Amp or DAC

[ShearMe]

Lyngdorf/Steinway-Lyngdorf, TacT, NAD, Wadia, Oppo/Nuforce, Core Audio, AVA Media, Devialet, etc. have been making them for sometime. TacT pioneered it in 1998 and it is now considered among the cleanest ways to reproduce audio.

 

Here's one example:

http://www.audioholics.com/amplifier-reviews/core-audio-kratos-mkii-fully-digital-amplifier

 

Steinway-Lyngdorf makes high end HiFi and A/V gear using Direct Digital designs.

 

Ah, probably a better read here: http://soundcheck-audio.blogspot.com/2012/08/ever-heard-about-full-digital-amps.html

Cool stuff. 

[Stagea]

Ah, probably a better read here: http://soundcheck-audio.blogspot.com/2012/08/ever-heard-about-full-digital-amps.html

Cool stuff. 

 

Yup. TacT and Lyngdorf became well-known (though not popular) because of this technology.

 

Innovations still happen for audio; it just takes a bit long for it to trickle down to the mass market. Optoma/Nuforce and NAD are now bringing this tech to lower price points. 

[ShearMe]

Yup. TacT and Lyngdorf became well-known (though not popular) because of this technology.

 

Innovations still happen for audio; it just takes a bit long for it to trickle down to the mass market. Optoma and NAD are now bringing this tech to lower price points. 

 

I had heard about the NAD D7050 and D 3020 when they came out, but didn't think they were actually anything special. Now I know there's actually a technological difference and not marketing gibberish. 

 

Making me want one again, y u do dis? 

[Stagea]

I had heard about the NAD D7050 and D 3020 when they came out, but didn't think they were actually anything special. Now I know there's actually a technological difference and not marketing gibberish. 

 

Making me want one again, y u do dis? 

 

The NAD D 7050 is a Direct Digital Amplifier. The D 3020 is a DAC and Class D amp. You want the D 7050 if you want a DDA. The C 390DD and the M2 are their more powerful (and more senior) DDAs.

 

The Optoma NuForce DDA-100/DDA-120 are the cheapest ones I know (at least in the consumer sphere).

[ShearMe]

The NAD D 7050 is a Direct Digital Amplifier. The D 3020 is a DAC and Class D amp. You want the D 7050 if you want a DDA. The C 390DD and the M2 are their more powerful (and more senior) DDAs.

 

The Optoma NuForce DDA-100/DDA-120 are the cheapest ones I know (at least in the consumer sphere).

 

Aint touching NuForce outside of their $10 earbuds. Too many scandals in the past.

[Stagea]

Aint touching NuForce outside of their $10 earbuds. Too many scandals in the past.

 

I thought about getting the M2 sometime ago as a budget alternative to a Lyngdorf, but I stuck to traditional separates.

 

I've not had a NuForce, but I did notice that they've lost quite a bit of popularity.

[Jacona]

I thought about getting the M2 sometime ago as a budget alternative to a Lyngdorf, but I stuck to traditional separates.

 

I've not had a NuForce, but I did notice that they've lost quite a bit of popularity.

 

NwAvGuy sure did a number on them. 

[Stagea]

NwAvGuy sure did a number on them. 

 

Just saw his uDAC-2 post. Thanks!

[xtroria]

Amp is used to boost volume and DAC is used to convert digital signals into analogue signals. The better the DAC the better the sound you will hear.

In which even simple cheap dacs with WM8740 is good enough.

Oh for the record, a DAC DOES HAVE AMP inside of it, even when it isnt a dac amp combo unit.

[Guest]

Oh for the record, a DAC DOES HAVE AMP inside of it, even when it isnt a dac amp combo unit.

 

False, I'm afraid.

[xtroria]

False, I'm afraid.

Uh... OP Amps?

[Guest]

Uh... OP Amps?

 

A dedicated DAC does not have any amplification circuitry or components. It outputs a line-level signal and depending on the topology may well fall on it's face sonically if connected to a load like a headphone.

[xtroria]

A dedicated DAC does not have any amplification circuitry or components. It outputs a line-level signal and depending on the topology may well fall on it's face sonically if connected to a load like a headphone.

Well i stand corrected