Has DAC development run its course?

[Macca]

indeed although dacs possibly more so. amazing how 2 dacs using same chips can sound so different, or 2 completely different dacs sound so alike

have to say of all the DACs I have compared (which although it's a fair few is admittedly only a tiny fraction of what is available) at best I've found the differences to be marginal. Some CD players though I could not live with (e.g Rega) - soft and a bit mushy, but I know some like that as it sounds more 'analogue'. For me they just sound like rubbish turntables.

[Jimbo]

indeed although dacs possibly more so. amazing how 2 dacs using same chips can sound so different, or 2 completely different dacs sound so alike

That is very true.

[Jimbo]

From what I have heard listening to a very wide range of DACs ranging from very cheap to megabucks there are not night and day differences rather differences in presentation. I watch a Youtube site that has reviewed hundreds of DACs and they seem to fall into just a few categories. They are either ultra detailed and etched with little tonal quality or warmer sounding with good tonal quality. Soundstage seems to be quite variable but the emphasis in the reviews is on resolution and the subtitles around this.

I know improving power supply and clocking may alter the sound somewhat but again I think the differences are exaggerated. Again this if from my experience.

The ability of DACs to play Hi Rez or DSD or MQA are just red herrings or marketing ploys in my book as I have heard digital recordings played back using this technology / bit rate and been non plussed.

[Barry]

The full DCS stack was $108,000 back in 2014 https://www.stereophile.com/content/...layback-system

It's measured performance is, for practical purposes, perfect, but this is also true of DACs that can be bought for under £200 - but does it sound any better? IME and IMO - no.

And according to Fremer it is acoustically perfect. But he was 66 years old at the time of the review, and by the law of averages his hearing would be declining - certainly it would not as good as that of a 'twenty something'.

Even if I had the money to spend on that DCS system, I would probably decline: two many boxes; too much cabling, and too many mains outlets required.

[Gazjam]

Chord Dave with Mscaler kinda stood out for me?
Bit too forensic (at expense of musicality) for my tastes, but sounded terrific.

Have to think that would have sounded "noticably better" than a 200 quid dac?
Not because of the price, but the implemetation and atention to detail.

From what I have heard listening to a very wide range of DACs ranging from very cheap to megabucks there are not night and day differences rather subtle differences in presentation. I watch a Youtube site that has reviewed hundreds of DACs and they seem to fall into just a few categories. They are either ultra detailed and etched with little tonal quality or warmer sounding with good tonal quality. Soundstage seems to be quite variable but the emphasis in the reviews is on resolution and the subtitles around this.

I know improving power supply and clocking may alter the sound somewhat but again I think the differences are exaggerated. Again this if from my experience.

The ability of DACs to play Hi Rez or DSD or MQA are just red herrings or marketing ploys in my book as I have heard digital recordings played back using this technology / bit rate and been non plussed.

[struth]

Chord Dave with Mscaler kinda stood out for me?
Bit too forensic (at expense of musicality) for my tastes, but sounded terrific.

Have to think that would have sounded "noticably better" than a 200 quid dac?
Not because of the price, but the implemetation and atention to detail.

sounds like a great pairing... no doubt expensive too.

[Jimbo]

Chord Dave with Mscaler kinda stood out for me?
Bit too forensic (at expense of musicality) for my tastes, but sounded terrific.

Have to think that would have sounded "noticably better" than a 200 quid dac?
Not because of the price, but the implemetation and atention to detail.

I have heard the DAVE with M-Scaler and agree it does sound fab but I agree a bit too forensic and certainly better than a £200 DAC. We are talking two extremes here though and the extra £15800 should buy something a tad better?

[Jimbo]

Interesting too hear the DAVE without M-scaler, soundstage shrinks and DAVE becomes a bit harsher, less analogue?

[Gazjam]

I have heard the DAVE with M-Scaler and agree it does sound fab but I agree a bit too forensic and certainly better than a £200 DAC. We are talking two extremes here though and the extra £15800 should buy something a tad better?

DELIBERATELY putting that out there James
as always with all things Hifi

"It depends"

Back to your OP
I wouldn't discount design inniovation quite yet,
and as somebody else pointed out, theres all the other "non-digial" stuff that goes into a dac as well?

Always room for improvement,
though the gap betwen budget and higher end is coming closer recently, a good thing.

[Gazjam]

Interesting too hear the DAVE without M-scaler, soundstage shrinks and DAVE becomes a bit harsher, less analogue?

Interesting...
Shows that even the higher end stuff can be improved I guess?