Why is it that everyone raves about the outboard DAC sounding so fantastic? Is it just that the onboard DAC chips sound horrible, how can that be if they are using the same $3-$30 chips. These units are not Sony Walkmans, and we are not in the 1980s or 1990s anymore.
DAC Chips -- PCM 1704, ESS 9010, ES9038Q2M, Wolfson WM8740, how are supposed to know which one is really good? Price? Not when they are bought by the thousands. I get it that the more "audiophile" DACs are outboard, but is that not just for convenience when you need a new SACD transport? I'm so confused, I'm all DAC'd up.