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Benefits of an external DAC

I need a sounding board from you folks.  I have a slightly upgraded Oppo 103 CD player that was a big SQ improvement over my Consonance tube CD player.  I need a DAC to take the stream from my iMac, turn into an analogue signal to my preamp.  Lots of folks rave about the benefits of an external DAC so, in progression, I got a Jolida tube DAC, a Schiit Gungnir, and a Channel Island Audio DAC.  I connect the Oppo to the CIA DAC with a coaxial cable.  I input the analogue signal from the Oppo into my preamp with RCA IC's.    

It is easy to switch between DAC in the path vs. the Oppo analogue signal straight into the preamp.  I tell ya, I have done the comparison between all three DAC's vs. the analogue signal run from the Oppo to the preamp and have been unable to discern any difference.   Zero, zip, nada.  I have done the comparison with lots of audio pals and nobody hears a wits worth of difference.

There clearly are lots of devotees using external DAC, but in my system (with a Don Sachs tube preamp, Pass Labs First Watt F5, and Spatial Audio M4 Turbo S speakers, with good cabling), I am perplexed as to why the use of an external DAC makes no difference in the SQ in my system. It sounds exactly the same.  

I am awaiting a demo of a Denafrips Ares DAC to see if this well-regarded DAC does something to the SQ -- one way or another.  So far, the employment of a DAC to improve the SQ of the signal from my Oppo has been an utter waste of time.  What am I missing?
whitestix
rhljazz
1,250 posts
 

Chord Hugo kills my Oppo 105D.  Oppo is only good for background music.  I use a Tara RSC digital cable into the Hugo and Morrow MA3 Rca's to preamp. 

The Chord represents some original thinking and implementation from an established company. 

toddverrone's avatar
toddverrone
840 posts
 
Oppos only good for background music? That's some serious elitism right there. They're great sounding digital players at their price and are fine for serious listening. I'm sure the chord Dave is better.. doesn't mean you have to dis a lower priced product that is an established solid player.

OP - I'm interested to see if you'll drop the coin on a high price DAC. If you do, please post back with impressions. I'm unendingly curious about this stuff.


helomech
1,537 posts
 
The tube DAC may be different but is not necessarily superior. Did you measure the frequency response? CD red book is the product of the largest research effort ever into audio reproduction, by one the worlds best physics labs of the time.The DAC chips inside these modern external DACs are manufactured by a handful of chip makers, and have now all reached audio perfection at very low cost (they only cost a few dollars each if bought in volume). Implementation is straightforward as long as the DAC designer follows the instructions of the chip maker. Hence I think your observations are what was to be expected. I did a similiar test with a range of different DACs (some very cheap) in a system with Quad 2805 electrostats. I was unable to discern any difference.

Yes, different, not necessarily better. I do perceive a wider soundstage and more fleshed out midrange, not unlike going from a SS amp to a tube amp.
whitestix OP
703 posts
 
Thanks for the insights very much.  Some years ago, I was at the CA Audio show and the particular vendors were using a Bricasti DAC, selling for $5K-$6K.  They also had a Jolida Tube DAC which they were able to switch back and forth with the Bricasti DAC.  After a couple of minutes of switching back and forth, I looked that the fellow doing the demo and simply shrugged my shoulders... they both sounded the same to me.  He heard the same thing I heard and agree the Jolida was quite good. 

I figure others are right that if i move up the food chain of DACs, I will hear a difference... whether that difference is better or not is subjective.  The cost of such a DAC is out of my sensible budget for audio gear.  What amazes me it that I hear absolutely no difference with or without my CIA DAC in the path.  There is not one aspect the music that is different with the DAC in the path.  Literally, the sound is indistinguishable to my 64 year old hear. How swapping my McCormack amp for my Pass Labs amp yields sonic difference that I could spent a long time describing.  Same thing with tube rolling... the differences are immediate and often very dramatic.   

I am going to audition the modestly-priced Denafrips AresDAC in my system soon to see if it creates the sort of sonic wonders that devotees of external DAC's are hearing.  If not, I conclude that I will be happy living with the sound of the Oppo sans DAC.  Thanks again for the comments.  
helomech
1,537 posts
 
I don't think it's the age of your ears. My ears are 33 years old and I believe my $8K system, not including DAC, is reasonably revealing.
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