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Comment by aftbit | Hacker News Reader

No. A digital to analog converter (DAC) is used to convert digital audio signals (e.g. on a CD or computer) to analog ones for driving amplifiers and speakers. You're perhaps thinking of a double-conversion UPS or power conditioner, which converts electricity to DC, filters it, charges a battery (in the case of a UPS), then converts it back to AC to power your devices.

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Ok thanks for clarifying. I was thinking of a feature on a motherboard I recently purchased:

"USB DAC-UP provides clean, noise-free power delivery to your Digital-to-Analog Converter. DACs can be sensitive to fluctuations in power from the other USB ports, which is why USB DAC-UP takes advantage of an isolated power source that minimizes potential fluctuations and ensures the best audio experience possible."

I've also had to use a 5v step up converter to provide a filtered power source for the camera on my FPV drone I built. I can see why an Audiophile would want filtered voltage supply if they had money to burn I guess.

Yeah, the isolation in this Japanese case is similar in intent to the isolation your motherboard advertises, but on a much larger scale. It's the isolation that matters. Every mobo has a DAC if it has audio, but not every mobo has an isolated power supply for the DAC.

Rather than employing isolation, you could also use filtering.

In the case of the article, $10k would buy you an unbelievably effective 60hz band-pass filter...

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