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RE: Do you believe in giant killers?

I read about "giant killers" from time to time. The first question is what giant are they supposed to have killed? The second is what experience does the proponent of the killer have of the giant?

In regard to the first question I have rarely, if ever, seen the identity of the giant revealed in such comparisons. In regard to the second, has the person giving the "killer" title got real knowledge of the giant or are they more likely to have very limited experience e.g. they heard one for a few minutes at a show or dealers, given the price of admission for most of the real "giants"?

In fact what "giant killers" usually turn out to be are components that are superior to what could be thought of as the next performance level up of their type. And good for the money thay can be indeed.

So, as far as DACs are concerned, you may well find $1000 DACs that outperform $1500 ones or $3000 DACs that outpefrom $5000 ones. But that $1000 or $3000 DAC won't be better than one of the genuine (and very costly) giants of performance like MSB, EMM or dCS. Of course over time technology marches on and a cheaper DAC than the existing "giant" will emerge. However that technology will also have marched on for the manufacturer of the "giant" too and they may well have produced an even better DAC and thus they remain as "giants".Aspirational if not affordable.



Edits: 08/06/16

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