2. digital
  3. 1070087111

Does transport matter if using external DAC?

Can anyone confirm or dispute my theory that the transport does not affect the sound of a system if you're using an external DAC? The transport simply reads the ones and zeros and sends them to the DAC for processing. I know that there can be errors during the reading process, but all but the most severe are corrected by the DAC anyway. (The most severe result in pops or blanks.) Even if the DAC has to make a guess once in a while, I doubt that it could be discernable even by golden ears. If I'm missing something, please provide credible evidence. Also, can you refer me to an article on the subject or to an expert whom I can email?
Thanks!
squeaky
psychicanimal
1,738 posts
 
Changing from direct drive to a CEC made belt drive made an overwhelming difference. It was so much that Dan Wright has the transport as we speak for a very serious mod, including installation of a Bybee filter and a Furutech rhodium plated IEC.
zaikesman
3,017 posts
 
Others have addressed the technical side better than I could, so I'll just add my voice to the chorus answering "Yes!", based entirely on my personal home auditioning experience. Though I don't know if I'd go quite as far as Drrdiamond and say the transport is even more important than the DAC, I do think it's as important, and that you cannot get the performance you paid for out of good DAC unless you supply it from an equally good transport. And that this remains true even if you are using a jitter-reduction box in-between - no free rides, sorry to say.
84audio
175 posts
 
It gets even worse than that! I think the power cord that you use on the transport can also make a big difference.
lak's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
lak
4,580 posts
 
I know the power cord makes a big difference on all equipment, but the positive effect is larger with the transport, Dac, (or CDP), preamp, amp (for me in that order).
tbg
5,263 posts
 
I would agree with your ordering but would add that often a different pc works on digital than on analog.
More to discover