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You may not know it, but your digital audio and video units have a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). There are different levels of quality and price for this type of device, which reconstitutes digital signals composed of 1s and 0s to convert them into sound. The quality of the DAC chip, and especially the power supply as well as its preamplifier stage, will have a critical effect on music reproduction.
You can plug a DAC into your CD player, TV or any other source with compatible digital output to enhance the sound. The goal is to connect the device to your computer and hear music in a 24-bit format at 48kHz or higher – studio quality – which represents the pinnacle of quality and overcomes the limitations of the CD and its 16-bit format at 44.1 kHz . You can buy a quality DAC starting at $300, but there are high-end devices that can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Typically, computers connect with a USB cable while other devices require either a coaxial or fibre optical cable.
For music files, you can get these from various sites such as Pro Studio Master (a service that includes several labels). Analekta (Quebec), Chandos, Reference Recording and others. Prices range between $12 and $20 per album and tend to lower as quantity increases. The most common formats are called FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec, a format that many recommend, including myself), WAV and AIFF.
Some formats like MQA and DSD are trying to enter the market, but sales remain soft becuase they require a compatible DAC, unlike other formats. These files are mostly master recordings that previously were not available to the public, as they were intended for the production of other media such as CDs, SACDs (an almost extinct format) and vinyl.
The music selection is good. New songs are added continuously. Many of these albums are not available as CDs. DVD disappeared a few years ago, and CD sales are declining year after year. The only growing media are high-resolution downloads and vinyl records. Besides giving you better sound, this is a great way to support the music industry, as artists receive much better compensation than with streaming platforms.
Streamers or network players are also equipped with a DAC, but they offer additional functions and are more expensive. I will cover this topic as well as streaming listening platforms in the next issue.
Mario Gagnon has owned the Audio d’occasion shop for 36 years as well as the online sales site HIFIPRO.CA. He is a graduate of the Teccart Institute and the Trebas Institute. He appeared on the Classe Audio show on CIBL and is a co-producer of the singer Bob Walsh.
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