_Digital Reviews

Perhaps more than any other audio component, you want a streamer to get out of the way. The less you ‘hear’ a streamer, the better.

My history with Mytek dates back to RMAF 2011, where they debuted the Stereo192 DSD DAC. At the time, this DAC represented a rather large leap toward the affordable in DSD-capable DACs.

In some ways, I’d like to be able to tell you that the Melco N50-S38 Music Library made no audible difference in my system because that would be simpler than the truth.

I had to know.

You might think that after spending nine years or so reviewing DACs, there’d be no real surprises left.

What are the odds that Denafrips will pull a hat trick? Or would that be a DAC trick?

Sometimes you don’t realize that something was ever 
missing. . .until you find it.

There’s a lot to like about streaming directly from a service like Spotify, Tidal, and Amazon Music Unlimited. No middle man for starters.

You can think of the ALTAIR G1 as a one-box solution for all of your streaming, serving, DAC and digital preamp needs. One and done.

If you expect the Sonnet Morpheus DAC to sound a particular way because of acronyms associated with its design, be prepared for a surprise.

The Denafrips PONTUS II DAC employs a balanced, dual mono R-2R network design to convert bits to waves. Like its little and much-loved brother, the Denafrips ARES II DAC, the Pontus converts digital to analog in a way that makes music more than inviting.

Portable dongle DACs are experiencing a renaissance for the first time.

If you are looking for a plug and play Roon server solution that’s nicely made, good looking, and price falls in line after these considerations, a Roon Nucleus is for you.

All USB audio sources are not created equal, and all USB DACs are not created equal. This makes making any kind of sweeping generalizations about the effectiveness of things that sit between point A, the USB audio source, e.g. a Raspberry Pi, and Point B, […]

There are days when I feel sorry for people who believe that all digital sounds the same.

“My God! What has sound got to do with music?” ― Charles Ives “Whether I make them or not, there are always sounds to be heard and all of them are excellent.” ― John Cage

When listening to music on the hifi, I want to feel as if I’m in a void with just me and my music. No distractions, no thoughts of social media, likes, visits, or comments. Just me and my music.

Legacy USB DACs. There I said it. These days, DACs without streamers are beginning to feel like relics.

No matter how smart you think your DAC is, the Weiss DAC501 is probably smarter. A lot smarter. Heck, its Quick Start Guide is 10 pages long.

Today we’re going to be comparing three dongle DAC/Headphone amps that are here for review mixed in with a few DragonFlys for good measure.

“Innuos Statement” sounds like an extremely promising name. And when put to the test, this hefty server not only proved it’s worthy of such a name, it also surprised us with some of the innovative and logical approaches taken in its design. A musical tour […]

Is your favorite DAC lacking? Do you have the itch to stream without throwing out the DAC with the bath water?

Lindemann Audio’s acclaimed Musicbook Series has just released its next generation. The Musicbook Source aims to swiftly top the bestseller lists and become the “book of books” for discerning hi-fi fans.

Sometimes old is new again. I received this email from totaldac’s Vincent Brient on September 24:

The hifi world is abuzz over the HoloAudio KTE May DAC for three reasons: it measures incredibly well, it sounds incredibly good, and it costs just under $5k.

I’ll have the fish, hold the chips. Something I’ve never said but I couldn’t resist playing with Mola Mola’s fish themed names and the fact that the Tambaqui DAC does not use a DAC chip for D to A conversion.

Vincent Brient’s newest creation, the totaldac d1-tube DAC/Streamer, which falls on the lower end of the company’s price list, offers the benefits of being imbued with the totaldac house sound. For anyone who has heard a totaldac or read one of my reviews of same, […]

Imagine you are walking down the street on your way to your favorite restaurant. As you approach the front door of Chez Écoute, the door recedes. The closer you try to get to it, the door continues its backward slide remaining just out of reach. […]