DAC

DAC stands for Digital Audio Conversion. And there used to be a big difference in high end models.
For example I have head the Appolo Has excellent Digital audio converters. But also it has pretty decent pre amps.
To be honest, I think a lot of things are changing in the digital audio converter field and pretty soon, highest standards will be the normal. If it hasn't already begun now.
 
This used to be a big selling point, now its more about good pre amps as long as a high sample rate is still achievable.

The heart of a prosumer-grade audio interface is a pair of integrated circuits that perform the audio-to-digital and digital-to-audio conversions. The big secret: there are only 4 manufacturers of these chips, and only 2 that are widely used in the kinds of audio interfaces we use in home studios. So there aren't really any big differences within this market segment, at least as far as the most important digital components are concerned. That isn't necessarily the case with high-end professional products such as Lavry, that feature purpose-designed discrete DACs and ADCs. But you can't afford those, so forget about them unless you win a lottery or something.
 
The main differences between audio interfaces aren't DACs and ADCs, but rather in features (e.g. ADAT, S/PDIF, internal routing options, phantom power, meters, integrated effects), the number of input and output channels, and the quality of the analog parts.
 
Interfaces are also rated based on the quality of their accompanying software, drivers in particular, and the quality of the manufacturer's ongoing development and customer support. DACs are way, way down on the list of priorities.

Good info gentlemen... Thanks!

I've used external DAC's since early 90's for all kinds of music as hifi and to mix. And current one also doing 24-bit and 96k I had since 2010.
 
What matters a lot are capacitors and quality of those - very expensive if to use the best kind.
I'm overly surpriced how much of a difference it makes.
 
One of the few A/D converter shootouts I found:
http://www.kvraudio.com/f...ghlight=test+converter
 
Some chips on various equipment:
https://www.gearslutz.com...d-da-chips-listed.html
 
One way to test is to make tests with RMAA Rightmark Audio Analyzer, might give a hint.
http://audio.rightmark.org/index_new.shtml
It also list some interfaces and their test data.
 
Run test patterns from disk or a CD and see what results are.
You can do loopback test first with your interface in and out - and do same test pattern on your CD/DVD player etc.
But it's all about ears, really, numbers only give a hint.
 
More about DAC's then.
 
I bought a $100 DAC based on CS4397 from HongKong - replaced onboard capacitors according to this guys tests:
http://www.lampizator.eu/LAMPIZATOR/LAMPUCERA/CD%20DAC%20Lampucera%20lampizator.html 
 
A DIY with picture but text in swedish I did long ago for my current DAC cost total about $200 to make.
http://www.faktiskt.se/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=35665&p=1760579#p1760579
 
Lampizator bought 5 of those boards, and experimented with different caps and presented his own grading of sound. This guy is building DAC's that starts at about $1500 or so, but tube stuff since for music listening and not mixing.
Cyrstal Semiconductors has been among the best since long, but it is all about total build and chosen components.
 
Overall, in my previous DAC and current - the double ended outs to a differential op-amp are really difficult to get good sound if. So simplest solution is to use single ended outs, and skip op-amp. I'm sure there are good circuits but didn't find one myself. It depends on DAC circuits you use, if there is built in filter with external components, you can do single ended. Others have the full filter externally and you cannot do it that simple, the sample rate filter needs to be there.
 
I just put Sanyo OSCONS that cost about $5 each, and then Tantal 10 uF on top of those.
Tremendous lift in audio quality. I run spdif out from RME cards to this DAC for mixing.
 
Have fun....

bitflipper

gswitz
Can't the clocks differ?

Yes, but not enough to make an audible difference. It's just not that hard to make a clock stable enough that jitter and drift artifacts fall well below audibility. The weak link in ADC isn't the clock, it's the sample-and-hold circuit.
 
We don't talk about that, because nobody sells an external sample-and-hold circuit that purports to improve conversions. But companies do sell external clocks, and even though they've backed off on their bogus claims of the past, there is still widespread belief that buying an external clock will make your audio sound better. Even though those claims have been debunked, the residue of that debate is the persistent belief that clocks are deficient in some interfaces. 

There is some truth to it.
The one I built - I made the modifications for the jitter PLL circuit that were 10 times higher time constant than recommended by manufacturor(like their typical test boards). So to capture jitter and readjust in 4ms compared to 40ms can make a difference.
 
I didn't do that mod at first - since I am lazy. But heard anomalies when using Sony DVD player running certain music, compared to when using RME spdif outs. So figure, might it has something to do with how DVD player produced so much more jitter - and I found it had after making the PLL caps mod, I could not hear a difference anymore.
 
So RME card clock out is probably more stable delivery of samples than my DVD player spdif out did.
So with poor design of DAC, you may compensate with better clock.