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DAC Comparison - Aurender A200 vs McIntosh C2600

This is a long shot, but I will ask anyway because it seems somebody somewhere has already investigated just about everything........

Has anyone done any critical listening to compare the DAC inside the Aurender A200 vs the McIntosh C2600?

I recently purchased an Aurender A200 streamer and I am using the DAC inside this unit. My system features a McIntosh C2600 tube preamplifier that has its own internal DAC and I am wondering if one DAC is noticeably better than the other, or if anyone has listened to them both.  I tried to do some comparative listening to them both yesterday but it appears I will need to do some firmware updates to my McIntosh before I can do this - hence this post and question.

Thanks from an old analog guy trying to learn the digital streaming world.

hikerneil
oddiofyl's avatar
oddiofyl
3,964 posts
 

I agree, maybe the DAC 2 card is the way to go.   My Dad has a Mc MA8950 and it sounds great with his streamer and the Amp's DAC 2 card .    

I am a big fan of separates but if the built in DAC is well implemented it can sound really good.  

I have a Cyrus i7XR Integrated Amp with a built-in DAC, in fact it's the same chipset used in the McIntosh DAC.   I fully intended to use my RME DAC but the Cyrus sound so good with it's DAC I sold the RME. 

My main system uses an Aurender N200 with the LAB 12 DAC 1 Reference and it is an excellent sounding combo.  

It is nice to have that eArc inputon the Mac if you watch a lot of TV to it 

 

hikerneil OP
37 posts
 

Thanks for input from everyone.  I have no tv in this room, so that is not an issue.  I believe my long-term solution is a stand-alone DAC so I'm looking for the best solution right now.

I do appreciate that input on the DAC 2 card.  I may see what that cost is, but will likely just stick with my Aurender A200 internal DAC for now - it sounds quite good.  

If anyone has heard the C2600 DAC 1, let me know.  Thanks again!

jeffreyw's avatar
jeffreyw
275 posts
 

I have the DA2 module in my C2700. My stand-alone DAC is $19K. I smile every time I switch to the DA2, which offers tremendous performance for very little extra cash. 

Plan on spending at least $5K on a stand-alone DAC to improve upon the DA2 module—it is that good. 

blisshifi's avatar
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blisshifi
1,208 posts
 

I’ve heard the Mc DAC1 and compared it to a number of DACs. It is warm sounding, but not very resolving. I’m also an authorized Aurender dealer. The A200’s DAC will be more resolving and articulate, but you may find it is not as warm or musical as the DAC1 in your C2600. If you are interested in continuing to use your A200 for the long term and not upgrade your DAC but are interested in an even better sound, try adding a Synergistic research Tranquility Pod Carbon or Tranquility Base Carbon under the A200. It will smooth out the sound, make it more resolving and focused and increase soundstage size, all while making the presentation more relaxing and refined. Aurender units also respond very favorably to aftermarket analog and digital interconnects and power cables.

hikerneil OP
37 posts
 

blisshifi - I suppose I should also repaint my room with synergistic's acoustic paint so that my sound stage will increase and my music will be more resolving? haha

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