List of Notable DAC designers(discussion/info thread)

These are some of the most dedicated modern craftsman of the digital audio world, along with interview/whitepaper/video links for interested SBAF to read up:

Note: There is a deliberate omission of a certain USA designer for non-audio related reasons.

• Andreas Koch, Playback Designs

http://www.audiostream.com/content/qa-andreas-koch

• Andy McHarg, dCS(Data Conversion Systems)

http://www.monoandstereo.com/2016/01/the-dcs-story-in-depth.html

• Brian Zoler, Bricasti Design

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snXfoNivH8Y

• Bruno Putzeys, Mola Mola

http://www.soundstageultra.com/inde...s-of-mola-mola-hypex-and-grimm-audio-part-one
http://www.soundstageultra.com/inde...s-of-mola-mola-hypex-and-grimm-audio-part-two

• Dan Lavry, Lavry Engineering

http://www.monoandstereo.com/2008/06/interview-with-dan-lavry-of-lavry.html
http://tapeop.com/interviews/btg/64/dan-lavry/

• Daniel Weiss, Weiss Digital Audio

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue41/ca_weiss.htm

• Dustin Forman, ESS Audio

http://www.castanet.net/news/Kelowna/42129/Invented-in-Kelowna-Made-in-China
http://www.esstech.com/files/4314/4095/4318/sabrewp.pdf

• Cees Ruijtenberg, Metrum Acoustics

http://www.the-ear.net/how-to/manufacture-digital-analogue-converters-dutch-way

• Charles Hansen, Ayre Acoustics

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOrZEreKB8Q
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue41/ca_hansen.htm
http://www.audiostream.com/content/qa-charles-hansen-ayre-acoustics

• Ed Meitner, Emm Labs

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue11/meitnerinterview.htm
http://www.stereophile.com/content/ed-meitner-audio-maverick

• Gordon Rankin, Wavelength Audio

http://www.audiostream.com/content/qa-wavelength-audios-gordon-rankin

• Heitaro Nakajima, Sony

https://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/CorporateInfo/History/SonyHistory/2-07.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heitaro_Nakajima

• Hiroyasu Kondo, Kondo Audio Note Japan

http://www.tnt-audio.com/intervis/audionote_e.html
http://www.stereophile.com/interviews/597kondo/

• Igor Levin, Antelope Audio

http://www.monoandstereo.com/2012/08/interview-antelope-audio-igor-levine.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvrxq0tCvlo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK2ZtU4K9mw

• Jim Kimie, (former)Wadia, Exogal

http://www.gammaelectronics.xyz/s_1996-12_Wadia.html

• Jason Stoddard, Schiit Audio

http://www.greenhifi.com/greengblog/2012/7/2/jason-stoddard-of-schiit-audio-on-being-green-pt1.html

• John Siau, Benchmark Audio

http://www.realhd-audio.com/?p=74
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0Huw2jNYSk

• John Franks, Chord Electronics

http://www.stereolifemagazine.com/interviews/item/1165-john-franks-chord-electronics
http://www.avhub.com.au/features/hi-fi/chord-electronics---john-franks-interview-395781

• John Stronczer, Bel Canto Design

http://www.belcantodesign.com/Belcanto_Interview_SA.html

• Katsumasa Yoshioka, Sony

http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0315/Interview_Yoshioka_Sony_NW_ZX2.htm
http://hifisenses.com/event-report/sony-event-meet-the-mastermind-behind-nw-zx2.html

• Ken Ishiwata, Marantz

http://www.the-ear.net/how-to/ken-ishiwata-man-and-his-listening-room
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2QPePifDQI

• Prof. Keith Johnson, (former)Pacific Microsonics, Spectral Audio

http://www.spectralaudio.com/TAS_ Interview.pdf
http://www.ultraaudio.com/features/20090201.htm
http://www.goodwinshighend.com/library/keith_johnson.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VY2ppY473hA

• Larry Ho, Light Harmonic

http://www.monoandstereo.com/2013/10/light-harmonic-lightspeed-usb-cable.html

• Lukasz Fikus, Lampizator

http://www.monoandstereo.com/2012/08/interview-with-lukasz-fikus-lampizator.html

• Martin Mallison, ESS Audio

• Mike Moffat, (former)Theta, Schiit Audio

http://www.audiostream.com/content/qa-mike-moffat-schiit-audio
http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2016/03/talking-schiit-about-mqa-dsd-at-canjam-socal-2016/

• Rob Watts, (Consultant)Chord Electronics

http://www.the-ear.net/how-to/rob-watts-chord-mojo-tech

• Steve Nugent, Emperical Audio

http://www.audiostream.com/content/qa-steve-nugent-empirical-audio
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue7/empiricalint.htm
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue41/ca_nugent.htm

• Ted Smith, PS Audio

• Thomas Stockham, Soundstream

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soundstream
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/31/us/thomas-g-stockham-jr-70-digital-pioneer.html?_r=0
http://continuum.utah.edu/departments/pioneer-in-sound
http://www.aes.org/aeshc/pdf/fine_dawn-of-digital.pdf

• Thorsten Loesch, AMR/IFI

http://www.audiostream.com/content/qa-thorsten-loesch-amrifi

• Tomonori Sato, AKM

http://www.absolutesound.com.sg/news-updates/why-did-teac-use-the-ak4490-dac-in-the-ud-503/

• Vincent Brient, Totaldac

http://www.audio-activity.com/visit-to-totaldac.html

 

Thanks for this. I've only dug through few so far, but it's really interesting to see how they approach things.

 

New Additions:
Prof. Keith Johnson
Andy McHarg
Andreas Koch
Charles Hansen
Daniel Weiss
Brian Zoler
Katsumasa Yoshioka
Ed Meitner
Hiroyasu Kondo
Jim Kinne
Thomas Stockham
Heitaro Nakajima
Igor Levin
John Franks
Cees Ruijtenberg

 

How about Stan Curtis and John Westlake, who both designed for Cambridge Audio?

I'm not saying that, because my dac is designed by him, we should all be bowing down in exultation, but Stan Curtis was the designer of the earlier Cambridge Audio CD1, 2, & 3, plus the original DAC 3, R-2R products. They all used many Philips TDA154x chips, usually with lots of oversampling. Stan is one of the original pioneers of CD audio. http://www.hifinews.co.uk/news/article/cambridge-audio-cd1-vintage/20558

He was later replaced by John Westlake (from Pink Triangle), for the later bitsream designs.