What is a DAC and why do you need one?
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- čas přidán 12. 09. 2024
- What is a Digital to Analog Converter, and why do you need one? And how do they even work?
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A few important notes:
1) Whilst the video explained 1-bit delta-sigma and PDM at a basic level, most available delta sigma DACs are actually 'multibit' delta sigma. Meaning rather than modulating to high speed 1-bit, they modulate to high speed 5-7 bit as this allows you to avoid the biggest challenges with making a highly linear R2R DAC and you also don't need to be operating as fast or have as much difficulty with the modulator design as a full 1-bit DAC.
2) DACs that ARE 1-bit usually don't actually have a 1-bit PDM converter. Instead they usually use a moving-average FIR filter approach, this will be explained further in a future video.
3) Some products on headphones.com such as open box units may not fall under the 365 day return policy, please check the product page for specifics!
im the most sigma tho
4) Don't buy them from DCS /hj
@@LucaTheStar dcs is goated they doubled my debt for free
Strictly speaking DACs don't need oversampling. 16 bit signal -> 16 bit DAC -> reconstruction filter, no oversampling required. But when the DAC has less bits than the signal you need dithering to preserve the dynamic range, and when you need dithering it's a good idea to oversample to have less noise in the audible frequncies, even less with noise shaping.
@GoldenSound Did you happen to spot a DM on Discord about the KA11? I wonder if you have different info then what I had come across.
I'm a little worried that the cable joke won't be obvious enough to some people 😬
I laughed my ass off at that ahahaha
What joke?
Snake oil reference for anyone coming from outside the "audiophile" world.
@@or1on89 same lmao
Need more in depths about the cable, I'm curious.
Came for the flappy bird analogy, stayed for the cable joke.
What a great video. I've been in this hobby for over 10 years and only NOW understand how a DAC works lol.
I honestly would like a whole series of Golden just explaining stuff. He's a really great teacher and has a way to make every topic interesting
The best ELI5 I've heard so far. Will share to my office mate if they ask "What is that weird box on your desk?" for the fourth time.
We Are Learnding.
So relieved to know the $3k cable I got for my $100 headphones was the correct choice 🙏
Flappy bird analogy is just perfect
and a very old one, for that matter.
7:26 Never expected to see Haruhi on the Headphone Show, and yet here we are.
How could i have missed that...
I wonder if that was Cameron's pic. If so, we also need a watch recommendations in addition to the listen ones in the podcast.
Watch odd taxi and Dangers in my heart. Solid choices@@YTHandlesWereAMistake
This was the most easy to understand explanation about the topic I've seen to date! Thanks Golden!
Now I have something to send to my friends when they start questioning my sanity...
Peak audio CZcams: Sigma Delta DACs being described using Flappy Bird.
Such a great way to explain PDM in less than 10 seconds to a smooth brain like me.
@@juanblanco7898 Absolutely!
Great video. BRB buying a $1000 cable for my fiio dac
Classic golden teaching us of dacs and amps.
Waooo. Thanks. So great. I knew all of this, but it is the first time I have seen it described so good. Great job
3:15 I just want to point out that oversampling isn't strictly necessary to reconstruct the analog signal. So long as you have a precise low-pass filter at half the sample rate, the signal reproduction will be accurate. However, oversampling allows you to control how that cutoff happens much more precisely.
I don't know exactly how common DACs that don't use any oversampling whatsoever are nowadays, but you'd find them for example in toys that include a sound module.
This is true, though the problem is it's not practically possible to make an analog filter that'd do this, hence why we typically do it digitally as we can make a very steep filter that way.
With an analog filter you'd either need to attenuate content in the audible band too much or you'd leave too much above the Nyquist frequency.
Great video! Always love the goldensound knowledge drops
I presume/hope that the 3 “Biggest improvements per $ spent” list will be revisited in Part 2, with strikethough added to Cables, and replaced with Amplifier (possibly moved to #2, with Headphones #1).
