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DAC OR NO DAC???

I am a newbie here and just getting into hifi and I am sure this is a dumb question but if anyone can comment and help me out?

I am currently listening to a lot of youtube music videos(quality varies) and tidal from my hp laptop via hdmi connect to a marrantz 7704. the 7704 seems to be decoding the signal pretty well. I tried a audioquest dragonfly red and it gave me some interference or something. ( maybe I needed the jitterbug to go with it?) so I returned it and just using the hdmi. Happy with tidal also but really like the music videos. One question is hdmi sound quality not as good as I could get? Can a dac help from this source? a dac to try that uses an hdmi? or should I just forget hdmi? A dac to try for under 500 or should I just wait and spend more? Thanks


My startup system consists of bw 804 d3's ( I do see where people say they are a little bright but so far I am enjoying them:) Marantz 7704, McIntosh mc207, bw 805d3 and htm1d3 for movies, fathom 212 that I turn up for movies and back down for music, source as described above and audio technical at lp5 ( I know it is a cheaper one but wasn't sure how much vinyl I would listen to but I am impressed with the quality of the new vinyl and sound I am currently getting compared to digital) -room 13 x 15 no acoustic treatments yet




rwrightcpa
rwrightcpa OP
30 posts
 
caphill

Wow that is impressive. You must be the very small percentage of people that are on this forum to have such a system. Enjoy:)

Thanks again for all of your input and sharing.
caphill
674 posts
 
@rwrightcpa

Make sure you get a really good quality USB cable to connect to the Classe Sigma SSP’s rear USB DAC input for your digital stereo music file playbacks.
It makes huge difference. I recommend either the Transparent Premium, Reference, or Audioquest Diamond. The same with the Ethernet cable, HDMI, analog audio interconnects, speaker cables and power cables.


rwrightcpa OP
30 posts
 
I received the sigma but unfortunately it had some issues and I sent it back. 

I am just going to stick with the 7704 for now and an leaning towards getting the mc 2600 and try a stereo tube pre. The 7704 has pure setting that I can pass through the 2600 rather than use the 2600 all the time.

Any thoughts greatly appreciated. 
caphill
674 posts
 
@rwrightcpa 

what were the issues with the Sigma SSP? 

The McIntosh MC 2600 seems to be a fine choice and will probably mate well with your McIntosh MC207 power amp. 

rwrightcpa OP
30 posts
 
I could not get any sound out of it. Tried alot of different Video fine, but no sound at all. Talked to support and did a factory reset and still nothing:(
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