Do DACs make an audible difference?

[Good4it]

Do DACs work so we can hear a difference?

 

[lovinthehd]

Yep, without 'em all you hear are 1's and 0's

 

[Good4it]

Seriously do they do anything? What do I hear when I listen in Direct or Straight? Is the DAC IN THE CIRCUIT?

 

[lovinthehd]

You need to tell us a bit more about the source and processor...somewhat guessing its a Yamaha receiver from the terminology?

 

[Good4it]

Yep it's a Yamaha RX A1050.

 

[lovinthehd]

Yep it's a Yamaha RX A1050.

And the sources you're concerned about?

 

[Good4it]

Streaming music.

 

[lovinthehd]

That would be digital so you need the dac to produce the analog sound.

 

[Good4it]

What would be the sound without the DAC? Would I be able to hear the difference?

 

[lovinthehd]

What would be the sound without the DAC? Would I be able to hear the difference?

With a digital source but no DAC you can't hear anything....the digital needs conversion to analog so you can amplify the signal for your speakers (amps and speakers are analog).

 

[Good4it]

That answers my question, thanks.

 

[everettT]

I'll must say no as a general statement. Could they? In a worse case scenario, yes

 

[lovinthehd]

I'll must say no as a general statement. Could they? In a worse case scenario, yes

In this case your answer makes no sense whatsoever. If you have a digital source you need a DAC so you can convert it to something useful. DACs in general are obviously overrated audiophoolery.

 

[everettT]

In this case your answer makes no sense whatsoever. If you have a digital source you need a DAC so you can convert it to something useful. DACs in general are obviously overrated audiophoolery.

I took it as an external dac FWIW

 

[lovinthehd]

I took it as an external dac FWIW

LOL....I took it to mean without regard to source

 

[everettT]

LOL....I took it to mean without regard to source

Just read the title