First of all, let’s clarify that any device that allows you to listen to music integrates a DAC, which stands for digital-analog converter. In other words, any cell phone, computer, DVD player, and, of course, MP3 player has a built-in DAC. However, certain DACs available have greater features to obtain a superior sound experience.
To get a sense of this, keep in mind that no cell phone advertises the DAC found inside the device. This is because it is not designed to provide high-quality sound. Hi-res MP3 players, on the other hand, will generally mention it in their technical specs since it is directly responsible for its performance.
If you want to go a little further, you should know that these hi-fi players even give you the option of using the device as a DAC when connected to a PC. This basically means that your computer uses the MP3 player’s sound card to improve its performance, which is ideal when your PC’s card is fairly poor. » learn more