What is a DAC?

Paul explains the most basic of subjects to an audiophile.

[oldgoat]

I'm 62yrs old....been a HiFi buff since 1978. I DIDN'T KNOW what a DAC is either.
Thank you for the explanation.

[wayneque]

A very nice explanation, I now have all the knowledge I need to install one on my stereo!
Thanks 🙏 😊🥃🍺🥂🎵🎶🎵🎶🎶

[rubinder]

You videos are super enlightening. I learn a lot.

[ford]

The first digital disc was, after all, a laser disc
which came in the late 70's

[trutmaasfull]

I remember my first real highend walkman, it was a Panasonic! It was freakin amazing…😍

[ramzysoftware]

The more we go digital
At the end we must return back to analog as a final output
I believe that the sound in real life ia an analog by it's nature
Even Our ears working with analog system

[jeffreybrady]

If you have a cd player from the late 80s through the 90s there is a pretty good chance the dac that is built into the player is not that great so it you get a separate external dac that you bypass the players dac with a cable made for that you can greatly improve the sound of your cds Many companies make them.I believe PS audio makes good ones.

[LuxAudio]

A DAC in modern times is something that changes every few months and becomes worth less. So one better like its sound and features without hearing the newer ones. Folklore says that Lepreprachs like to torture audiophiles with new DACS.☘️🌈

[gitmobob]

It always amazes me that when talking about a DAC people obsess about the chip set and never consider the analog portion of the device. The design of the analog portion I believe is the biggest difference in sound from cheap to state of the art. This is why the sound coming out of an iPhone sucks and is much better from most dedicated DACs.

[neetknight]

In describing “tape” you should mention that it is magnetic, and how that works in an analog recording.

[sidesup]

I used the ordinary household items in group A to improve my sound, regarding my yesterdays post. Not many seemed interested, so I won't bother to explain how.

[liamporter]

Life was simpler during vinyl and CD days. Then come along when vinyl and CD were disappearing and digital and streaming are taking over which create lots of stress and confusion. Then audiophile world make it worse by introducing preamp, power amp, phono preamp, DAC, MQA DSD, LDAC, etc. 😫😫😫😫

[pinav]

I had no idea what a DAC is….and now I know. Not that I care, but I might. All analog here…Rega P3, McIntosh 6100, Sansui T770 tuner and a Decware Rachel on the way to give me a tube alternative for amplification. Oh, a set of massive Crites Cornscala “B”s that I made with Bob’s help. I’ve dabbled, with simple ignorance perhaps with digital, but I can hear the 1’s and 0’s and I don’t like it. Not then, not now. But now I know what a DAC is…Thank You Sir…always a fan.

[n.m.saseendran]

Very informative and useful.
Whether a DAC can be connected to / between a DVD player and an amplifier. If yes how, kindly explain.

[alancrane]

Gergio dude! I feel love. Brilliant stuff 👍

[patrickantwerp]

Thank you Paul, I already knew that explanation, but now the practical side. I have an LFD amplifier, a Cambridge audio CD player and ELAC speakers.

A DAC is present in the CD player, but how should an external DAC bring the signal from the CD player to the amplifier? Should I connect the signal from the CD player to the external DAC and then bring the signal from the external DAC to the amplifier? Thanks in advance.

[MarcelNL]

I'm in serious, serious doubt between first buying a sub or a good DAC for my system.
I have floorstanding speakers that go down to 30Hz that used to be really high-end many years ago, and a cheap DAC that can do 32 bit 192kHz. (Steinberg UR12)
My main problem is the lack of body, authority and warm midtones.
One moment I'm convinced of getting one, the next moment I'm convinced of getting the other.
Over time of course I will get 2 subs. (SVS SB 1000 pro since they're affordable, small and musical and they go quite deep.) But I have to save for things.

[gdownz]

I wonder if Paul was with Georgio when he recorded Son of my Father 🤔

[gage]

I have a crown 2002 connected to a smsl sounds good

[JonAnderhub]

1:49 "...it was that was captured in what we call analog which is a direct copy of the actual analog signal..."
This is incorrect, any signal captured to tape IS NOT a direct copy of the actual analog signal but is a distorted representation of the original analog signal!
Starting with the microphone which typically does not have a linear 20 Hz. to 20KHz frequency response and is typically selected for its signal coloring characteristics (distortion of the original analog source), to the microphone preamp, which is also usually described by the way it distorts the original analog signal (i.e. warm, which rolls of high frequencies and creates harmonic distortions; silky, which tends to roll off low frequencies, etc.).
The analog signal is further distorted in each step of the recording process by equalization filters, compressors, and processes used in recording.
The process of recording to analog tape further alters the original signal through the use of noise reduction filters (applied to reduce the effects of analog tape hiss) and the inability of analog tape to record and reproduce an actual 20 Hz to 20 KHz frequency response and the harmonic distortions caused by tape along with the limited dynamic range.
Add to this that every time the tape is run past the play heads it sheds some of the particles on the tape and loses more of the recorded signal and the tape (because it is a magnetic storage medium) will transfer the analog signal between layers of tape when it is stored distorting the analog signal further.
Transfer of the analog signal is even further distorted when transferring it to vinyl and each time a vinyl record is played the analog signal gets more and more distorted.
Digital, on the other hand, eliminates much of the distortions of the original analog signal involved in the "analog" process, and though digital does have distortions, digital more accurately depicts the original analog signal.