At what point to do we cross over the line between a dac and mixing board/computer?
It's just my opinion, but I think a DAC should just be responsible for taking digital inputs, adjusting them (PEQ, DSP, etc ) as needed, before outputting them as analog signals. In other words all the digital devises (streamers, cd players, phones, tablets, pcs, tvs, etc) feed a digital signal into the DAC. The DAC then out puts the analog signal to a headphone amp or amp.
Ultimately the DAC is a comodity inside our active speakers that takes all these inputs from somewhere ( a digital controll center of sorts ) thats what i hope the future holds ?
I think the standalone DAC is a curiosity we have to live with for now ( i do have a toppiing D70 feading my headphone amp at my computer ) but ultimately i think its leftover from the high end hifi mindset of lets get this analog asap so it can feed my typical high end hifi .
imo it should never had been separated from the CD player like it happened in the 90's but then it was so we had multiple digital sources and needed to bring them together , the DAC , but i still think they are stepping stone to something else ?
Why i think the way i do , the DAC function can be realized for couple of dollars , but a complete supported product cost way more so why not also have a DAC inside ?
So it would be kind of a waste to design a complete product with case powersupply et all that only holds this limited function ?