A 2 dollars DAC can be indistinguishable from a 2000 dollars one

[koushikp]

Well it could be the good old law of diminishing marginal utility... maybe with really high end headphones the role of the DAC diminishes, as the inherent sound quality of the headphones are so good... All my experiences are essentially with speakers.. I have only 1 headphone... Who knows.. The test itself concluded in the end saying that differences may happen in speakers they can't say... I wonder if they wanted to conclude this spectacular finding that 2 USD vs 3000 is the same and a speaker test would have come in the way

 

[neutral]

TH is respected for it's hardware reviews, but audio might not be it's cup of tea. I wouldn't take a motherboard comparison by 6moons seriously either

All this review says is that 5 people found the two more or less indistinguishable for 5 random songs.


I recall trying to do the philips golden ear test on my onboard IDT Soundcard - and the IDT chip sounds FAR better than any realtek I've heard, and I was having a hard time in the silver ears level itself. Switched to my USB dac - not particularly high end - PCM 2704, and the difference was immediately noticeable

Yes, this is true indeed. IT hardware people and music playback gear do not usually mix well. As a sidenote, in my entire audio life, from all the people who have ever asked me for any help / advice regarding music playback gear, I have found IT (the hardware kind) people the hardest to help. It is a certain kind of mindset they have

There are some nice exceptions though. Nice people, who elevate themselves from the chip, plug and measure mentality

 

[thx911]

To me the point of this article was not really that a USD2 DAC chip can match upto a USD2000 DAC system. What was more interesting was this test adds to the proof that the "audible memory" (if there is something like that) of humans can put goldfish to shame - what we think about when we ponder the quality of music reproduction is really our brain filling in the blanks as it sees fit

+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1....infinity. The role of placebo is intentionally or unintentionally downplayed in most of these esoteric discussions!

 

[Jatt_boy]

Most of the time it is Placebo only

 

[Jatt_boy]

Yes, this is true indeed. IT hardware people and music playback gear do not usually mix well.

Your name is Neutral but you are giving a colored review regarding hardware IT people like audiophools