DAC vs AMP or BOTH

[Jo6Pak]

Someone please explain to me the purpose of using a Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) with headphones. I am obviously missing something here, as the player (CD/DVD/) already contains this component...

THANKS!

 

[GreatDane]

The idea is to improve performance, hopefully an upgrade to the onboard DAC in the player. Also a stand alone DAC will be more flexible using other sources.

 

[Jo6Pak]

Any recommendations for a NOOB?

THANKS!

 

[GreatDane]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jo6Pak /img/forum/go_quote.gif Any recommendations for a NOOB? THANKS!

How much you got?

 

[jamato8]

Ya, how much you got? :^)

Do want it portable or for home use or both? cost: a few hundred to the sky as in the Audio Note 5 at $50,000 +.

 

[GreatDane]

I recently did some extensive reading about DACs, I can start you out with an inexpensive option that from what I've read is a good value.

http://pacificvalve.us/LTDACAH2.html

 

[jamato8]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreatDane /img/forum/go_quote.gif I recently did some extensive reading about DACs, I can start you out with an inexpensive option that from what I've read is a good value. http://pacificvalve.us/LTDACAH2.html

Hey that is a good link. The non-oversampling is not new though, as they state. Audio Note has used it for a number of years. Anyway I would imagine it sounds pretty good. The next model up with a removable opamp would be nice.

 

[Jo6Pak]

Thanks for the link, I'll do some research now, myself. Would want something for home use (never use portables), but not high dollar, as my current system is anything but audiophile. I am really just wanting to get the MOST out of headphone listening as I rarely use the speakers. If possible, can you please describe to me what AUDIBLE difference I might notice with an add-on DAC as opposed to the onboard ones in my various players? I'm also considering purchasing a Little Dot Micro+. Even though the cans I have coming (HD595) are low impedance, amplification is pretty much always a good thing...Thanks again, to all...

 

[Jo6Pak]

I'm not sure I like this statement in the product write-up:

"The DAC-AH does not recognize PCM or LCPM 2 channel material from DVD"

 

[griff2]

Jo6pak wrote: Quote:

If possible, can you please describe to me what AUDIBLE difference I might notice with an add-on DAC as opposed to the onboard ones in my various players?

Usually clarity. Some years ago I purchased an Audio Alchemy DAC for my Marantz CD player and it was like a veil had been lifted (as the old hi-fi clichés go).

However, with CD or DVD players, unless the DAC re-clocks the datastream, or you use an I2S connection (if available), there's the danger of the digital bitstream becoming susceptible to jitter - which tends to have a smearing effect on the music, flattening the soundstage.

Some of the DACs mentioned in this forum use a USB connection, if connecting to a computer, and in this case, jitter is not an issue.

 

[Jo6Pak]

No, I am referring to home audio applications, not PC. I'm not sure I grasp the concept of putting an additional DAC in-line with the output of the onboard DAC from the player (CD/DVD)...If the signal has already been converted to analog by the player, how is an outboard DAC going to do anything at all? I mean, how can it convert digital to analog when the signal it sees has already been converted?

 

[Davesrose]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jo6Pak /img/forum/go_quote.gif No, I am referring to home audio applications, not PC. I'm not sure I grasp the concept of putting an additional DAC in-line with the output of the onboard DAC from the player (CD/DVD)...If the signal has already been converted to analog by the player, how is an outboard DAC going to do anything at all? I mean, how can it convert digital to analog when the signal it sees has already been converted?

A dedicated DAC replaces the internal DAC in your CD player. So it only runs off of a digital connection (optical/coaxial being most popular....some have USB). I decided to get a dedicated DAC over an expensive CD player, so that I could have the flexibility of using multiple sources. As with anything, the SQ quality isn't necessarily better with a dedicated DAC vs the CD player. In my case it is, since I'm using an inexpensive CD player as transport (so I'm using it's optical out to my DAC)/ and have an expensive DAC as my source. Don't know what budget you're looking for, but I can highly recommend my DAC1!! It gives my music a lot more impact and soundstage.

 

[griff2]

Jo6Pak wrote: Quote:

I'm not sure I grasp the concept of putting an additional DAC in-line with the output of the onboard DAC from the player (CD/DVD)

No, what happens is you take the raw datastream (or PCM) out from the CD player - that's the data that would normally be fed into the internal DAC - and connect the CD to the DAC using coaxial/Toslink or whatever connection is mutually available.

The DAC then converts the datastream to an analogue signal that can then be fed to your amp.

 

[Jo6Pak]

For some reason I am not putting 2+2 together here...So, are you guys saying run the digital out of the player (optical/coax) into a DAC, then into a dedicated (headphone) amp, then straight to the phones and forget the receiver all together? I can understand/dig that, but the receiver currently serves the very necessary function of decoding the 5.1 channel Dolby signal from DVDs...What? I am obviously missing something here, probably something very elementary, but perhaps also the key to my understanding just what it is you are trying to tell me...Thanks for the input, but I'm just not quite 'there' yet...

 

[kool bubba ice]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jo6Pak /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm not sure I like this statement in the product write-up: "The DAC-AH does not recognize PCM or LCPM 2 channel material from DVD"

Yep.. Thats why I will never get a NOS DAC..Too many restrictions..