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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
whitestix OP
720 posts
 
bigkidz,
I do have a Denafrip Ares en route to me for a demo, similar in price to my CIA DAC, so I will give the a listen to it in my system. I can hear clear differences in SQ swapping amps, preamp, tubes, cables and speaker wire, but I will be damned if I hear any difference with modestly-priced DAC such as I have or have had compared to my Oppo.

I will get back to you guys early next week with my impressions of the Denafrips DAC.  If it doesn't improve the SQ of my system, then as you suggest, I am going to "just be happy".  I am enthralled with the sound of my system as it is.   Thanks. 
bigkidz
3,392 posts
 
what digital cables is everyone using?  I have had great success with the Moray James cable.

audioengr
3,282 posts
 

The main benefit of an external DAC is that you at least have a chance to feed it a low-jitter source.  Jitter is the #1 thing that can prevent digital from sounding like analog.  If your transport does not low enough jitter, you can add a good reclocker, like a Synchro-Mesh.  If you decide to go computer audio or a server, you can use the DAC for this.

Secondary benefit is better power subsystem and less sharing of this if they are separates. This is the benefit of any separates, including preamp/amp versus integrated etc..

A world-class S/DIF cable for $275 is the BNC-BNC cable with RCA adapters.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

bigkidz
3,392 posts
 
who makes the BNC-BNC Cable?  I looked at your website but I don't see anything for $275.


bigkidz
3,392 posts
 
Whitestix - Let me know if you really hear a difference.  That DAC is a chip R2R and imo you should hear a difference in the mids mostly.  Lots of caps in there for the PS but nothing really new or innovative. The CIA is a basic dac that seems to use filtering for noise, not much info on the unit.  I would imagine that it has a smooth sound for digital but nothing special for the price.  Let us know what you are hearing please.
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