What is a DAC and why do you need one?

[@GoldenSound]

A few important notes: 1) Whilst the video explained 1-bit delta-sigma and PDM at a basic level, most available delta sigma DACs are actually 'multibit' delta sigma. Meaning rather than modulating to high speed 1-bit, they modulate to high speed 5-7 bit as this allows you to avoid the biggest challenges with making a highly linear R2R DAC and you also don't need to be operating as fast or have as much difficulty with the modulator design as a full 1-bit DAC. 2) DACs that ARE 1-bit usually don't actually have a 1-bit PDM converter. Instead they usually use a moving-average FIR filter approach, this will be explained further in a future video. 3) Some products on headphones.com such as open box units may not fall under the 365 day return policy, please check the product page for specifics!

[@epicgamer496]

im the most sigma tho

[@LucaTheStar]

4) Don't buy them from DCS /hj

[@epicgamer496]

@@LucaTheStar dcs is goated they doubled my debt for free

[@lunafag]

Strictly speaking DACs don't need oversampling. 16 bit signal -> 16 bit DAC -> reconstruction filter, no oversampling required. But when the DAC has less bits than the signal you need dithering to preserve the dynamic range, and when you need dithering it's a good idea to oversample to have less noise in the audible frequncies, even less with noise shaping.

[@hartyewh1]

@GoldenSound Did you happen to spot a DM on Discord about the KA11? I wonder if you have different info then what I had come across.

[@tomas_m]

I'm a little worried that the cable joke won't be obvious enough to some people 😬

[@or1on89]

I laughed my ass off at that ahahaha

[@ezrabrownstein3237]

What joke?

[@DonVintaggio]

Snake oil reference for anyone coming from outside the "audiophile" world.

[@defu8592]

@@or1on89 same lmao

[@pinoylanggaming9449]

Need more in depths about the cable, I'm curious.

[@krakentortoise7531]

I honestly would like a whole series of Golden just explaining stuff. He's a really great teacher and has a way to make every topic interesting

[@ZReviews]

We Are Learnding.

[@exact3]

What a great video. I've been in this hobby for over 10 years and only NOW understand how a DAC works lol.

[@publicpersona6517]

Came for the flappy bird analogy, stayed for the cable joke.

[@cziperlan1374]

This was the most easy to understand explanation about the topic I've seen to date! Thanks Golden! Now I have something to send to my friends when they start questioning my sanity...

[@Currawong]

Peak audio KZbin: Sigma Delta DACs being described using Flappy Bird.

[@juanblanco7898]

Such a great way to explain PDM in less than 10 seconds to a smooth brain like me.

[@Currawong]

@@juanblanco7898 Absolutely!

[@ahmadfaizadnan]

The best ELI5 I've heard so far. Will share to my office mate if they ask "What is that weird box on your desk?" for the fourth time.

[@martinsch]

I still don't understand, need an ELI2

[@justino9042]

Classic golden teaching us of dacs and amps.

[@Lishtenbird]

7:26 Never expected to see Haruhi on the Headphone Show, and yet here we are.

[@brash_hown]

How could i have missed that...

[@YTHandlesWereAMistake]

I wonder if that was Cameron's pic. If so, we also need a watch recommendations in addition to the listen ones in the podcast.

[@nickpelayo3172]

Watch odd taxi and Dangers in my heart. Solid choices​@@YTHandlesWereAMistake

[@mi.watari]

Flappy bird analogy is just perfect

[@razisn]

and a very old one, for that matter.

[@jeppemichaeljensen2684]

Waooo. Thanks. So great. I knew all of this, but it is the first time I have seen it described so good. Great job

[@g13n4]

Great video. BRB buying a $1000 cable for my fiio dac

[@migadepancito]

Great video! Always love the goldensound knowledge drops

[@zoltantoth1566]

this is awesome: accurate, informative, concise

[@Waitjayithought]

10/10 video. Very clear and easy to follow

[@muaddib_actual3511]

Vids like this are excellent as there is always someone new to the Hobby/Industry. The visuals really make it for me. I'm always having to refresh my memory as to why I want one over the other and the visuals really made it pop. Good Job!

