2. digital
  3. 1360787859

How important is the transport when using a DAC?

Hello,

I've been thinking lately, if my transport is extreme low-end, is having a nice DAC a waste of time? In other words, if I am using a $60 Sony DVD/CD player to deliver the digital signal through a coax cable to my Arcam r-Dac, is that not doing it justice? Do you recommend I upgrade my transport to better meet the quality of the DAC or does it not matter?

Thanks!
learyscott
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Scott - I hope it is a good 1.5m glass cable, not a short plastic one.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
rrog
1,958 posts
 
Audioengr, What is an Empirical Audio DAC/Pre?
elberoth2's avatar
elberoth2
1,223 posts
 
The new DACs, using the latest digital input receivers, are far less sensitive than the DASs designed a few years back.

If only your player has a bit perfect output, I think you will get a bigger improvement by adding a quality linear power supply to your rDAC. The Teddy Pardo one, which is based on a super regulator solution, takes this DAC to entirely different level. Having had a lot of experience with this DAC, I cannot recommend this solution highly enough.

I also highly recommend using the rDAC via the USB in as it sounds best This way.
tmsorosk
1,013 posts
 
I recently went from a Marantz SA11S2 to an Ayre C5mp , being used as a transport only ( except for SACD's ) and found the improvement striking to say the least . There was such a big improvement in all aspects of the sound that I had to re-evaluate my long term preconceived ideals .
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Rrog - see
http://www.empiricalaudio.com/products/overdrive-dac

and

http://www.empiricalaudio.com/news-and-reviews/overdrive-dac

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=108715.0

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
More to discover