Do I need a DAC to truly enjoy music?

AMITCHELL MATHERS, MANCHESTER

Is a standalone DAC required? No, it’s not. Not even slightly. Will you be able to notice the difference? Possibly. Unlike many audiophile superstitions, like directional speaker cables and £1,000 unobtainium HDMI wires and various other talismans, a DAC actually does something.

To the untrained ear, or through untrained speakers and lesser headphones, the effect is likely to be quite subtle and potentially not worth what could be a large investment. But if sound is a treasure for you, a good DAC polishes it up until it sparkles.