Do I need a better DAC?
Hi all. I need advice.My budget setup consists of Apple TV connected to Marantz PM5004 via a cheap Neet DAC (optical to RCA) and the amp is powering Tannoy Mercury V1 standmounted.I mainly stream AAC 256kbps/MP3 320kbps via iTunes/Spotify via PC, iPhone using AirPlay/Airfoil, but considered ripping CDs again to Apple Lossless or similar. But this is not a priority at the moment.With this setup and sources, would I get much benefit from a pricier DAC? Or even a similarly priced different one? I am not that dissatisfied with the Neet DAC, it does a job, but I sometimes feel I could be getting more.The Fiio D3 gets favourable reviews but will it be better than what I've got? Is TEAC, Dacmagic, VDAC etc going to dramatically change things?Appreciate any advice you can give.Ber2k
Nothing will dramaticaly change things. Dramatic changes in sound are the preserve of speakers, unless something is horribly wrong somewhere.
Many people are more than happy with the output of an ATV, AEX, Sonos etc.
Hi
I would still recommend having a good listen to a number of DAC's as although a good pair of speakers will make a difference, a poor front end will get shown up.
Personally I found using a good DAC such as my Meridian 566 to put a DVD through rather than a DAC inside the Denon DVD made a vast difference to sound quality.
So would say do not under estimate the difference a good DAC will make as a good front end to a great pair of speakers will give you a better experience.
Systems need to be good throughout the chain from Source to speakers including importantly, cables and equipment stands.
Cheers
Dave
Would it not be worth first ripping a few CDs as Lossless and comparing them to the lower bitrate equivalent before spending money? It seems strange to me that you'd spend a few hundred pounds as you feel things could be improved when you're not putting the "best" source material into the DAC.
Hi
I would still recommend having a good listen to a number of DAC's as although a good pair of speakers will make a difference, a poor front end will get shown up.
What would a good example of a poor front end be? I don't think I've ever heard one.
These days I thik that all digital front ends are much the same.
Would it not be worth first ripping a few CDs as Lossless and comparing them to the lower bitrate equivalent before spending money? It seems strange to me that you'd spend a few hundred pounds as you feel things could be improved when you're not putting the "best" source material into the DAC.
I completely agree. You cannot make mp3 sound like a good CD by simply changing the DAC.
Would it not be worth first ripping a few CDs as Lossless and comparing them to the lower bitrate equivalent before spending money? It seems strange to me that you'd spend a few hundred pounds as you feel things could be improved when you're not putting the "best" source material into the DAC.
I completely agree. You cannot make mp3 sound like a good CD by simply changing the DAC.
+1, this small bit of work could save you a nice sum.
Hi
There are some real bargains around these days on DAC's as they are becoming more popular. I would definately recommend looking at either the Arcam rDAC or the Meridian Explorer USB DAC.
Both are under £300 and please connect either of them with a good USB cable, such as The Chord Company it really does make all the difference.
If you are not convinced read the articles on the link below.
http://www.hifiideas.com/page/2/
Cheers
Dave
So you recommend products that are available via paid adverts on the site you linked to, that just happens to be run by someone called Dave?
Hi
There are some real bargains around these days on DAC's as they are becoming more popular. I would definately recommend looking at either the Arcam rDAC or the Meridian Explorer USB DAC.
Both are under £300 and please connect either of them with a good USB cable, such as The Chord Company it really does make all the difference.
If you are not convinced read the articles on the link below.
http://www.hifiideas.com/page/2/
Cheers
Dave
So you recommend products that are available via paid adverts on the site you linked to, that just happens to be run by someone called Dave?
Devon Dave in fact. 
Perhaps a touch hypocritical - if it were Ash of Nailsworth would you complain?
Perhaps a touch hypocritical - if it were Ash of Nailsworth would you complain?
I think that Craig.M is hinting that some rule breaking may have happened and that applies to all users of this forum. I imagine that DevonDave would benefit directly if someone bought an item through a link on his own website.
Perhaps a touch hypocritical
Really? Please show me the links I've provided that could benefit me financially.
What's that? You can't? Of course you can't, I wouldn't do it because it's taking the p***.
The other part of your post is pathetic but becoming par for the course from you.
Simple test. If you choose to post on a forum you follow the house rules. Is devondave in breach of them? It certainly appears so. Is Ashley James or any of the AVI posters? No.
Would it not be worth first ripping a few CDs as Lossless and comparing them to the lower bitrate equivalent before spending money? It seems strange to me that you'd spend a few hundred pounds as you feel things could be improved when you're not putting the "best" source material into the DAC.
I completely agree. You cannot make mp3 sound like a good CD by simply changing the DAC.
Disagree.
imo, 320 Kbps MP3 and 256 Kbps AAC are transparent. ie inaudibly different to the original.
And while all DACs (chips)should sound much the same, all implementions don't
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I would see if you could test your DAC against a decent budget model such as a Beresford or Cambridge.
I certainly improved the sound from my old Squeezebox (duet) with a DAC change (and blind tested it, not that I needed to, the Duet analogue outs were awful(SB Touch was a million times better) )
So some myth busting...All Digital Sources are of equal quality...Well actually they are not.
An iPod, uses Apple Loss Less files, which are not fully loss less, so some quality will be lost, you will on comparison notice a slightly compressed sound to your CD.
Next up is a PC with WAV Loss Less files, an improvement on the iPod file compression but still an element of compression will be noticed, arguably in more expensive systems rather than cheaper ones.
Next we have Media Servers, these are being touted by most experts as a real competition for the CD player. The files ripped onto these are truly Loss Less but good ones cost considerably more than a PC/MAC and DAC system.
Lastly CD players, well they come in all price brackets and you will get what you pay for as strangely a very nice £100 player will not out perform a £1,000 player which in turn will not out perform a high end £30,000 player.
Other formats have been tried and sadly have not taken off, such as DVD Audio and SACD, try going and buying more than a handful of these discs?
It is a shame as these were levels of quality that would firmly convince even the most die hard Vinyl lover that the silver disc is better.
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Hi
There are some real bargains around these days on DAC's as they are becoming more popular. I would definately recommend looking at either the Arcam rDAC or the Meridian Explorer USB DAC.
Both are under £300 and please connect either of them with a good USB cable, such as The Chord Company it really does make all the difference.
If you are not convinced read the articles on the link below.
http://www.hifiideas.com/page/2/
Cheers
Dave