Does this tube amp need a dac?

[barmar46]

I'm getting a Headroom Millet hybrid amplifier hopefully to bring out greater potential in my AKG k701's,which after 400 hrs of burn in was beginning to sound just ok on my HR micro stack yet, still sounds too bright and harsh. I've been advised to go directly into the amp from the source without using a dac, ie analog vs. digital. I'm "invested" in this because it allows me to sell all my previous gear and move up to the Millet, but I don't want to compromise SQ. I realize this amp is both solid state and tube so that adds to my ambivilance.
Do I need the dac or is pure analog the best route?

 

[MaloS]

Do you know what a DAC does? Because I don't think you do >.<

 

[barmar46]

I thought I knew the basics. It's a digital analog converter? I don't know the technicalities , maybe I don't know anything at all about a dac, but that's WHY I'm asking ?s. Isn't that one of the basic purposes of this forum? To freely share among ourselves in a mutual community of interest without putting down or intimidating others who admit they don't know? Usually when I post I get help not adversarial challenges.

 

[PFKMan23]

In order to maximize its potential along with the potential of your cans, yes I'd say source upgrade is a good idea.

 

[Rav]

Depending on on source, but i'd advise trying the amp without a DAC and seeing how you like it before you decide to spend any more money.

 

[Uncle Erik]

What is your source right now? Are you listening directly from a sound card or iPod? If so, you might want to put a good DAC between it and your amp.

You cannot go purely analog if you are listening to digital music. If you are listening to CD, SACD, MP3, or any digital file, you have a DAC between the file and your amp. If you don't have a quality DAC, look into getting one.

If you want to try pure analog, I strongly recommend a turntable. Even the modest ones sound great and they are a lot of fun. If you want to check out other analog sources, look into a nice FM tuner and/or a reel-to-reel deck. Both are surprisingly good, especially with modern headphones.

Also, don't confuse sources and amplification in regard to analog and digital. Simply, vacuum tubes are analog and transistors are digital. That changes the qualities of the amplification, but the signal fed to the amp is something different. Actually, by the time the signal gets to the amp, it is always analog. That's because the digital file goes through a DAC before it gets to the amp.

 

[MaloS]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaloS /img/forum/go_quote.gif Do you know what a DAC does? Because I don't think you do >.<

The reason I ask that is because first I want to establish grounds of what we should elaborate upon to help you.
Uncle Eric got it started for you, but here is a careful break down.

Pure Analog means the signal never entered digital domain. Tapes can be analog (not necessarily), Vinyl is technically an analog source (assuming some lame person did not make it from a digital record).
Everything else is digital. That is where you would use a DAC. A CD-Player has a DAC, a computer's audiocard is a DAC, and so on. The question is then - what type of music format do you use. You do not need a dedicated external DAC if you have a CDP or a Computer already, but you could benefit from a better CDP or an external DAC with your computer.

Thats basically it.

 

[barmar46]

Thank you all for the clarification. I apologize for my tongue tied failure to give complete and accurate information in asking a clear question. My source is a Cambridge Azur 540 C compact disc player(version 1) and it has an internal dac (a Wolfson? I believe). I also have an external Headroom micro dac that I was going to return back to Headroom as part of the exchange process to get the Headroom Millet. This was based on a Headroom staffer's advice that I didn't need it and that going directly from the Cambridge 540 to the Millet would be the best Headroom alternative within my price range to achieve the warmest results for the 701s and thus tone down their harshness. What I was trying to ask, though I see not very clearly,is: Is there any SQ advantage to keeping and hooking up the external dac, because if not, it's to my financial advantage to go ahead and return it as part of the deal to get the Millet?

Gee I hope I made that clearer.

 

[MaloS]

Go for the Millet. K701 complains quite a bit about the power. If future funds permit, you would benefit from adding a better dedicated source, but depending on your tastes, warm Headroom DACs might not be the best option (Millet itself is pretty warm to start with, things can get too bloomy).

 

[Negatron]

The Millett is your best option for the 701's With a proper amp they are not bright. The CDP will suffice as a source untill you can further climb the upgrade ladder to another standalone DAC and as a benefit have some time to make an informed choice. The Millett and the 701's will be a good pairing.

 

[feifan]

You're getting sound advice (pun intended) from your responders.

Re a possible DAC upgrade: I'm not familiar with your CDP so I don't know what your source output options are. When shopping, be sure to check the DAC input options (coaxial, optical) so they match up with your CDP. Always nice to have USB input options, too, for computer as source.