Is a DAC necessary?
Thu, May 24 2012, 10:05PM
My system seems to be downgrading as time takes it toll on the components. I used to have a Sugden A48II playing into Tannoy Eatons from a Revox B790 turntable and a Philips N4520 reel-to-reel, but the output capacitors in the Sugden died, as did the Philips, and I have replaced them with a succession of digital elements - Sony and Philips CD players and a TEAC Reference 300 system. These have not proved reliable, particularly the CD players. So I am about to convert to a Cocktail Audio X10 streamer to compile all my music sources into a single, easily accessible repository - my questions are:
will the X10 power the Tannoys?
would a DAC between the X10 and the TEAC amplifier be beneficial?
would optical interconnection between the X10 and DAC show an improvement? (for some reason the TEAC amplifier does not have an optical input, even though the source components of the Reference 300 system have optical out!)
can anyone recommend an alternative combination of DAC and amplifier to put between the X10 and the Tannoys?
Mon, Jun 4 2012, 2:03AM
#2
RE: Is a DAC necessary?
DAC's exist in CD players as well as other digital components. IMHO the quality of DAC's in many CD players are of lesser quality than what you'll find in a stand alone DAC with the exception of very high end CD players. I own an AYRE QB9 DAC and I am happy with how neutral, clear and detailed it sounds, something that's not all that common coming from an analogue signal. Also, the internal clock within the QB9 is exceptional and it makes listening to the MP3 audio stream from the BBC3 a great pleasure.
Sat, Jul 21 2012, 1:07PM
#3
RE: Is a DAC necessary?
DAC's exist in CD players as well as other digital components. IMHO the quality of DAC's in many CD players are of lesser quality than what you'll find in a stand alone DAC with the exception of very high end CD players. I own an AYRE QB9 DAC and I am happy with how neutral, clear and detailed it sounds, something that's not all that common coming from an analogue signal. Also, the internal clock within the QB9 is exceptional and it makes listening to the MP3 audio stream from the BBC3 a great pleasure.
+1.
imho a DAC is necessary if you want high quality sound from your laptop or PC for listening to Radio 3 (HD), Linn Radio, and FLAC, WAV files (especially if you've got some studio master versions. But then you also need a decent amp and speakers.
Thu, Dec 6 2012, 9:26AM
#4
RE: Is a DAC necessary?
Hi
To my experience a good DAC always improves the sound. There are CD players with good dacs and there are external dacs. My tip is to visit your local hifi store and compare some different CD/DAC. The source is in my experience the most critical component because it is the start of the signal. And a good start is critical.
Best Regards, Per Nilsson, Sweden
Fri, Dec 7 2012, 2:52PM
#5
RE: Is a DAC necessary?...DAC to the future
I've just been reading about this in the November Magazine, and I'm not sure that the advice is correct.
In the article the reviewer (Mr Everard?) states that it is NOT possible to connect the digital output from a Blu Ray player to a DAC, as nearly all hifi DACs are not equiped with Dolby Digital. This might well be the case, and I'm not familiar with blu-ray, BUT most standard DVD players have the option to resample the digital output as PCM (either 48 or 96Khz).
The reason why I'm taking issue with this is that I would have thought that this would be an important option for someone who listens to CDs and watches DVDs but is limited to just one system. Space (and money) can be limited!!
Sat, Dec 8 2012, 9:23PM
#6
RE: Is a DAC necessary?
I really know almost nothing about Blue Ray players and I'm not certain what input and output options might be available with certain players but I personally would not make a decision about purchasing a stand alone DAC based on a Blue Ray player. My decision to buy a DAC preceeded my purchasing an amplifier, cables, speakers and a Mac Mini. I had to decide based on price and sound fidelity which source component I would be most happy with and my choice focused completely on its intergration with a hi fidelity system.
As it turns out, I am happy with viewing films via DVD in the computer superdrive. I've even been told by a friend that he doesn't think that I would like Blue Ray, so intergrating a Blue Ray player with my DAC has never been a goal of mine. However, it seems that if intergrating a Blue Ray Player with a stereo is a priority, then connecting the Blue Ray directly to the amplifier via Blue Ray outputs to amplifier inputs is the sole option and I can't see how 'not' owning a DAC would alter these logistics. I would then attempt to purchase the best sounding Blue Ray player that I could afford.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Thanks.
Thu, Jan 3 2013, 11:55PM
#7
RE: Is a DAC necessary?
DAC's exist in CD players as well as other digital components. IMHO the quality of DAC's in many CD players are of lesser quality than what you'll find in a stand alone DAC with the exception of very high end CD players. I own an AYRE QB9 DAC and I am happy with how neutral, clear and detailed it sounds, something that's not all that common coming from an analogue signal. Also, the internal clock within the QB9 is exceptional and it makes listening to the MP3 audio stream from the BBC3 a great pleasure.
+1.
imho a DAC is necessary if you want high quality sound from your laptop or PC for listening to Radio 3 (HD), Linn Radio, and FLAC, WAV files (especially if you've got some studio master versions. But then you also need a decent amp and speakers.
+1 your need a decent PA system, good speaker cable & signal cables as well as making sure your listen to the best auio file possible like a WAV or FLAC file...
Your also find that far to many media players play around with the audio files code and alter the sound (Itunes is the worst i've found)
So yes a DAC can and will help if all of the above is in order.
Fantasic fourm by the way look forward it spending some time here :)
Tue, Jan 15 2013, 12:26AM
#8
RE: Is a DAC necessary?
WhiskeyWheels mentions the signal quality via the itunes software. I've heard from an itunes competitor that itunes has been making improvements with respect to its signal. I use itunes (with equalization features off) with my DAC and I'm unable to distinguish peculiarities in its playback but I'm running only MacIntosh software (and whether this matters or not I can't say). The Ayre QB9 was designed with itunes in mind which I would assume accounts for something. It may be worthwhile to compare flagship CD players with DAC's but then you'll find that one is consecutavely out trumping the other. The German MBL DAC is certainly crazy expensive if you find that price point matters. Many years ago, someone in the business had told me that the best sounding DAC by far was a Levinson but I'm thinking that this Levinson DAC would require an upgrade to the computers sound card. CD player or DAC; difficult to judge without comparing sound, build quality, cost and personal use.
Thu, Feb 28 2013, 12:01PM
#9
RE: Is a DAC necessary?
Most External DAC allow Optical, coaxial (some allow USB also ) are for 2.0 playback. I think your concern is CD - 2.0 channels which many external DAC are capable to lift up SQ from Cocktail X10.
By the time you want to play AV / movies , HDMI connection to AV receiver
is then needed. The connectors tell the type of signals carried. Recent AV Receivers decode multi-channels but most external DAC do not.
The X10 appears to have a 60watt amp built in so I guess it will power the Tannoys.
What kind of budget have you got?
Robin