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DAC upgrade?

Hello, I was hoping to get some insight and opinions on upgrading my DAC. I currently am using a Rotel A14 integrated amp and am using the internal DAC of the Rotel. I can't seem to find any specifics regarding the DAC other than its an 

AKM 32-bit/ 768kHz Digital to Analog Converter. The amplifier is powering a pair of Totem Staff speakers and do most of my listening with digital lossless media (ALAC, FLAC) output from a Mac mini and using Audirvana.

I certainly do not consider myself an audiophile but I do enjoy good sounding music. Do you think upgrading my DAC would be beneficial? I wasn't wanting to spend too much on a DAC but was wondering if something like the Schiit Modi multibit, Topping D50 or comparable would provide a better/different sound?


Thanks in advance and look forward to your comments.

downingp
mesch
3,481 posts
 
I agree, stick with what you have.  
downingp OP
7 posts
 
After a quick search, there does seem to be some good reviews on the Gustard A18. There also seem to be comparisons between the A18 and Topping D90.Any thoughts regarding these two DACs?
soix
9,456 posts
 
The guy at soundnews.net does nice reviews IMO and has reviewed both as well as the A22 and may have even done some comparisons between them.  Again, I do believe you’ll get some improvements, but changing DACs isn’t like changing speakers so whether it’s worth it depends greatly on how casually you listen.  If you sit down to listen to music this could be worthwhile, but if you usually listen while doing something else it’s probably not.  That’s about the best way I can put it.  Hope this helps, and best of luck. 
downingp OP
7 posts
 
@soix Thanks again for your responses. I would definitely say I am more than a “casual” listener as I like to sit down and will listen to an album start to finish. I don’t, however, find myself critically listening when I am listening to an album.
Regarding one of your other comments, would my personally ripped CDs into lossless FLAC/ALAC sound just as good, if not better, than streaming cd quality tracks from Tidal/Qobuz?
soix
9,456 posts
 
Ok, given you sit and listen I’d have to say I think you’d appreciate a better DAC in large part because your system is revealing enough to clearly show the improvements IMHO. Deciding between the A18 and the D90 is a tough one as they only seem to differ slightly sonically with the Gustard being a touch more detailed up top while the Topping may posses a tad more warmth in the mids, so I’d make my decision based on which slight bias would match better with your system and tastes. Looks like you can return the A18 if you buy from Apos, and if you can also return the Topping I’d try to demo them both if you can do it as then you’ll know for sure.  Frankly, they both seem so good I don’t think you can make a wrong choice.

For streaming quality I’ve found the Qobuz 16/44 tracks overall to be comparable to spinning my CDs and their hi-res, not surprisingly, to be better. Put it this way — I haven’t spun a CD in over a year since getting Qobuz, and I’ve had more fun finding worlds of new music than I ever had listening to my CDs. Not sure that answers your question, but that’s my experience FWIW.
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