Hegel H90 external DAC setup

"Thanks, I did this actually - connecting to the analog input on the Hegel with the rca but couldn’t tell a difference...if I have two DACs, the external one is now handling all the conversion or it’s being converted again? Guess it’s a strange setup what I’m trying.

I’d have to check again. I keep hearing how the DAC in the H90 isn’t as good as the H120 and thought maybe a $900 external would make a difference."

I briefly owned a Hegel H90 and did not care for the internal DAC which used the outdated AKM AK4396 DAC chip. As for using an external DAC, NO additional conversion takes place. The analog output of the external DAC is connected to one of the analog inputs and fed directly to the internal preamp.

FWIW, the H90 has been discontinued and will be replaced by the H95 with an updated DAC.  

Thanks, turnbowm. 
Let me add to the complexity... if I’m using the network function to stream over airplay,  Hegel is telling me that the analog in of the external DAC isn’t used. 
I just bought a Bluesound Node 2i, that DAC is inferior to the H90 to my ears, but I’m thinking I can route the external DAC into the Bluesound through an optical connection and then back into the Hegel through coax. This Musical Fidelity MX-DAC has balanced and rca outs, coax and optical ins. Seems like the Bluesound and the external DAC need to talk to each other directly, not both separately connected to Hegel...I think...

just picked up a Bluesound Node 2i, but not sure if I can connect an external DAC to this since it only has outputs. I imagine that analog out on the DAC to analog out on the streamer won’t work.

You got some bad advice. The Node2i is the source and plugs into the DAC. Use Bluesound S/PDIF coax out or Toslink to the DAC digital input.
Then Dac RCA analogue out to an analogue input on the Hegel amp.

Thanks, all good here now! Appreciate the help, all

Just move the SPDIF between external and onboard to compare the sound.