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Help Choosing DAC

Hi, I have a Marantz 8b amp which I want to stream digital files from my computer. I plan to purchase some speakers (probably B&W's) used for 1500-3000 and would like to find a DAC that makes sense in this price range. Do some DAC units have the preamp built in? I am wondering if computer to DAC to amp is the right way to do this. Not familiar with DAC brands or features at all. Also what file type is best to build my library with. Thank you.
kaijorg
mabonn
181 posts
 
Steve, How much bigger is a .wav file than a .flac file ? Thanks
david12
1,454 posts
 
I am sure Steve must be right, but I have quite a good set up and I can't convince myself of a worthwhile difference between between ALAC and AIFF. Perhaps my ears are getting old, like me. I know he recommended WAV, but I have been scared off by the problems of attaching metadata with WAV
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Mabonn - 2X bigger.

David12 - do you have acoustic treatments in your room? Are your speakers optimally positioned and toed?

You should be getting pinpoint imaging, soundstage well outside your speakers and 20-30 feet behind them. If you dog jumps and looks around when the music comes on, you know you have it. If you can go into the adjacent room and it sounds like a live concert coming from the other room, you have it. Otherwise, not.

It takes some patience and tweaking to get even the best systems to be dynamic and live sounding, and most of all, resolving.

If you are using an active preamp, all bets are off. You probably will not hear these differences.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
singleendedsingle
664 posts
 
An example of a Dac with pre is the Burson conductor, it have 3 gain settings + lots if inputs for PC users. (USb/coax) a solid unit.
kaijorg OP
4 posts
 
Hi- Thank you for all the info. I will look into a DAC that will allow me to go straight to the amp without my preamp in between.
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