StrangerGuy
Diamond Member
- May 9, 2004
- 8,443
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Because the DAC's SNR (like the ALC1150's 115db) only represents the digital filter. It's easy to slap on a decent DAC chip and call it a high quality sound solution but the truth is the most important part is the analog stage and in that the ALC1150 measures like a $10 portable CD player. And the reason it's that bad is because everybody is trying to find places to cut costs when inflation is cutting into your profits.
All the specs of the DAC chip itself while accurate per se by its own is meaningless in reality if the implementation on the mobo is done half-assed like virtually all the mobos out there. Add to the fact that one need a 5-digit dedicated audio analyzer to even properly test audio I/O specs accurately and you can see why nobody bothers to objectively review PC audio. (This also explains all perpetration of the audiophile woo-woo sighted bias-laden nonsense like op-amp replacements)