On 11 Aug 2003 05:06:00 GMT, Joseph Oberlander
wrote:

Stewart Pinkerton wrote:

So far as I can tell, only from the mid-'90s did we have DAC chips
which were better than 18-bit linear, combined with low-jitter clocks
and good power supply regulation,

One of the first was my Denon - um - circa 1990. 20bit, good power
supply, and overall a sweet design at the time.

Please note I said 18-bit *linear*, not just on the label............

I think 13 1/2 years is close enough to the claimed 15.

Depends on your criteria. I'm certainly not suggesting that there
weren't *some* excellent designs around in the early '90s, of which
the Meridians and the early 'single-bit' Sonys would be among the
best.
--

Stewart Pinkerton | Music is Art - Audio is Engineering