jeff6666p
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2015
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How would a eBay PCM2704 dac sound compared to my built in sound from my early 2011 MacBook Pro 13"?
Don't bother.
Don't bother.
I disagree.
Bother. It's worth it.
This "DAC vs soundcard" thing is the digital version of "headphone amp vs just the chip in my smartphone" debate. The answer, in both cases, is if you really want "scalable" sound quality and functionality (ie, that are more than just basic, bare bones), you get the external device.
There are some very decent DACs available for small $$. You just have to look.
I got my 1st DAC 9 years ago. It was an enormous step-up from the soundcard (actually by then I was using an external sound card). Night and day sonic differences in all the small ways that are cumulative and totally matter.
How would a eBay PCM2704 dac sound compared to my built in sound from my early 2011 MacBook Pro 13"?
I disagree.
Bother. It's worth it.
This "DAC vs soundcard" thing is the digital version of "headphone amp vs just the chip in my smartphone" debate. The answer, in both cases, is if you really want "scalable" sound quality and functionality (ie, that are more than just basic, bare bones), you get the external device.
There are some very decent DACs available for small $$. You just have to look.
I got my 1st DAC 9 years ago. It was an enormous step-up from the soundcard (actually by then I was using an external sound card). Night and day sonic differences in all the small ways that are cumulative and totally matter.
Save up for a mojo, they are truly a generation ahead of the sigma-delta dacs that have been industry standard this century.
This might be the most Head-Fi thread on Head-Fi ever... guy comes in looking at a $22 OEM rebrand DAC and gets recommended a $600 Chord product
I haven't heard a PCM 2704 DAC that would sound better than a Macbook. I have often seen Macbook owners complaining they didn't hear a difference between their laptop and an entry level D/A even upto $200. IIRC Macbooks have wolfson chips and sound great. PCM 2704 won't be a match, but again someone might find it more favourable.