Today, we are going to be talking about
one of the most important parts of your audio system, the DAC.
Why is it so important? Well, we'll get to that.
But of all the questions
that we get here at Moon Audio, most of them are about DACs.
So we scoured the web for some of the top questions
that people ask about digital to analog converters.
And we're here to answer those questions
to give you everything you need to know about DACs.
This first video will just cover some of the basic questions on decks,
what they are, how they work, how to choose the right one
for your system and needs.
And later, videos will get to specific connections, how to set them up,
and of course, some of our favorite DACs out there.
So let's just get to it.
Ross, feed me some questions.
Question number one, Ricky. The big one.
What is a DAC?
So DAC, D-A-C stands
for digital to analog converter.
It's a component like in your phone, in your tablet, in your computer,
audio device, whatever that processes the digital data of your music
and converts it to an analog signal.
Once it has been converted to an analog waveform, you can send that to your
amplifier and play the music on a speaker or headphones.
Think of it as a translator, just taking that data
and translating it to an analog signal that you can hear.
Question number two, Ricky, how does a DAC work?
So a DAC is essentially the Google Translate of your audio system.
Apart from the physical analog media like vinyl and tape,
most music today is digital, just ones and zeros.
And since our ears can't hear digital data,
we need a method of converting these ones and zeros
to an analog format so that it can produce sound waves.
And thus we are able to hear it.
The digital to analog converter does just that.
It converts the digital data to an analog signal.
It takes those ones and zeros and it tracks them to a waveform pattern.
To do this, it converts the bits of data from the stored files onto an analog
electrical signal at thousands of set times per second called samples.
The DAC outputs these samples into a waveform
that intersect at all the sample points.
However, problems
can arise in the conversion process, which we'll get to in a little bit,
that can set some DACs apart from each other.
It's an integral part of your system that you can't do without,
especially if you have a digital music library.
All right, Ricky,
the next question, number three, why do we convert digital to analog?
So the basic fact is that our ears are not designed to hear data.
It's impossible.
We can only hear analog signals like sound waves and vibrations
coming from an amplified source through the air.
Therefore, we need a device that converts this data to an analog signal.
The other factor has to do with
the fact that most music today is recorded digitally.
This means that the analog signals coming from the instruments and the voices
being recorded are stored digitally onto computers, mixed, mastered
and then optimized for digital mediums
such as compact discs or online streaming and downloading.
Analog media like vinyl and tape is making a comeback.
But still, the majority of music and access to that music out there is digital.
And ultimately you need something to convert that data before you can hear it.
Question number four, Ricky,
what makes a good DAC?
I would say that
the quality of the converter chip itself doesn't necessarily
play the biggest role in determining how good a DAC is.
In fact, the overall audio signal path needs to be considered
If we are specifically talking about like the sound quality of a DAC.
That being said,
off the shelf factory DAC chips like in your phone
are not very efficient or accurate at converting the data.
So the result is a fair presentation of the music,
but it really leaves much to be desired.
A good DAC chip converts the data efficiently and accurately
so that all the information in the data is transmitted to the analog signal.
More data points, results in a smoother waveform,
thus resulting in like, a more natural audio quality.
Having multiple DAC chips can also make a difference
in the effectiveness of the data conversion that is outputted.
Higher end DAC chipsets are usually like Cirrus Logic,
ESS, AKM or Burr Brown and of course there are others.
But these are just some of the most popular on the audiophile market.
Some DACs themselves, if we're talking like just the device itself,
might not even use proper off the shelf chipsets.
Chord Dacs use FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) and their own
proprietary algorithms and they sound phenomenal.
This is just another reason why you can't simply just look at the chipset
or lack thereof to determine if a DAC is good or not.
You have to look at the complete picture or in this case, the whole audio
circuit or architecture from start to finish.
Question five,
what kind of DACs are there and what do I need for my system?
So here in audio we like to divide DAC types by ergonomic scenario.
So do you like to listen to music while on the go?
Do you travel frequently?
Then perhaps a portable DAC like the Chord
Mojo or Clarus Coda would be appropriate for your personal use.
The USB DACs are a perfect portable option there small is.
Throw them in the bag. You're good to go.
Do you like to listen to music in the comfort of your home?
Or perhaps have a designated space for your sound system?
Then a desktop or tabletop DAC would be a great fit.
Hugo TT 2 is a great option and the Chord
Hugo 2 is a powerful portable DAC that can also serve
as a dual purpose DAC in your home system as well.
There are many kinds of DACs for varying usage scenarios,
and sometimes audiophiles use multiple types, so they always have
good audio quality wherever they are, whether on the road or listening at home.
Now we could get into differences
of like AKM, ESS, R2R, Burr
Brown, Cirrus Logic and more, but that just gets a bit
technical and nuanced, so we'll probably save that discussion for another day.
Now DACs also come in
variations and configurations like standalone
or combined with streamers or
headphone amplifiers or servers and more.
So you have like your Qutest DAC, which is just a standalone unit, just the DAC
and actually one of our most popular DACs that we sell here at Moon Audio.
Next is something like the Bricasti M3H, which is a DAC
combined with a headphone amplifier.
Then you have
devices like the Naim Uniti Atom HE,
which combines the DAC, a headphone amplifier and a streamer.
