Tuesday, 01 July 1997
,
Written by
Kim Wilson
Introduction
The advantages of a good digital-to-analog converter (DAC) shouldn't be
underestimated. Understanding the importance of the DAC within the
audio chain, yields a new level of appreciation for the superior
performance capabilities of digital audio.
You've heard the term many times, "Garbage In, Garbage Out." This
refers to the concept that the output of an audio signal can be no
better than the input signal. Conversely, the ability to perfectly
reproduce the original input signal can be compromised at any point
along the audio path on the way to the outputs.
The sonic qualities of any digital device are greatly effected by the
DAC. The ideal DAC accepts the incoming digital bitstream, converts it
back to an analog electronic signal, representing exactly the original
waveform, and introduces no noise or timing errors (such as jitter)
that would effect the output. There are many fine CD and LD Players on
the market with exceptional internal ...
