DAC with CD player that doesn't delay
I don't know much about DACs so that's why I'm asking this question.
My CD player doesn't have any audio startup delay option for the digital outputs.
My receiver takes about a second to respond to PCM mode switches, and when my CD player decides not to preselect PCM when the CD is loaded, or in any case, to do it before the CD starts playing, the amp misses the first second of playback of a CD, and that is just unacceptable.
That's why I'm only using the analog output of the CD player, the Onkyo C-7030.
I wonder what would happen if I put a DAC like the Cambridge Audio DacMagic 100 in between. I'm looking to buy that device and put it on a shelf behind my desk when I have enough money again. It would (or could) be the DAC for both PC, CD and Squeezebox.
Would such a DAC be fast enough to instantly switch to PCM and start DACcing, as they like to do?
I hear it's sometimes also an issue with Squeezeboxes.. some receivers lose the lock in between songs.
Right. Well to my receiver it's like the switch is between "no mode at all" and "PCM mode". That switch is disconcerting enough to it.
I contacted Cambridge Audio and they said they didn't know what would happen. They said the dac responds instantly so unless it's a problem in the CD player (doing the mode switch AFTER it starts playback) it should get fixed.
AFAIK this shouldn't be a problem with DACs. I think CD players only output digital in the one mode (PCM), so there shouldn't be any switching. I don't think I've ever read anyone complaining of something like that with DACs unless the DAC was faulty.
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