[@celstark]

Fantastic explanations Golden. You struck a great balance of simplicity and accuracy.

[@tharun7290]

This was an absolute treat to watch.

[@Meister-der-Prokrastination]

Your timing is just perfect, i just started 2 days ago to get into Headphones and sidekicks and already stumpled upon the DAC and Amplifier Problem. I'm ready to learn more! Btw, my current Headphone of Choice for my next shopping tour is the Sennheiser HD600 or 650. Chosen by your very big Tier List video from 8 Months ago ;)

[@bratosin1]

Get the 660s 2 , far superior than both

[@davekelloway3337]

This video crushes for simplicity, communication, and entertainment. Way to go GoldenSound

[@asdesdvfq222c]

Extremely good explanations! I'll share this next time i have the opportunity to teach anyone about DACs

Actually brilliant description. Thank you! Science communications is clearly your forté.

[@Daniel_Borisov]

Superb explanation! I understand this, but if I ever need to explain it to others, this is great!

[@KmtS9]

Cameron strikes again! Thank you for this!! Looking forward to the next entry in this series.

[@smsaville]

What a brilliant explainer - thanks GS! Looking forward to part 2. No pressure 😉😁

[@fulvioliberatore676]

Wonderful and very useful video!!

[@pfx2259]

Amazing stuff this

[@Douglas_Blake_579]

Nice! Good to see a clear explanation .... although a bit fast paced.

[@johto]

you are just slow, i watched this at 2x speed LOL

[@christopherviers8302]

Most excellent...!!! Great video and information...!!! Well done...!!!

[@RadDad1976]

So relieved to know the $3k cable I got for my $100 headphones was the correct choice 🙏

[@robertobuatti7226]

This video was very confusing as I failed at math and science when I was in high school in the 90's and have learning disabilities but I was interested in it, I just had to replay and rewind a lot to try to follow and understood it vaguely.

[@AzDraon1]

This is really helpful!

[@garfythecat]

That was brilliant!

[@justuslm]

3:15 I just want to point out that oversampling isn't strictly necessary to reconstruct the analog signal. So long as you have a precise low-pass filter at half the sample rate, the signal reproduction will be accurate. However, oversampling allows you to control how that cutoff happens much more precisely. I don't know exactly how common DACs that don't use any oversampling whatsoever are nowadays, but you'd find them for example in toys that include a sound module.

[@GoldenSound]

This is true, though the problem is it's not practically possible to make an analog filter that'd do this, hence why we typically do it digitally as we can make a very steep filter that way. With an analog filter you'd either need to attenuate content in the audible band too much or you'd leave too much above the Nyquist frequency.

[@zippymagee]

Excellent Video!

[@Ntt5656]

amazing explanation, thank you

[@kylesisk7348]

Thank you

[@donaldwolff]

Truly Great explanations, and you made me laugh 3 different times.. Great video !

[@mateusbernardi7164]

What a great and well explaind video.

[@miker718]

I need to watch this again after I haven't had a couple of beers! I'm more confused now than I was before I saw this.

[@freyahEVE]

This was fun to watch. Thanks!

[@___joez]

RME ADI series is 🐐

[@stewRS]

Hey, trying to find a headphone amp to power my Supermix 4s as well as headphones (which might get upgraded later on to higher ohms) I already have a DAC, well an audio interface "goXLR mini" but it produces hiss on my IEMs and I might as well get a desk amp. I've limited or googled around to see myself against two options, Schiit Magni and Topping L30, going for 175 euros and 90 euros. Which would you recommend? Am I losing out on that much between the two to justify paying the 85+ euros?

[@banjoskip]

Awesome video

[@939Productions]

Explaining PWM with flappy bird is freaking genius! hahahaha

[@MrDonpipkin]

well done! fun and educational - tough to do.

[@onchuner]

Thanks it's a good one especially cable What do you actually think about rme dac and amp?

