Fortunately, that is just not the case. Many companies use JFETs or tubes for the output stage.
OK...then list all of the DACs mentioned in this thread that don't have an opamp in them...
Fortunately, that is just not the case. Many companies use JFETs or tubes for the output stage.
There's a difference between the unqualified statement of yours to which I responded and an anecdotal listing of models in this thread.OK...then list all of the DACs mentioned in this thread that don't have an opamp in them...
There's a difference between the unqualified statement of yours to which I responded
And even those with op amps can be replaced with FET based modules from companies like Sparko and Burson Audio.
Are you really not aware of DACs that don't rely upon op amps?Yes, you responded with an unqualified statement of your own, which is why I asked you to go ahead and prove me wrong.
Just offer significantly less transparency than discrete devices. Cheap bang for the buck, yes.You have painted opamps as the boogie man...which they aren’t.
Fortunately, that is just not the case. Many companies use JFETs or tubes for the output stage.
Are you really not aware of DACs that don't rely upon op amps?
What you posted was "Just about every..."I said the vast majority...
Of the Perfect Wave DAC, however, PS Audio says: "Every component is a discrete proprietary audio design"And the PS Audio Directstream uses video opamps for switching which feed an audio transformer, which is a passive output stage.
Three Burson V5s ran $175 shipped.You can replace opamps as you mentioned but that is a serious investment
Nice choice and another discrete design. From the manual:I am using a PS Audio NuWave DAC, found in Buffalo, it was the store demo $600.00, sound is excellent built like a tank.
Just offer significantly less transparency than discrete devices.
Our points of reference are clearly very different. The answer is "lots".So, you've compared discrete devices against opamps in how many circuits and you switched between them at matched levels to come to this conclusion?
There's not a single high end preamp or DAC today that chooses cheap op amps for their active devices.
I don't use "price" as criteria. To each his own.Umm...$3950 Rowland Capri S2 preamp, $14900 Rowland Corus preamp, and $4K PS Audio Directstream Jr.
I see you have a Stasis 2. I ran a Stasis 3 for nearly thirty years. Great amps back in the day...
Do you note that Nelson Pass has never used op amps in all his many products?
Similarly, Dan D'Agostino would laugh at using such.
I don't use "price" as criteria.
Note that the "Signature" Bascom King designed units in the PS Audio line use triodes and MOSFETs. And Charlie Hansen's Ayre products (also from CO) use discrete devices.
That's how you control cost with low end products.The Forte 2 preamp used opamps as the active devices in both the phono and linestage.
Nor did he according to Stereophile. From this review:Krell KPS-20i uses an opamp for IV conversion. He didn't have to...
It does have a high end box.So, Rowland is not Hi End?
Was not at all impressed hearing it in Harry's system as compared with much better.
Easy to remember if a newcomer unseats the reference. It didn't. That and the power amp were gone the next time I visited.I'm sure you heard it exactly as you remember. I have been driven from the room by some of Krell's products, so they aren't high end either?
Nor did he according to Stereophile. From this review:
"The analog output stage is a refinement of Krell's previous analog stages—pure class-A, fully discrete, and all direct-coupled."
Goodie for him. Others find those designs dry/digital sounding.Yet, the same "Stereophile" gave both the Benchmark DAC2 & DAC3 A+ ratings placing it among some very respectable units. Somewhere, John Siau is laughing at your DAC design prowess.