DAC
(Digital-Analogue-Converters)
How to Choose
Digital to Analogue Converters have been a slight grey area for those whom wish to be budding Hi-Fi fanatics. For those that are deeply into Hi-Fi a DAC can be an essential piece of equipment in today’s modern set-ups. With music fans storing music on computers for convenience and easy accessibility, quality has sadly become a less important part of music in the digital generation. Playing music from a PC into a stereo system sounds appealing, but essential quality can be lost as most computers aren’t designed to be audio components, with the exception of recording studio-based machines. Still, a PC is designed to be a work orientated machine, as opposed to a music jukebox. And, due to this, quality is graded below other features. CD players also feature DACs as they need to convert the CD’s digital signals into an analogue signal for output into phono plugs. Yet, the internal DACs aren’t always the best quality as they should be. This is why an external DAC is a good idea to maximise quality as they DAC will be more accurate and refined in converting audio signals for analogue. If you chose to store music on a PC for audio playback, try storing them in the highest possible sample rate of Lossless compression. This way a DAC is sure to retrieve the best quality as technologically possible.
DACs are an ideal up-scaling device for older digital equipment which requires a digital filtration or enhancement. These may include DAT recorders or Minidiscs. However, an audible improvement will be very noticeable if you should choose to incorporate a DAC into your system. However, for those using storage devices or PCs, a DAC with a USB input will enhance the quality dramatically; purely as it’s retrieving the information that is vague, partially missing or that needs processing further for playback in a full high quality Hi-Fi system.
Determining which DAC would suit your Hi-Fi can be a long and winding process. All are very advanced pieces of technology and will require a good amount of time dedicated to hear the difference. Musical Fidelity has been celebrated recently for creating the M1 DAC: a truly stunning piece of audio engineering at a great value-for-money price for genuine fanatics and every day users to enjoy. Not only does it act as a very refined DAC, but it also up-scales existing audio to a maximum of 24bit. 24 bit is just about the highest possible bit rate for home audio systems. The M1 can connect via standard connections, or more advanced XLR connections for more advanced audio set-ups. Its range can sample from 32KHz to 192KHz, enough to satisfy even the most demanding audiophile, even though this item is at the lower-end of the price scale for DACs.
For more information on DACs it is well worth having a great look on the internet and a look into the reviews from various magazines and articles. DACs can be a great advantage when they’re chosen wisely. For further help in this field of audio, please don’t hesitate to contact us at Hifi Gear. We are more than happy to demonstrate and explain how a DAC may just be beneficial to your system. After all, a DAC may just be that vital component that you might currently be missing from your Hi-Fi system.
Hifi Gear Sales Team
