DAC Confusion


Just picked up a used Bluesound N100 at a local HiFi store in my parts that was listed here. Mentioned to the sales guy that I am starting fresh with a new system and need amplification. He suggested an integrated amp with a built-in DAC (NAD 368). Here’s my question: aside from the relative merits of that NAD unit, why would I need a built-in DAC when the N100 has its own DAC? He claimed the NAD DAC is superior to the one in the N100 and thus worth the extra $ I’d be paying compared with an integrated without a DAC. Hmmmm.... really? I know there can be qualitative, significant differences in performance between DACs, but between the one in the NAD 368 vs the N100? I’m a bit skeptical, and he didn’t seem too eager to let me do a listening test.

Bottom line, I gotta buy an integrated and my shelf space (and budget) is a bit tight, so if I’m gonna go the “Swiss army knife” route (to borrow a phrase from a related thread), it’s gonna be for a built-in phono stage for my LPs, not a redundant built-in DAC.

BTW, this will be driving a pair of efficient bookshelf speakers so I don’t need a ton of power. Of course, I mentioned that to the sales guy and he argued that I should buy as much power now as I could afford, to “future-proof” my purchase in case I decide to upgrade to more difficult-to-drive speakers later on. 

That’s when I left the store ;)

Sorry for the long-winded post. I’m a newbie and my head is spinning a bit over all of this.


128x128davidb928
The nice part about the Bluesound equipment is that you can add you own DAC.
I have the original Node and use an Ayre Codex for a DAC. The sound is much better than the Node DAC.
B
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Those Marantz models are on my short list, so glad to hear they’re well-regarded. I do think the N100 DAC will suit me fine until I’m ready to upgrade to a separate DAC, so that’s probably going to be the plan. Will keep y’all posted when I finally make a decision and get this system up and running. Thanks! 
Buy something like a nuprime DAC 9, or 10, which can be used as a preamp, to drive a separate amp. I assume you can also use it with a simple and separate phono amp that should take up very little space. You are then set for the future. 
Given you also play vinyl, I agree with your thought to focus on an integrated that has a quality phonostage, use the N100 DAC for now and explore the DAC market for a possible upgrade later.