[@nemolovesy0u]

Wonderful video

[@EdgeDC]

I presume/hope that the 3 “Biggest improvements per $ spent” list will be revisited in Part 2, with strikethough added to Cables, and replaced with Amplifier (possibly moved to #2, with Headphones #1). Loved the joke though, for those of us who saw it for the joke it was! 😆

[@carminedesanto6746]

Fantastic,thank you 👍👍

[@bassheadlife492]

If the external DAC is receiving a distorted signal from the laptop then how will it improve the signal if the source is already bad?

[@razen06]

love this video

[@treehugger420]

Bro is a scientist

[@esperla123]

Great video

[@gixi430]

Hey brother!Can you help me with a question since you know far more than me?I prioritize ANC and comfort and I have these options;(edifier WH950NB, sony wh750b, 1more sonoflow, anker soundcore q30 and space one)what option is better?you can sugest something else if you know 😊

[@7in1]

What DAC (r2r or delta sigma) is producing more true digital signal from original analog, and why?

[@bratosin1]

So if i take the audio from my monitor (xbox series x source) via 3.5mm to Y 2x Rca connectors into the topping e70 Dac , the monitor has already a Dac built in , so my dac reconverts the signals another time ? Hmm , I'm very confused , how it works

[@TekZulu]

This is a nitpick but I think Jetpack Joyride is a better representation of ΔΣ than Flappy Bird because Flappy Bird doesn't continue to go up when you feed it a continuous input and Jetpack Joyride is also very well known, albeit not quite as famous as Flappy Bird might be.

[@holdincourt]

Love the flappy bird analogy!

[@GadZookz]

That flappy bird game was great! 👍🏼

[@MarciusSim]

Can I request for a part 2 video on DAC filters please?

[@Krunch2020]

What is the connection to the phone or computer? USB? Bluetooth? Need better cables?

[@BrettGlass]

I think I missed something...Why run the signal from a poor DAC to another DAC? Or do you somehow bypass the original some how???

[@okay1904]

Excellent

[@SynthiaClarence-i6v]

Predovic Point

[@joeljose9428]

Can I use audio interface as a dac ?? And connect it to an amp and call it a stack ???😅?

[@audiorick841]

Brilliant!

[@hartyewh1]

Spent most of yesterday comparing a Denafrips Ares II to a Topping E50. I was expecting to hear no meaningful difference or hopefully some presentation difference in the Ares. Before volume matching I heard all kinds of magic in the soundstage and imaging. Just like the reviews had said. By ear I was off by 1,5dB (on the Topping L70 volume scale). After matching things changed. No difference whatsoever in either, the bass was notably weaker or rounder on the Ares and the highs were easier, maybe smoother. I measured it and there is a treble roll-off. Around -1dB@7kHz, -2dB@9kHz and -5dB@15kHz. I EQ'd the same for the Topping and the effect was the same. In conclusion, I'd take an E50 (or E30, same thing really) over the Ares. Should have tested an Apple dongle as well which was about the same as the E50.

[@7in1]

Are you claiming that Denafrips DAC is having such huge FR problems that even you could measure them? It's hard to believe to be true

[@maximgodunov7717]

Hi. Apart from the tonality difference and dynamics, you will most likely not find any difference in dacs using easy to drive headphones or especially iems. You will need a speaker system to notice it, or something like a susvara. That's why most dac reviews compare them using speakers. Watch jays iyagi video where he tested 100 dacs. Also, you need to test much more dacs for more experience to know what to listen to and where you need to pay attention.

[@hartyewh1]

@@maximgodunov7717 I've tested dozens and from the Apple dongle to Jotunheim there was really nothing worth of note when proper volume matching was done. In power amplifiers there are massive differences with the integrated DACs I've noticed, but I doubt adding room issues and degrading the signal helps with hearing the differences. Perhaps power amps strenghten the coloration or something. I also used an HE1000se which should be essentially as revealing as anything. The bass issues and treble roll-off are still notable problems.

[@hartyewh1]

@@7in1 Depends if one considers them a problem or desired coloration. Imo it's a massive issue. Volume matched single seating measurement from a headphone showed that and it matches my perception so I can't think of another explanation.

