Ask ChatGPT Who Makes the Best DAC for Vintage Audio and Modern TVs

[Bob Rapoport]

I received a call earlier today from a woman in LA, she wanted to know how to make her new Samsung 4K TV work with her Vintage-era audio system in a console. I told her if her TV had a built-in DAC and RCA analog outputs she would be good to go with nothing further to buy. She discovered the Samsung TV did not include a built-in DAC. She replied;

"These are the answers I got when I looked it up on ChatGPT . They should make you feel great:"

The Samsung QN90C Neo QLED TV does not have built-in analog audio outputs (e.g., 3.5mm or RCA) and lacks a variable analog audio out .

However, it includes a digital optical (TOSLINK) output, which can be connected to an external Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) to interface with analog audio systems.

Additionally, some users have reported success using USB DACs connected to the TV’s USB port to extract audio .

The Samsung QN90C’s optical output can give you decent sound with a good external DAC, but the Essence HDACC II-4K is still superior in:

• Sound quality: It uses a high-grade DAC and supports full-hi resolution audio.
• Input/output flexibility: HDMI in/out, analog RCA out, headphone amp, and more.
• Low latency: Ideal for syncing with video.
• Bypasses TV limitations: Unlike the TV’s built-in digital out, it doesn’t downsample or compress.

Verdict:
If you’re pairing with your vintage Sony STR-6065, the Essence HDACC II-4K still gives cleaner analog sound with more control and less conversion loss than the TV’s optical out plus a basic DAC.

Feature	Samsung QN90C USB DAC	Essence HDACC II-4K
Output Quality	Varies by DAC; limited by TV’s USB audio support	Consistent, high-res audio
Bitrate Support	Often downsampled (e.g. 16-bit/48kHz max)	Up to 24-bit/192kHz
Compatibility	Not officially supported; hit-or-miss	Designed for AV use
Analog Outputs (RCA)	Only via external USB DAC	Built-in high-quality RCA out
Latency & Lip Sync	May suffer lag	Low-latency passthrough

When it comes to sound lag (latency) from a TV, the Essence HDACC II-4K remains one of the best options—superior to all five DACs listed—because of one key reason:

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Essence HDACC II-4K​

• Designed for video sync: Accepts HDMI input and output, allowing bit-perfect digital passthrough while extracting audio with no perceptible lag.
• Best for TV setups: Keeps audio/video perfectly in sync without needing adjustments.

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The Other DACs (Cambridge, Schiit, EarMen, Audio-GD, Sound Blaster)​

• No HDMI support: They rely on optical or USB audio, which can introduce lag, especially when TVs resample or delay digital signals.
• Inconsistent TV compatibility: USB DAC support via TV is hit-or-miss, and optical often needs lip-sync correction.
• Designed for audio-first setups, not AV integration.

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Verdict:
For direct use with a TV—especially for zero-lag audio with vintage analog outputs—nothing else in this price class beats the Essence.

Here's where you can order the HDACC II-4K.


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