[silentraindrop]

My current setup is very simple pc spdif->int amp(receiver) that feeds a 2.1 speaker setup.
I would like to add a headphone amp in the mix.

1. Would adding a DAC give me a "better" sound over spdif? I mostly listen to flac's
2. Do I need/want a preamp?
3. Is switching to a class d amp be an upgrade over integrated amplifier? Will it drive a floor standing speakers at decent volume?
4. PC -> DAC -> Preamp(optional) -> Headphone Amp -> Amp. Is this the right order?

I am looking at some basic dac/amp offerings from Schitt or Toppings. Do you have any recommendations?

 

[esmse]

all depends on your gear and your budget but if you're looking for big improvements with a DAC you're going to spend at least around 850 EUR/USD if you want to hear a difference.

in your case I would be looking into a DDC, like singxer SU6 for example. USB from PC into DDC and then to both amps. If the headphone amp doesn't have digital in, you're going to need a DAC. that will likely be a bigger improvement than a budget DAC

another option would be to go for a DAC with dual analog out (RCA/RCA or RCA/XLR), you can then go in via spdif and then 2 analogue outs, one to each amp

preamp doesn't make much sense I think

 

[iFi audio]

4. PC -> DAC -> Preamp(optional) -> Headphone Amp -> Amp. Is this the right order?

All headphone amps already have a preamp in-built, so you don't need one.

3. Is switching to a class d amp be an upgrade over integrated amplifier? Will it drive a floor standing speakers at decent volume?

It depends on your speakers and integrated amplifier you already have. But in general, class D amps output a lot of power and are considering if a speaker set is difficult to drive, funds are limited and so is available space.

2. Do I need/want a preamp?

If you have a way to control volume and are happy with how it works, you don't need a separate product to do that. Hope this helps, thanks!

 

[silentraindrop]

all depends on your gear and your budget but if you're looking for big improvements with a DAC you're going to spend at least around 850 EUR/USD if you want to hear a difference.

in your case I would be looking into a DDC, like singxer SU6 for example. USB from PC into DDC and then to both amps. If the headphone amp doesn't have digital in, you're going to need a DAC. that will likely be a bigger improvement than a budget DAC

another option would be to go for a DAC with dual analog out (RCA/RCA or RCA/XLR), you can then go in via spdif and then 2 analogue outs, one to each amp

preamp doesn't make much sense I think

Interesting... So DDC works like a splitter of some sort. If that's the case, I may just keep the current setup and run a dac/amp setup for headphones only. I can switch output from PC easy enough. My thinking was to streamline everything off of one output and upgrade(?) some of the current components.

All headphone amps already have a preamp in-built, so you don't need one.
It depends on your speakers and integrated amplifier you already have. But in general, class D amps output a lot of power and are considering if a speaker set is difficult to drive, funds are limited and so is available space.
If you have a way to control volume and are happy with how it works, you don't need a separate product to do that. Hope this helps, thanks!

Thanks for clarifying the preamp. My speakers are easy to drive and runs fine on 10+ year old Pioneer Elite. I am quite content with the sound coming out of the speakers. As stated above, looking to add a speaker amp and possibly upgrade other components along the way(if it provided any benefit). I read USB output has more bandwidth than spdif. Not that I need more bandwidth, but nothing wrong with having more right?

 

[iFi audio]

DDC works like a splitter of some sort.

Rather, it's a converter that turns one digital input into another digital output, but has its own clocks etc. and that might improve sound quality.

I read USB output has more bandwidth than spdif. Not that I need more bandwidth, but nothing wrong with having more right?

S/PDIF is inherently limited to 24b/192kHz and USB can go way above that. Some music like DSD can't be natively sent over S/PDIF due to its limitations. It's worth knowing that most music we listen to is within S/PDIF bandwidth, so I wouldn't worry too much about that