And then there's things like the Aurender A20, which is everything.
It's a DAC, it's a headphone amp streamer and server complete
with internal storage for your personal music library.
Question number six Ricky, does an external DAC make a difference?
Absolutely.
Maybe a little more information?
Oh yeah. Okay.
So without a DAC, your digital data can't be converted to an analog signal
and thus you won't be able to hear every device you have,
or rather every device that has a speaker has a built in DAC,
your phone has a DAC, your AirPods have DACs, your tablet
and laptop have DACs and on your portable speaker
that you take to the beach has a DAC in it.
The more important issue here is that not all DACs are created equal.
So we mentioned again that the DAC is like the Google Translate of your audio
system, right?
It translates the digital data to an analog signal.
Are all language translators the same?
No, they vary by skill and the same applies
to internal factory DACs and external ones.
An external DAC is built to do one thing and to do that one thing very well.
That is why external DACs that are built for the sole purpose of converting
this data are completely better than factory
off the shelf converters.
All right, Ricky, next question.
What devices do not need DACs?
So since the DAC’s job is to convert
digital data, analog sources don't require a converter, right?
So devices like tape decks, turntables are great examples of gear
that read directly from the analog medium that is like tape and vinyl respectively.
The device basically reads the analog signal
in real time and then through the help of an amplifier,
it transmits that signal to like some headphones or speakers.
Whatever you have set up in your system, it's an easier and more direct process
than that of doing digital.
And that's how things were done for
the longest time before digital came onto the market.
Question number eight.
Do I need a DAC for my DAP?
Sorry, can you say that again?
DAC for my DAP.
DAC for your DAP.
Yep. Okay, so most digital audio players
come equipped with a high end digital analog converter, right?
Which attributes to the premium cost of the device.
However, upgrading from a stereo receiver to a separate preamp
and amplifier can elevate the sound performance of the system.
So too can using a DAP as a digital source
and adding a higher performance
DAC on top of that can do the same thing.
For example, if you own, say, the brand
new Astell&Kern SR35,
you can use it as the digital source with the Chord
Hugo 2 and thus the Chord Hugo 2,
since it provides a superior sound over just the SR35 by itself,
pairing the
two together would result in awesome, awesome sound, but it's not necessary
since the DAP itself, the SR35, already has a high end
DAC chip in the audio circuit.
So no, you don't need a DAC for your DAP.
Yeah. Question number nine.
Do I need a DAC or an amplifier?
Well, it depends, Ross. So tell me more.
Do you have a DAC or do you have an amplifier?
Because you need both.
Okay, so it depends on your system, right?
So a DAC cannot substitute for an amplifier,
and an amplifier can’t substitute for a DAC.
If your system doesn't have something to convert the digital data
to an analog signal, then you're going to need a DAC.
If your system doesn't have anything to power your speakers or your headphones
so that it can amplify the signal, then you need an amplifier.
So sometimes there are devices that have both, right?
They have a DAC and an amp like the Matrix Audio Element X2.
So there are many devices, both portable
and desktop, that have both the DAC and an amp.
We call those essentially DAC-Amps.
But if you are without one or the other then you're not going to hear anything.
You're not going to get any sound. So you need both.
If you aren't sure about what you have or what you need,
feel free to contact us and we'll be more than happy to help you out.
Last but certainly not least, what is the best DAC?
Huh, that's a tough question, Ross.
Can you answer it?
It's a tough answer. Okay.
So perhaps the better question to ask,
though, is what is the best DAC for you?
Okay, so there's a lot to consider in each case.
Each person will likely have a different answer
because at the end of the day we all hear differently
and we all have different setups, we all different budgets, and on and on.
We'll get into proper portable and desktop DAC recommendations in a later video.
But keep a few things in mind here when considering,
you know, what might be the best DAC for you.
Number one, budget.
How much do you want to spend.
Two, ergonomics?
Where are you going to listen to your music?
Three, what is your current audio system?
So DACs have various I/O, input and output options,
so picking one that is compatible with your system is key.
And number four, what type of sound or sound signature do you prefer?
So it all depends, right?
And these factors help determine what is the best DAC for you.
It's how we approach our customer service here at Moon Audio,
making sure that we help you figure out what works best
for your specific system, your music and ultimately your ears.
I think that should be enough for now.
We'll go over some more questions, connections, setup options
in our next videos.
DACs are an integral part of your sound system,
so I feel like there's never too much we can go over.
And of course, there's
certainly not a shortage of questions to be asked about DACs.
So if you have any questions,
please leave a comment below and we'll include it in our next video.
We'll also include a link to our “What is a DAC?” guide in the description
below, so be sure to check that out for more information.
If you like this video, be sure to give a thumbs up and remember to subscribe
so you don't miss our latest reviews and videos here at Moon Audio.
And as always, thanks for watching.
Of all the
things we get questions here about...
Of all...
Hold up, we get more questions here
about DACs than any other device.
Of all the questions...
We get the most...
We get the mostest questions...
Of all the questions at Moon Audio,
the most that we get, of those questions, are about DACs.
Most of them. Most of the questions.
Yeah. Yeah.
Not all the questions, but most of them.
Okay. Yeah, we got that. Ta-da!