A beginner’s guide to guide you through audio decoders

For audiophiles, decoders, headphone amplifiers, preamplifiers, post-amplifiers, etc. may all be indispensable equipment on their desktops, because from a professional point of view, only with these devices can they make high-end speakers for audiophiles. And headphones play better quality. However, for novice users who are just getting started in the audio industry, they may not know these seemingly high-end audio devices, and of course they don’t know what they are used for. .

Nowadays, with the improvement of people’s quality of life, the bookshelf speakers and headphones of two or three hundred yuan on the market have been difficult to meet the user’s pursuit of sound quality, and everyone is more willing to spend more money to buy speakers and headphones that are thousands of yuan. In order to obtain better sound quality; at the same time, more and more users are gradually starting to pay attention to peripheral equipment such as decoders, ear amplifiers, and power amplifiers; for example, if you have a friend with a new audio frequency, you may listen to him often. Speaking of decoding amps, what are they doing?

　　First, let’s explain what a decoder is. It is a digital to analog converter, also known as DAC (Digital to analog converter); it is a device that converts digital signals into analog signals in the form of current or voltage; like us CD players, DVD players, portable players, TVs, mobile phones and other devices that we usually use all have decoders, because only through the digital/analog conversion function of the decoder, we can see the video image and hear the sound from these devices .

　Some people may ask, “What is the difference between a digital signal and an analog signal?” Simply put, a digital signal refers to a code expressed by a number of 0, 1…., generally expressed by a binary number This kind of signal cannot be seen and heard directly by people. Analog data refers to the information expressed by continuously changing physical quantities, such as wired telephones, images taken by cameras, and voice recorders. The recorded sound, etc., can be directly recognized by people.

　　The function of the decoder is to convert these digital signals that we cannot see and hear into analog signals that can be recognized by humans; in audio equipment, the decoder also plays a vital role in converting from digital signals to In the process of analog signal, the quality of the decoder directly determines the quality of the output analog signal, and also determines the final sound effect; therefore, the better the decoder, the better the sound effect obtained.

　　For example, the data that the optical drive reads from the CD is a digital signal. You can’t play sound with headphones and speakers. They can only convert analog signals into sound. The audio decoder converts this digital signal into Analog signals. Such as CD players, portable players, mobile phones, etc., all include this part of the function; some enthusiasts who pursue HiFi effects are not satisfied with the sound effects of the built-in decoder, so more high-end and expensive external independent audio decoders have become Their choice.

Nowadays, the decoders on the market are mainly divided into pure audio decoders and decoding amp integrated machines. Pure audio decoders are independent external ones, which are more common in the HiFi circle (such as YBA DAC1). It can be used to convert CD players or other digital audio sources. The player is divided into two, and the read digital audio signal is converted into an analog audio signal, and then output to the amplifying device for playback. A good pure audio decoder is expensive, often thousands of yuan or even tens of thousands of yuan, you need to pay attention Yes, the pure decoder cannot be directly connected to the earphones, and the earphones must be connected through an external amplifier device to make the sound. Therefore, unless you are an audiophile, you have to spend another money to buy an amplifier device.

　　Maybe there is someone will asked , “What are the benefits of buying a decoder?”  is a good question. Whether it is a pure decoder or a decoding headphone amplifier, what is the reason for us to buy it? Of course it is to improve the sound quality.  just like a sound card, the sound quality of an external independent sound card is definitely better than that of an integrated sound card. There is no doubt that the audio decoder is the same, whether it is a pure audio decoder or a decoding headphone amplifier, as long as you buy something other than that Very cheap knockoffs, the money you spend will give you better sound quality, and this input and output must be proportional.