erland wrote: > I'm not sure if I'm missing something but using an USB DAC that isn't as > good as the built-in DAC doesn't make sense to me. Based on what I've > understood the built-in DAC is going to be really good and in that case > I think we only need to consider users with high-end external DACs. > > However, support for UAC2 is of course still important if we are > targeting high-end audiophile users who have high-end external DACs.
*Flexibility*, *future-proofing*, and audiphools who already have a $$$$$$ high-end USB DAC. I don't see it as being only for the audiophools. Whatever JS comes up with for the "stock" on-board DAC, (even if he had an unlimited budget), might be cutting edge now, but it doesn't mean that it will be in 2 years time. Like it or not, UAC2 is a standard. It has already gained traction in the market place. Any computer based audio player that sports a USB port needs to be capable of it. Going forward we are going to see more DAC's with USB interfaces, to the point where every external DAC has a USB port, but not necessarily a SPDIF or HDMI port. Opinion, maybe...... But I look around and talk to people, the question that is being asked by people buying a stand-alone DAC is, does it have USB input? (And again we are not talking exclusively about people I would class as audiophile.) The bottom line and the irony is, it's the low-end where production cost is the #1 manufacturer concern, that are likely to see the removal of inputs other than USB, way before the high-end considers dropping those interfaces, while they are still shifting product to users that have standalone transports with SPDIF outputs, or the traditionalists who don't consider that any audio that involves a computer can be high-end. Every computer has a USB port. Not every computer has SPDIF or HDMI output. It is already the lowest common denominator. For anyone doubting the wisdom of needing to make UAC2 output capability at least as high a priority as any other on any computer/network based audio player, (commercial or hobbiest), now matter how good the on-board audio is, I think you are making a mistake. Of course, that is only my opinion and WTF do I know. So feel free to stereotype me as a crazy audiophool with a USB fetish! ;) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ JackOfAll's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=3069 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=97881 _______________________________________________ discuss mailing list [email protected] http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