Loved the joke though, for those of us who saw it for the joke it was! 😆
10/10 video. Very clear and easy to follow
Your timing is just perfect, i just started 2 days ago to get into Headphones and sidekicks and already stumpled upon the DAC and Amplifier Problem. I'm ready to learn more! Btw, my current Headphone of Choice for my next shopping tour is the Sennheiser HD600 or 650. Chosen by your very big Tier List video from 8 Months ago ;)
What a brilliant explainer - thanks GS! Looking forward to part 2. No pressure 😉😁
this is awesome: accurate, informative, concise
Vids like this are excellent as there is always someone new to the Hobby/Industry. The visuals really make it for me. I'm always having to refresh my memory as to why I want one over the other and the visuals really made it pop. Good Job!
This video was very confusing as I failed at math and science when I was in high school in the 90's and have learning disabilities but I was interested in it, I just had to replay and rewind a lot to try to follow and understood it vaguely.
Extremely good explanations! I'll share this next time i have the opportunity to teach anyone about DACs
This video crushes for simplicity, communication, and entertainment. Way to go GoldenSound
Wonderful and very useful video!!
Cameron strikes again! Thank you for this!! Looking forward to the next entry in this series.
Fantastic explanations Golden. You struck a great balance of simplicity and accuracy.
Amazing stuff this
That was brilliant!
Superb explanation! I understand this, but if I ever need to explain it to others, this is great!
Most excellent...!!! Great video and information...!!! Well done...!!!
I need to watch this again after I haven't had a couple of beers! I'm more confused now than I was before I saw this.
Actually brilliant description. Thank you! Science communications is clearly your forté.
This is a nitpick but I think Jetpack Joyride is a better representation of ΔΣ than Flappy Bird because Flappy Bird doesn't continue to go up when you feed it a continuous input and Jetpack Joyride is also very well known, albeit not quite as famous as Flappy Bird might be.
Explaining PWM with flappy bird is freaking genius! hahahaha
Can I request for a part 2 video on DAC filters please?
RME ADI series is 🐐
This was fun to watch. Thanks!
Instructions unclear, I mortgaged my house for cables.
(I have no money left for headphones, speakers, DACs, or even a source, but I think I'm getting the most bang for buck, so I'm happy with my purchase decisions. If I stare hard enough at the cables I hear something that sounds incredibly accurate and also enter a trance state that I assume is essentially achieving nirvana. 10/10 would go bankrupt again.)
P.S. I imagine you can send a DC, full-voltage, strictly on/off signal to a speaker but that it won't necessarily sound good, unless you like square waves and/or what I'm boldly going to call "rectangle waves". Or maybe the sound of your transducer committing sudoku.
What DAC (r2r or delta sigma) is producing more true digital signal from original analog, and why?
What a great and well explaind video.
Wonderful video
amazing explanation, thank you
well done! fun and educational - tough to do.
That flappy bird game was great! 👍🏼
Why R2R is praised more than Delta Sigma, if both are nicely doing same job but different style, isn't there should be the same sound?
great vid!!
will we cover up the why is the cables also have its own price?? 👀
"i MeAN theY aRE JuSt cabLeS" im looking forward for it, cheers.
Hey brother!Can you help me with a question since you know far more than me?I prioritize ANC and comfort and I have these options;(edifier WH950NB, sony wh750b, 1more sonoflow, anker soundcore q30 and space one)what option is better?you can sugest something else if you know 😊
Drivers are smooth-brained. That's why I get along with them so well. 😌
Great video
Love the flappy bird analogy!
Spent most of yesterday comparing a Denafrips Ares II to a Topping E50. I was expecting to hear no meaningful difference or hopefully some presentation difference in the Ares. Before volume matching I heard all kinds of magic in the soundstage and imaging. Just like the reviews had said. By ear I was off by 1,5dB (on the Topping L70 volume scale). After matching things changed. No difference whatsoever in either, the bass was notably weaker or rounder on the Ares and the highs were easier, maybe smoother. I measured it and there is a treble roll-off. Around -1dB@7kHz, -2dB@9kHz and -5dB@15kHz. I EQ'd the same for the Topping and the effect was the same.
