One simple suggestion to avoid crowds during he audio fairs such as Munich audio show. I suggest that the famous pink Panther be placed next to each device so that visitors can immediately come to a conclusion about the sound quality of the device without staying in the auditorium and thus leave space for visitors who actually came to listen to the device.
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As far as I understand the testing procedure, the measurement is taken at the output level, which is what gets transmitted to the amp. That’s why (I believe, but I will happily stand corrected) the analogue side of the DAC doesn’t matter.
Here’s what @amirm from audiosciencereview has to say about that:
"I have a scale for how much measurements matter for each category of products:
DACs: 100%
Amplifiers (headphone and speaker): 80 to 90% due to variability of available power. Hard to internalize how much power is available/enough without listening tests.
Speakers: 70 to 80%
Headphones: 50 to 80% (measurements too variable)"
Make of that what you will. But it’s pretty clear re DACs.
Speakers may measure brilliantly but the average user has the ability to crap up their sound.
The analogue side of the DAC is the output side, so it probably does matter 
Either way, I think I’ve pretty much exhausted my stock of sensible comments for today so I’ll drop back in again tomorrow and we can continue to hash out whether routers or ethernet cables affect sound quality. We’re 2068 comments in, so we must be close to an answer 
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Wait, not so hastily, I was just getting ready to warm up my popcorn machine!
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My vote for best post yet 
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I’ve built 3 pairs of speakers from other people’s designs and loved them. I’ve bought a pair of speakers, a sub, 2 CD players, 2 integrated amps, 2 DACs, 2 headphone amps and a DAC/headphone amp without hearing any of them. All purchases were based on objective/semi-objective reviews.
The stuff I bought after briefly auditioning is the stuff I liked least. Listening fatique set in very quickly.
If it measures well it will sound transparent. IME, the well-measiring transparent stuff is the stuff I’ve liked most and held on to in the long run.
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Now there’s an interesting new topic “How does my popcorn making machine affect sound quality?”
. Snaps, crackles and pops 
.
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Sounds like vinyl
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I must say I find that quite extraordinary. I wonder how many people on this forum buy their equipment the same way.
I don’t even buy a pair of 50 € sneakers without trying them on first. (I’m rather fussy when it comes to comfort.) So spending thousands of Euros just based on specs …
But hey, it seems to have worked for you, so all’s good.
Just for curiosity’s sake. Do you generally buy stuff that way? Or do you make an exception for audio equipment.
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A good dealer will let you borrow cables etc to dem in your home with your own equipment, before you pay for them.
I’ve had CD players/drives, DACs, amps, passive/active speakers, headphones and diverse cables on loan in my system at various points in a 45 year time span, and not seldom have the pricey and exotic designs with the most poetic marketing blurb lost the race…
I buy pretty much all of my footwear on line. Been wearing minimalist/barefoot shoes for years - almost exclusively buy Vivobarefoot these days. They have a very clever sizing App that pretty much guarantees you get the right size every time.
I’ve never bought a car online yet, but there’s always a first time for everything.
Ah, “The Puppy Dog Close”. They don’t generally expect you to be bringing them back…
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The huge increase in online sales (including footwear) suggests that more and more people are ordering without having seen/auditioned/tried on. I’m looking around my house and almost everything that I can see (TVs, audio equipment, network gear, coooker, fridge/freezer, furniture) was purchased online.
Like Vivobarefoot?
Guess it depends where you live and cultural customs.
Here in France, there’s a lot of resistance to online shopping, as it destroys local businesses (especially in inner cities, which are turning into lifeless husks).
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For minimalist shoes that allow your feet to work as nature intended, they’re hard to beat. Not cheap, but IME, they last a long time. You can also have them refurbished when the need arises and can even buy previously refurbished footwear from Revivo.
Not in my rig!!
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I chose not to take the bait haha.
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