DACs at this price point should also be looking to the next level of digital audio decoding to allow for ‘hi-res’ CD quality audio if possible - IE minimum 16bit/44.1khz, although most should do 24bit/48khz PCM (WAV files). Examples of features would be the bass boost and power match for power hungry in ear monitors found on the ZEN DAC. Feature sets can vary enormously from basic Digital into Analogue out with no functions, to very useable sound enhancement features. Typical price points for ‘good’ DACs would be around the £100-£200 mark. ‘ A good DAC such as the entry level ZEN DAC from iFi can render these basic encoded files into an analogue signal passable for reasonable listening. Many of these file formats are basic PCM encodings at low data rates up to like 300kb/s. I also mean some of the standard data streaming from Internet radio broadcasters form the likes of TuneIn Radio. I mean audio streams from the likes of Spotify that are compressed audio being encoded at reduced data rates to save data bandwidth, so it doesn’t cost a fortune on-the-go via mobile connections. Here, I don’t mean MP3 (but even those will probably sound better than the native source can amplify).
Probably, the file formats that need to be converted will be pretty basic. Who’s this for? Well, generally speaking, anyone who wants to improve the sound quality of their audio feed from the likes of a laptop, tablet or smart phone.
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Further to this, a quick analysis of your own requirements - IE portable, desk-top or full blown hi-fi system will start weeding out the right product for you. To narrow down the choice, the age old adage of ‘good, better and best’ can readily be applied alongside a good dose of basic common sense and a little knowledge of the fundamentals of digital audio coding. I mean, you would never go out to buy a boat without some idea of your requirements – a small sailing dingy or a multi-million pound yacht? In fact, unless you’re armed with a little foreknowledge, the choices can seem insurmountable. Starting off in the world of DACs (Digital to Analogue Converters) can be a nightmare for the uninitiated.
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