In conclusion, I'd take an E50 (or E30, same thing really) over the Ares. Should have tested an Apple dongle as well which was about the same as the E50.
Are you claiming that Denafrips DAC is having such huge FR problems that even you could measure them? It's hard to believe to be true
Hi. Apart from the tonality difference and dynamics, you will most likely not find any difference in dacs using easy to drive headphones or especially iems. You will need a speaker system to notice it, or something like a susvara. That's why most dac reviews compare them using speakers. Watch jays iyagi video where he tested 100 dacs. Also, you need to test much more dacs for more experience to know what to listen to and where you need to pay attention.
@@maximgodunov7717 I've tested dozens and from the Apple dongle to Jotunheim there was really nothing worth of note when proper volume matching was done. In power amplifiers there are massive differences with the integrated DACs I've noticed, but I doubt adding room issues and degrading the signal helps with hearing the differences. Perhaps power amps strenghten the coloration or something. I also used an HE1000se which should be essentially as revealing as anything. The bass issues and treble roll-off are still notable problems.
@@7in1 Depends if one considers them a problem or desired coloration. Imo it's a massive issue. Volume matched single seating measurement from a headphone showed that and it matches my perception so I can't think of another explanation.
@@hartyewh1 I'm talking about standalone dacs used with speakers. They are way more revealing compared to headphones because they have low impedance and sensitivity. Can't head a difference in soundstage if they is no soundstage to begin with. This is how most dacs are tested by reviewers- take a look at Jay's Iyagi 100 dac video
1:40 Based Pixelzwithaz reference ❤
Thanks it's a good one especially cable
What do you actually think about rme dac and amp?
So in short: Some DACs are actually DADs: Digital to (another type of) Digital converter. Thanks delta sigma.
Waiting for that Topping DX9 review
First they're showing 10bits (2:26) while talking about 16 bits, then (3:00) 16 bits are represented as 7 bits + 9 bits shown under those 7 bits... come on. 3:07 now we see 16 bits divided into two bytes just to confuse you a little bit more, I'm exited for the second half of this video.
Fantastic,thank you 👍👍
love this video
SMW2 ❤️
Brilliant!
Excellent
I'm this video, it sounded like GoldenSound was speaking from within the physical body of DMS.
The speed that a motor turns is also a Sample Rate Unfortunately this point has been misstated
And cables ... Joke, it's a joke, now you calm down ! Put the speaker stand down !
Worth upgrading from Topping D90 to Dcs Lina??
GOOD ONE /< DCS SUCKS 💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩
✅️🔥🚦💥💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯
Good one DCS IS 💩💩💩💩💩💩
"And Cables" 😂🤣😂
Why doesn't this have theatrical music playing in the background?
So.... microphone is an anti-speaker?
Yes!
Mics and speakers are actually exactly the same. You can use a speaker as a microphone.
Actually speakers and mics are exactly the same. You can use a speaker as a mic and vice versa, it just won't be good.
Actually speakers and mics are exactly the same. You can use a speaker as a mic and vice versa, it just won't be good.
wow.... i understood... im scared...
7:50 bwahahahahaahah
319 Julian Village
Great informative video, but WTF with the god awful Tiktok subtitles?
So, basically any DAC will be OK to raise audio quality.
Yes cables😂
Short Answer : You don't
Watching this video using the Artti T10 and I can hear that your mic is trash.
Why is the music associated to being dumb is a Yoshi's Island theme ? Are you calling my childhood dumb ? No, YOU are oversensitive and overreacting!
Save you the effort of watching this video: A digital to Analog Converter. You likely don't need one. Kthxbai!
Nobody needs a dac to listen to music
Unless you're getting into records, cassettes, or the radio... I'd suggest one might come in handy.
cool vid but ffs .. overkill
1/3 Reddit comments about DAC still aren't aware what one is and what it isn't so better to be thorough😅
"Biggest Improvments per $ spent: 1. Cables 2. headphones 3. DAC" -goldensound. You heard it here first folks. 7:50
He said cabut
You got the 1 & 3 backwards from the video, but of course the Cables reference was a hilarious inside joke 😁