Comparison of DACs ~ Interesting Read

Holydoc

A guy in the Audio Visual Science Forum took three receivers with three different DACs (costs of receivers were Pioneer 1015 $400, the HK costs $1200, and the AR costs $1500) and did a double blind sound test. Conclusion was that the DACs in this price range (and maybe any price range) did not make a difference in the overall sound of two-channel listening. Kind of goes against everything we are taught as audiophiles, but an interesting read none the less.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=680019&page=1&pp=30

PolkThug

Its all LIES. Everybody knows the differences are night and day. ;-)

PolkThug

They also did a blind amp test a while back.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=607389&highlight=blind+test

Holydoc

Zero,

You better make sure that those 90's gear have all the extra features you want before you switch back. Many advances in Dolby processing if you are in HT.

Just kidding...I know you were not serious.

Early B.

I stopped reading once I saw what they used for the source and the cables. Damn amateurs.

janmike

When my Proceed AVP-S arrives this week I will compare it to the on the way out Yamaha RX-V1500.

heiney9

Doesn't suprise me. The way receivers are mass produced and the way they are designed (to be mediocre at several things) one can't help but draw the conclusion the internal DAC's of many units don't vary too much. Look at what's going on inside that AVR (a lot). I'm sure some sound marginally better than a lower end cdp, but differences among the masses of units?? I would have never assumed that the outcome would be any different.

H9

Early B.

With the right equipment there will definitely be differences. With weak source components and cables, of course it'll be much more difficult to discern the differences, so the conclusion is highly predictable. Mass market doesn't mean they'll all sound alike, but for most consumers it probably doesn't matter.

After owning 5 or 6 receivers in the same amount of years from different manufacturers, generally I find them to be equally good, regardless of price range. Yes, there are differences, but for HT and non-critical listening, it doesn't matter very much IMO, especially for HT and for music if playback is on a typical DVD player.

Whenever newbies ask about which receiver to buy, I'd like to tell them to just pick one that fits their budget and has the features they're looking for. Beyond that, there's not much more to say. Doing listening tests at a mass market retailer is a waste of time.