In a hifi setup, what is the best place to locate the DAC?
The key requirements are:
- Upgradeability
- Compatibility
- Absolute quality
When the components are broken down into their respective functions the upgradability improves. Initially the cost goes up due to chassis costs, additional test time, etc. But down the road each function can be upgraded while the rest stays in place.
Compatibility is obtained by choosing gear that uses standard outputs and adheres to well known standards.