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Started by Mark Brumler
Fri, 04 Sep 1998 00:00
When is it worth adding a DAC?
Author: Mark Brumler
Date: Fri, 04 Sep 1998 00:00
Date: Fri, 04 Sep 1998 00:00
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I'm at the stage where I'm considering a CD upgrade. However, it's not clear to me whether or not adding a DAC is a viable option (sound wise). Does anyone have any experiances or recommendations on when or when not to use a DAC? I've heard that it's really not worth while and you should just purchase a new CD player. I don't know if it makes a difference but I only have an optical output on the CD player. However, I'm reluctant to buy a new CD player with DVD Audio pending. It may be that a new DVD player in a year or so is the way to go....? In the mean time I could add, say a Musical Fidelity X-ACT. My current system is: Amp - Musical Fidelity A2, Spkrs - Tannoy M3's, Kimber 4TC cable and Pioneer PDS703 CD Any advice would be very much appreciated. Thanks, Mark
Re: When is it worth adding a DAC?
Author: Thorsten
Date: Fri, 04 Sep 1998 00:00
Date: Fri, 04 Sep 1998 00:00
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Hi there, > I'm at the stage where I'm considering a CD upgrade. However, it's not > clear to me whether or not adding a DAC is a viable option (sound wise). It largely depends.... > Does anyone have any experiances or recommendations on when or when not to > use a DAC? In a Nutshell, as long as everything in equal (read Digital Filter, DAC's, Analogue Stages, Powersupplies and the Transport inside the CD-Player has a seperate PSU) the DAC will loose every time. If the CD-Player is not so hot however, the better Filter and Chipset in an External DAC MIGHT provide a real improvement (not just a different bad sound). Having recently tested my Hotrodded Marantz CD-67 SE CD-Player against a very expensive DAC/X-Port Combo (Audio Synthesis DAX + Teak's one down from the Top Transport), my hotrod CD-Player was almost indistinguishable.... It was only below about 40Hz that the DAC/X-Port combo was definitly better (more weight). > I've heard that it's really not worth while and you should just > purchase a new CD player. Well sort of. > I don't know if it makes a difference but I only have an optical > output on the CD player. It does. With no coax Output (only worth having if it's a BNC though) forget it. > However, I'm reluctant to buy a new CD player with DVD Audio pending. I'm reluctant buying CD's.... > It may be that a new DVD player in a year or so is the way to go....? I doubt it. Despite the ravings in some Mag's, on real terms few DVD Players can match the CD performance of even modest mid-priced Mass-Market Stuff.... > In the mean time I could add, say a Musical Fidelity X-ACT. Blow the Money on Music.... The X-Act (IMHO) has a worse DAC than your CD- Player.... > My current system is: Amp - Musical Fidelity A2, Spkrs - Tannoy M3's, Kimber > 4TC cable and Pioneer PDS703 CD So what is the complaint with the System? What are you trying to acieve by upgrading? Or are there just a few 100 Pound/Dollar burning a Hole into your Pocket? If so buy a decent Turntable and start buying Vinyl.... Kind regards Thorsten. ====================================== e-mail: Thorsten@tnt-audio.com Visit TNT-Audio on the Web - the only advertising free audio web-zine. http://www.tnt-audio.com ====================================== -----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==----- http://www.dejanews.com/rg_mkgrp.xp Create Your Own Free Member Forum
Re: When is it worth adding a DAC?
Author: Kalman Rubinson
Date: Fri, 04 Sep 1998 00:00
Date: Fri, 04 Sep 1998 00:00
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Thorsten@tnt-audio.com wrote: > > It may be that a new DVD player in a year or so is the way to go....? > > I doubt it. Despite the ravings in some Mag's, on real terms few DVD Players > can match the CD performance of even modest mid-priced Mass-Market Stuff.... Let's modify that and say that few 'modest mid-priced Mass-Market' DVD players can match the CD performance of even modest mid-priced Mass-Market Stuff... In other words, for the same $ (but not $$$$), a player that does DVD and CD is not going to be as good-sounding on CDs as a dedicated CD player. Makes sense, doesn't it? Kal
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