter support
• Firmware upgrade
• Digital out option
  • Digital in -> processed (e.g. EQ, upsampling .etc) -> Digital out
• Headphone out (not required for a DAC but definitely nice to have, and one less set of plugs+cable means less jitter anyway)
  • XLR plug output
  • 3.5mm output
• Phono Stage (SMSL A8 has it, but are people on this forum still use turntables?)

I agree with comments in thread about streaming inclusion. I think EQ is going to be a big thing, along with a phone app to control/ import it.

All higher cost DACs should be specialists (streaming, EQ, maybe decent head amp but less sure about that) , lower and mid tier are quality plug and play, probably DAC/headamp combos.

 

[SIY]

Sure, fortunately RME are pretty good with their software. I agree with Meverickronin that hardware controls are a good long term safety feature - we could have both. But as I said, Dirac or similal is what I am really looking for, and this almost inevitably requires a computer operated interface, I guess.

This. If my RME had Dirac built in, I would likely not have bought my NAD M10.

 

[ShiZo]

DCS Bartok.

 

[Willem]

This. If my RME had Dirac built in, I would likely not have bought my NAD M10.

I think I said it in another thread as well: we need a simple box for dsp room eq such as Dirac, with digital inputs and a digital output, to plug in between our sources and the DAC. The Paradigm Link seems to have too many issues (and is expensive over here). The minidsp SHD Studio seems to fit the bill but is expensive enough here at 1100 euro ($1200) that I want to see measurements first, having seen the not too impressive measurements for the more expensive version with ADC and DAC.

 

[Archsam]

I think I said it in another thread as well: we need a simple box for dsp room eq such as Dirac, with digital inputs and a digital output, to plug in between our sources and the DAC. The Paradigm Link seems to have too many issues (and is expensive over here). The minidsp SHD Studio seems to fit the bill but is expensive enough here at 1100 euro ($1200) that I want to see measurements first, having seen the not too impressive measurements for the more expensive version with ADC and DAC.

Well said - I was literally thinking of starting a new thread on this!

I am streaming my music wirelessly via wifi from my NAS drive to my Element X, so any software / digital hardware solution (e.g. MiniDSP SHD Studio) won't work. I briefly considered the MiniDSP SHD but it's a rather big box, sells for £1600 here in the UK, and frankly is a bit of an overkill for what I needed. I also considered MiniDSP DDRC-24 but this one has no XLR connection.

I don't want to subscribe to Room and build a Roon Core.

I don't really know what else works for me at the moment even though I am very keen to experiment with room correction.

 

[Willem]

Indeed. My Antimode 8033 that equalizes the subwoofer convinced me of the benefits of dsp room eq. I have a couple of digital sources: CCA for music and internet radio streaming, a BD player, and a TV. I also have a Project Optical Ephono preamp/ADC that turns the turntable signal into an optical one. All this goes into my RME ADI-2 via a transparent automatic switch. My current dsp room eq is limited to an Antimode 8033 for just the subwoofer, and some filters on the ADI-2. To best set those filters I measured my system with REW and observed that the Quad 2805 main speakers still excite quite a few room modes, and are, of course, not equalized by the Antimode 8033. Correcting those manually with the filters on the ADI-2 helped quite a bit, but it is also clear that further improvement is possible. So I would love to have a little box with Dirac or similar that will equalize the digital signals from the sources before they are converted to analogue by the ADI-2. And I would like this to be automatic, as I got spoiled by the Antimode and hated the manual setting of filters on the ADI-2.
From what I understand about Roon it requires a PC or NAS somewhere in the system, and I don't have that and don't want that.

 

[A Surfer]

It seems people are consistently talking about devices that manage networked coordination of DSP functions which really isn't at the heart of what a DAC does so shouldn't this be a thread about what does your dream DSP integration/connectivity management device look like? A DAC does only two things, converts digital signals and then spits out an analogue stream. Everything else is the job of another device(s).

 

[Willem]

Yes but a DAC like the ADI already has a lot of preamp style functionality. Adding some more lf that makes sense. Integration is cheaper and more convenient.

 

[Glasvegas]

It seems people are consistently talking about devices that manage networked coordination of DSP functions which really isn't at the heart of what a DAC does so shouldn't this be a thread about what does your dream DSP integration/connectivity management device look like? A DAC does only two things, converts digital signals and then spits out an analogue stream. Everything else is the job of another device(s).

In that case, the Dream DAC must already exist. There's already a great choice of performance, connections, price to meet anyone's requirements.

Maybe the OP should change the thread title to Dream Streamer/DAC, or something like that.