2. digital
  3. 132029-90127

Best DAC for my situation...Read on!

So thoughts and opinions please.
What I have and my idea.
Oppo 105D and Bluesound Vault 2 feeding into McIntosh C48 preamp.
I chose the C48 because it is a nice complete all in one box solution, headphone amp, mm and mc phono amp, lots of analog inputs with 2 sets of xlr inputs AND 5 total digital inputs.
Now I have both the Oppo and the vault connected by analog and digital inputs to the C48 so I can compare modes pretty instantly and I have to admit both cases the analog sounds better.
Which makes me wonder if the C48, although a great all in one solution may be the hold up as far as the DAC performance is concerned.

What I was considering as a trial is a seperate DAC that can handle the digital signals from the units and then output the analog signal via xlr preferably, back to the C48.
At this stage I have no intention of getting rid of the C48 as I really like the analog signal SQ as well as the headphone performance.

Any good suggestions in the range of $2000 used or am I really not going to see much improvement at that price range over the C48 capability?
128x128uberwaltz
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz OP
13,381 posts
 
@marktomaras 
I appreciate your reply which is very fair and actually good food for thought and future consideration.
Usually when I tell people I do not want to go the computer route they get all bent out of shape and holier than thou on me.
From the sounds of it they have made it easier for us mere mortals to setup and use, definitely something I will have to research a little more.
And yes the Bluesound while not the top dog in SQ by any means was and is a fantastic simple elegant solution and their customer support has been exemplary imho.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,305 posts
 
I would find a suitable Benchmark DAC to experiment with. You might use it as a straight DAC or preamp in the end depending. The credentials of the Benchmark DACs are pretty much impeccable making it a logical go to choice to find out what might be possible in teh price range you are in.
robelvick's avatar
robelvick
619 posts
 
I would give this a shot.  I used to have one, wish I never sold it.

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/da-converters-wyred-4-sound-dac-2-dsdse-dac-d-a-converter-black-da...
willemj
1,036 posts
 
+1 for Benchmark
jbuhl's avatar
jbuhl
990 posts
 
+1 on @robelvick recommendation.  I have no experience with w4s DACS but am totally pumped on the mods they did to my Sonos zone player and the phone conversations were confidence inspiring.  If I ever decide to change out my Wadia 321 this will be the first place I look.

This one is a little more than $2k but has the latest ESS Sabre 9028PRO
https://wyred4sound.com/products/digital-converters/dac-2v2-series


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