

It appears the rest of the world is finally agreeing with us that low-res MP3 is a grubby little performer. The above entry only really matters, of course, if you've subscribed to one of the many hi-res streaming platforms available. Just make sure to pick one that complements the talents in the rest of your chain.
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The aptitude and accuracy with which digital files are translated into analogue signals can have a huge bearing on sound, so it is also one of the areas in which you might hear the greatest difference.įrom USB-stick designs to DACs that would feel just at home in a traditional hi-fi system, there are portable DAC and headphone amp combinations to suit all budgets. So, while you have a digital-to-analogue converter in your laptop or computer that ensures your digital music files can be listened to through the headphones output, plugging in a separate DAC can make a significant upgrade on the sound quality you can get. But that also means that not a huge amount of production costs can have been budgeted for absolutely every feature. Think of all the tasks your computer is asked to perform, and that four-figure sum you paid for it rapidly starts to appear great value for money.
