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So one need too spend $ 100,- too $ 1.200 on a USB-cable too make an USB DAC sound good?

Posted by hfavandepas on August 31, 2011 at 03:53:30

In Reply to: The problem lies... posted by Audio Pharaoh on August 30, 2011 at 19:49:20:

Hi Audio Pharaoh,

If you are willing too spend $ 100,- too $ 1.200 on a USB-cable too make an USB DAC sound good, that’s fine with me. But I don’t.
It also really doesn’t matter too me what interface or communication protocol is used between a PC and DAC. Firewire, USB, S/Pdif, AES/EBU, LAN. Who cares. I don’t
It is the sound quality at given price point, what really matters too me (price/performance ratio).

Fact is (not an opinion) that right now firewire soundcards from TC Electronic and Focusrite are generally considered too be class leading on sound quality below 500 euro’s. Even though there is also money spend inside these interfaces on A/D conversion and 8 channels I/O, they still sound better than comparably priced HiFi DAC’s retailed through the traditional HiFi retail chain.
This will most likely change in future when new DAC’s are introduced by competing company’s, but right now it is generally known and generally accepted that these models are leading the pack on sound quality in there price segment.

IMHO the problem is that most ‘audiophiles’ don’t have ‘pro-sumer’ DAC’s from the recording business ‘on there radar’. Most ‘audiophiles’ only inform themselves through traditional HiFi-information sources and trough the traditional HiFi retailers. Let alone audiophiles have auditioned and/or compared (HiFi) DAC’s (which are sold through the rational HiFi retail chain) with pro-sumer DAC’s (which are sold through the Music Recording retail chain) in real life. Most just don’t and haven’t.

But in some rare occasions they sometimes are compared. Like for instance in this publication.
http://media.avguide.com/Digital_Source_Components_Buyers_Guide.pdf
The result? The reviewers favour the DAC’s which originate from the music recording business.
Of course excellent DAC’s are also produced by the traditional HiFi industry. No doubt about that.
Just one has too pay twice of three times as much for comparable sound quality. The price/performance ratio of HiFi DAC’s really sucks.
If companies who produce HiFi DAC’s don’t dramatically increase there price/performance ratio, no doubt they will die out. Along with their grey haired customers they are targeting at. Young people use notebook, computers and portable devices for there file based music.

So if you write “I also haven't seen that many Firewire implementations on the higher end dacs, always usb.”, than: look again.
Here’s some help. Audition: Prism Orpheus, Weiss DAC2, Metric Halo ULN 2.
These are all firewire interfaces. Comparable sound quality is coming from the Apogee Symphony I/O which can use an USB 2.0 interface (amongst other interfaces).

My advice would be: don’t spend a ridiculous amount of money on USB cables. Spend your time, energy and money on having really heard and having really auditioned DAC’s from manufactures like: Prism Orpheus, Weiss DAC2, Metric Halo ULN 2, Apogee Symphony I/O.
Chances are very high that you will be utterly amazed about the sound quality these interfaces deliver, compared too the sound quality of SIMILARLY PRICED HiFi DAC’s.
Do really try and really compare !
Only after you have really compared them, you can make a well informed decision.

Mark.

N.B. I wrote this long response assuming other ‘audiophiles will read (and benefit) from this too.

• As an example: Buyer’s Guide to Digital Source Components   (Open in New Window)

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