What is most important factor in digital audio playback quality?

[mansr]

A DAC is both analogue and digital.

[mansr]

16 minutes ago, Paul R said:

Good point - every digital playback system has a device that is a hybrid digital/analog device. I would tend to put DACs on the Digital Side, and ADCs on the Analog side, just based upon their input. It is just as valid to look at their outputs though. 

The performance of both devices is mainly determined by their analogue parts.

[mansr]

11 minutes ago, AudioDoctor said:

The most important factor is definitely the placement and total number of Shakti stones...

Mpingo disks, surely.

[mansr]

8 hours ago, Paul R said:

I would suggest that the performance of a DAC, and probably an ADC,  is much more determined by their software/firmware. The analog parts are easy to get right, in comparison. DAC filters seem to be much more of a distinguishing characteristic than the simple low power amp section. 

 

Of course, you can argue the opposite. What makes you think so?

Low-noise, low-distortion analogue circuits are tricky to get right, even when conceptually simple. The digital portion of these devices, in contrast, is just shuffling bits around at rather mundane rates. Not much of a challenge.

[mansr]

28 minutes ago, sandyk said:

Prove it by designing and submitting a relatively inexpensive DAC to Chris for review. 

Just a 24/192 DAC would do for starters .

Prove what? That getting the analogue part right is tricky? By building a poor yet cheap DAC? Makes no sense.

[mansr]

10 hours ago, sandyk said:

Prove that getting the Digital part right too is a " piece of cake" like you keep insisting, although MANY members who post in the .Music Server area of the forum mainly, will strongly disagree with you.

If I whip up a DAC quickly, chances are it won't be great. What does that prove?

[mansr]

6 minutes ago, sandyk said:

Take your time then . 

You are the one making the claims about how easy it is to get the Digital area right , which is not what many other members are reporting elsewhere.

If it doesn't perform well, how will you tell whether the analogue or digital side is (primarily) to blame?

[mansr]

7 minutes ago, Ralf11 said:

"The recordings themselves (performance, mixing, mastering, media, etc) also are super important"... and a consumer can sometimes choose among different versions and formats.

 

I think the whole thing needs to be based on what a consumer can choose.  Loudspeakers are easy, room tmts. are pretty easy, new room is difficult, "versions" also difficult.

Amps and DACs are really easy, and software literally takes just a click of the mouse. This explains a lot.