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KEF LS50 Wireless Internal vs External DAC ??

I am finding my KEF LS50 Wireless to sound warmer, fuller, and more spacious, with better resolution of image location, when running my streamer (Audio Alchemy DMP-1/PS-5 power supply) to Audio Alchemy DDP-1 DAC/Preamp into its RCA inputs (which are then internally converted via ADC and again DAC) than I am running my streamer direct to the speakers via USB.
Given the numerous redundant conversions at play, I speculate that the ADC conversion is so much more transparent than I imagined and that the internal DAC in the KEFs is so much worse than I expected that I would recommend others use a high-quality external DAC with these speakers (even if they are to be internally re-DACed within them). 
Anyone have this experience?? Thoughts??
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bug8434
2 posts
 
Hello, I'm a KEF LS50W user from Taiwan.
I have the same feeling as you.
When i connected Mytek 192 on KEF LS50W , it obviously sounds better than the internal dac.
It is really weird but quite a funny thing!
quite happy to find someone got the same feeling.

shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,477 posts
 
One word - jitter. Most of the benefit of a good modern DAC will be the high quality asynchronous clock and jitter rejection. Perhaps the DAC in the LS50 is not as capable as an outboard DAC - however performing A to D and then D to A on the same board within the LS50 might not be as jittery given it is all happening on the same circuit board.
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transience OP
56 posts
 
Hi-Fi News apparently found the same to be true, using the Chord 2QuteHD as an external DAC. It seems there is now consensus on this issue.
bug8434
2 posts
 
With Hugo as an external DAC and run RCA into KEF LS50 wireless, it sounds more spacious and detailed.
However, there is a big problem which made me come back to use USB rather than RCA port.
When I use Hugo, the vocal is apparently not as clear as internal DAC, this is a huge difference, you need not AB test to tell the difference.
I think buy some USB isolation gear EX:Schiit wyrd and Singxer UIP-1 is the best way to make LS 50 wireless Hifiest
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