BACK TO BASICS Part 3: DACs

Camera: Olaf von Voss | Editor: John Darko

__________________________________________________________________

Another look at external DACs and why we use them.

Further essential viewing...

Back to Basics Part 1: Music streaming:

Back to Basics Part 2: Music servers & network streamers:

A beginner's guide to DACs:

Raspberry Pi audio streaming 101:

Schiit Modi 3 review:

Also seen in this video...

Sonos Connect:

Naim Uniti Atom:

Allo DigiOne:

AudioQuest cables:

Red bike? Trek FX3:

#beginners #DACs #audiophile

__________________________________________________________________
Darko.Audio FAQ:

What the bloody hell am I talking about?

__________________________________________________________________
DID YOU KNOW WE HAVE A PODCAST?

__________________________________________________________________
Darko.Audio is a web magazine covering new and exciting developments in the audio world and we aren’t afraid of indie rock or techno.

[johnnemesh]

How to be a success on YouTube: 1) British accent 2) extensive and deep knowledge of the subject at hand 3) extensive command of the English language, avoiding overused terms such as "warm". 4)ability to give listeners an idea of how something sounds WITHOUT denigrating products or brands. 5) ability to explain a complex subject without sounding arrogant or talking down to the audience. Well done, sir!

[DarkoAudio]

Oh -- and constructive comments only, please. :)

[thenullco]

Your camera guy never loses focus. I hope he is well renumerated.

Enjoying these Back to Basics vids. I bought my first DAC last week and it's pushed me to upgrade my humble system and speakers to something better. It's great fun.

[Drackleyrva]

Great video John! I hope you continue to do more 'Back to basics' videos. They're very helpful.

[HeddwynEvans]

Bought a chord mojo last week after watching your videos, have had my eyes and ears squeegeed open to the power of DACs as a result - wow!

[kwokfaitsui]

In chinese, we have「深入淺出」，that’s means explain something which is complicated, but in a simple and easy to understand way. Thank and great job👍🏻👍🏻

[Zargatan]

Since I found this channel a few months ago. I learned so much from Darko, thanks a lot! Watching all the videos with joy its so down to earth for a nitwit as me in the audiophile world. Also helpt me to upgrade from my old system (20+ years) to the KEF LSX

[christopherdacunha]

One thing to note about the audio from TVs that you mention towards the end. Most TV programming is 5.1 (surround sound) while almost all external DACs that I know of are stereo only. Plugging your TV's digital signal into an A/V receiver and using the receiver's DAC will give you the surround sound audio from the TV. If you plug the TV's digital signal into an external DAC before it goes into your receiver you will only get stereo audio from your receiver, not surround sound. Surround sound audio (5.1 or more) is something that never really caught on in the "audiophile" community (though some of the 5.1 mixes of music are pretty cool actually. However there's very little of it out there).

[fredkinneary]

John, thank you so much. I'm an old 2 channel guy and am struggling to enter the digital world. This was a great video, helped so much. I'd love to see more basic videos if you can.

[circattle]

When you buy all their components to make a full hifi system, you can say “I definitely got my Schiit together”. Thank you - you can have that one for free. I’m here all week.

[tyuklm]

Thank you John. I finally managed to understand DACs and their importance thanks to your review of the Schiit Modi 3, which I bought along with a Schiit Magni Heresy. I have a really old set up: NAD 510 CD player and a NAD 710 amp hooked up to some exotic McFarlow Regency Two speakers. I know.... Thanks to your advice and help I've rediscovered my love for listening to music. I use a small PC to stream FLAC files from DEEZER HI-FI to my Modi. The modi then sends it to the NAD 710 or I plug in my Phillips X2HRs into the Heresy. For me, my budget and my untrained ears this set up is great. I wouldn't have discovered this new level of listening experience if it hadn't been for your videos and Internet site. I'd recommend anybody thinking twice about investing in a DAC to take the plunge. You won't regret it. Please keep up the good work as it's really made a difference. I look forward to my coffee Sunday mornings and listening to some music. Thanks.

[marktodd]

Lesson here is a lot of people understand these sorts of videos when you actually show where the cables go and how these would work in real life situations, great video thanks.

[amrand]

Omg. I’ve struggled with understanding this concept for so long and SOMETHING (i.e., I can’t pinpoint it) you said made this all click for me. Thank you!! New sub!

[adamsmith]

Hi J.D.,  
Subscriber here, and just wanted to say, I appreciate your videos( in part) because of the excellent sound quality! So many reviewers have poor acoustics in the room or poor microphones, and play low quality music feeds. Your music sounds great and so do your vids. As an audiophile I appreciate that!

[johncolton]

Thanks for the recommendation on TV audio. I just connected my old Samsung TV to my Naim Uniti Atom via Toslink and my TV life is better.

[MarleneRivet-jd]

Thanks so much for posting John, very informative! I`ve been playing around with analogue gear for over 45 yrs now (60 yrs old). I have a Rega DAC and have figured it out...kinda...now I`m looking to learn more about streamers to run through my all Rega home stereo. I`m now helping my 65 yr old friend set up his new tv to a Rega DAC. Your video really helped! Ron

[kowaltoboggan]

Have been trying to understand why some use a DAC with a streamer, but haven’t understood why until I saw your video. Thanks for making it so easy to understand. Bravo to you!

[ralphpaquin]

thank you for the simple explanation!! On the whole analog/digital especially on the thing on the computer /DAC/bypass thing

[jeanm]

I remember how confusing the digital chain was to me when i first started, this video is going to help so many folks to start their hifi roads.

[remonjap]

Hi john. I am being watching your YouTube video for last couple of months. I am into speakers and music since I was a kid. Also, I have upgraded my living room and my work room to sonos, bose etc. last couple of years also played with computer sound card etc.
I feel like my ears grown for more clean sound, want to hear every detail of music and instrument. I love music. When I listen to a song, I listen to music more than lyric.
So, I listen to different language songs even though I don't understand what they are saying.

So, after watching lots and lots of videos uploaded by different user in YouTube, I founded your video is more natural and you really into this
and when you talk, I feel like your heart is talking so I start trusted your word watching your video.

Now, my computer has
# Sound Blaster X3 - Hi-Res 7.1 Discrete External USB DAC and
# ADAM T7V Studio Monitors
I feel like I need a good dac I saw your couple of videos about it. Could not decide it as I live in Australia I don’t have lot of option like usa or uk to go to the store and check which dac sound good.

I know I am still new to this dac/amp world but my ear is very hungry for clean crisp detail, would you be able to advise me (I know you cant decide for me) Which dac I should buy, I do not need streaming option as I am going to use it for computer, I like to play with eq as well.