DAC question, help!

Depends how you hook them up.

If you use the digital out of your CDP to the Hint, then the Hint. If you use the analog (dual RCA or dual XLR) outputs, then the CDP.
You can hook both up at the same time, by the way, so you can do back and forth comparisons.

I would choose base on convenience, and cost and sound quality. I wouldn’t avoid the Hint because it has a DAC. :)

I haven't heard the Hint, but the ZDAC was a pretty sweet sounding DAC for peanuts.

Thanks guys! I just worry that if I get an amp with a DAC, it will be obsolete in a year or two and not sure if want to go through the trouble for updating all the time. Some folks say stick with an all analog int amp but then I've seen so many good reviews for the HINT. Hopefully, I can do some auditioning when we can leave the house. :)

What do you think is going to change in DAC technology?

MQA isn’t "all that" and I can’t see someone trying to come out with a competing technology. It’s unlikely that "hi-res" bit rates are going to go up for any other reason than marketing.

You can use the DAC in your Marantz CD player if you like or the one in the Hint.  If you like the Hint, I wouldn’t let your purchasing decision rest on that one thing. I’d consider it a positive, not a negative.

I have a Peachtree Nova 300 that I bought a few years ago and its DAC hasn’t become obsolete, nor is it in any danger of becoming obsolete that I’m aware of.

When I bought my Focal Electra 1008 BE speakers a while back they were attached to the Hint and I thought it sounded really good. I didn’t do extensive listening, but on first blush it sounded quite nice.

@b_limo LOL Great points!!! I was just wondering because I had seen other posts about DAC updates etc. Whatever int amp I end up getting, I would like to hold onto it for 10 years or so. My old Denon lasted over 2 decades. Just trying to get as much info as I can before i make a big purchase. I looked at Cary Audio's SS amp which looks nice but no phono stage or headphone jack. Bummer.