[@maximgodunov7717]

@@hartyewh1 I'm talking about standalone dacs used with speakers. They are way more revealing compared to headphones because they have low impedance and sensitivity. Can't head a difference in soundstage if they is no soundstage to begin with. This is how most dacs are tested by reviewers- take a look at Jay's Iyagi 100 dac video

[@LucaTheStar]

1:40 Based Pixelzwithaz reference ❤

[@Nearest_Neighbor]

SMW2 ❤️

[@FiaDess]

great vid!! will we cover up the why is the cables also have its own price?? 👀 "i MeAN theY aRE JuSt cabLeS" im looking forward for it, cheers.

[@MrSmitheroons]

Instructions unclear, I mortgaged my house for cables. (I have no money left for headphones, speakers, DACs, or even a source, but I think I'm getting the most bang for buck, so I'm happy with my purchase decisions. If I stare hard enough at the cables I hear something that sounds incredibly accurate and also enter a trance state that I assume is essentially achieving nirvana. 10/10 would go bankrupt again.) P.S. I imagine you can send a DC, full-voltage, strictly on/off signal to a speaker but that it won't necessarily sound good, unless you like square waves and/or what I'm boldly going to call "rectangle waves". Or maybe the sound of your transducer committing sudoku.

[@7in1]

Why R2R is praised more than Delta Sigma, if both are nicely doing same job but different style, isn't there should be the same sound?

[@Rob-Davidson]

Drivers are smooth-brained. That's why I get along with them so well. 😌

[@theb4r138]

And cables lol good one

[@z-f772]

First they're showing 10bits (2:26) while talking about 16 bits, then (3:00) 16 bits are represented as 7 bits + 9 bits shown under those 7 bits... come on. 3:07 now we see 16 bits divided into two bytes just to confuse you a little bit more, I'm exited for the second half of this video.

[@kingstoler]

Worth upgrading from Topping D90 to Dcs Lina??

[@rap-soldier2185]

GOOD ONE /< DCS SUCKS 💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩 ✅️🔥🚦💥💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯

[@rap-soldier2185]

Good one DCS IS 💩💩💩💩💩💩

[@Avruthlelbh]

So in short: Some DACs are actually DADs: Digital to (another type of) Digital converter. Thanks delta sigma.

[@defu8592]

wow.... i understood... im scared...

[@thinkIndependent2024]

The speed that a motor turns is also a Sample Rate Unfortunately this point has been misstated

[@syanhc]

I'm this video, it sounded like GoldenSound was speaking from within the physical body of DMS.

[@ancientalien815]

Why doesn't this have theatrical music playing in the background?

[@TimothyAnderson-l4q]

Howell Fall

[@BobThera-c3d]

Medhurst Forest

[@edenight893]

And cables ... Joke, it's a joke, now you calm down ! Put the speaker stand down !

[@fabianoberlim9636]

Waiting for that Topping DX9 review

[@JensHove]

That RME is yummy.

[@ixoye56]

"And Cables" 😂🤣😂

[@055_donisaputra6]

So.... microphone is an anti-speaker?

[@migadepancito]

Yes!

[@lunafag]

Mics and speakers are actually exactly the same. You can use a speaker as a microphone.

[@lunafag]

Actually speakers and mics are exactly the same. You can use a speaker as a mic and vice versa, it just won't be good.

[@lunafag]

Actually speakers and mics are exactly the same. You can use a speaker as a mic and vice versa, it just won't be good.

[@d0nj03]

You can actually use one plugged in as a speaker and if you manage to not burn it out you will actually hear sound reproduction out of it. Same if you plug a speaker or headphone driver into a mic port and speak into it - sound will be registered, even if only at very bad quality.

[@ZephaniahJacob-x7u]

Florine Well

[@MargaretHelms-s1u]

Boehm Trafficway

[@MuzdokOfficial]

Listen at 0.75 speed

[@ToneYantin-t1h]

Lew Mission

[@karanmorey8033]

Cable joke 10/10 👍

[@BennettWeigle-x8p]

Kreiger Hills

[@IlaBrown-x5x]

Aaron Junction

[@LindsayIna-r2t]

Henry Cove

[@WilliamJones-e3q]

Jaeden Hollow