Thinking of getting my first DAC....

[Panamafred]

So turns out I listen to a lot of CDs in my living room, mostly as background music. I think it's a nice set up in here, Denon Preamp, Adcom Power amp and JBL L100t speakers.

I listen to CDs through an early 2000's Marantz DV6400, I've never been particularly blown away by this or any other CD player. Do you all think that a modest investment ($100 - $150) on a DAC would provide a noticeable improvement?

I'm not even sure I can use one with this CD player so here's some pictures of the CD player I'm using, I imagine the DAC would connect via the optical or coax out?
Sorry for being a total newb on this ... if you ever need help getting a Rek O Kut turn table to spin at 33.33 let me know but DACs is something I know nothing about.




I'd probably want to get something from Schitt but open to reccomendations.

 

[Dr Tone]

Yes the DAC would plug into one of the digital outputs. I don't think a $100-150 investment in a DAC would make much of a difference.

All you can do is find one from a friend to borrow or get a dealer to lend you one and see what happens.

 

[Guido57]

I suspect the weak point is the CD player itself. If so an external DAC will not help much. On the other hand, for background music what's the big deal? Unless there are times when you want to hear every detail possible.

 

[Gigantic]

I listen to CDs through an early 2000's Marantz DV6400, I've never been particularly blown away by this or any other CD player. Do you all think that a modest investment ($100 - $150) on a DAC would provide a noticeable improvement?
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I'd probably want to get something from Schitt but open to reccomendations.

Buying an inexpensive, entry level DAC will probably be a lateral move, at best.

 

[rickb119]

I have to respectfully disagree with the above posts; that an external DAC will not make a difference.

My story: For many years, all I'd ever used were cheap, thrift store CDP's (mostly Pioneer). Several years ago I decided it was time to upgrade and bought a new Onkyo DX-7555, thinking that it would surely be better than what I had been using. Well..............it was not! I came close to returning it, but since it was a single disc (as opposed to my other 'cartridge' players, I kept it for my office system.

Some time later I came across a few threads (here on AK) about DAC's, and bought a Schiit modi multibit. Hooked it up to the Onkyo and was blown away at the difference in SQ. Granted, I was using some very revealing ribbon tweeter speakers, but even with other speakers the improvement was obvious.

I've since acquired 2 more DAC's (a regular Schiit modi, and an entry level Topping-D30, I think). Those 2 sound about the same. However, the multibit is the better of the 3, having a smoother, less harsh, more enjoyable to listen to presentation.

I don't think you can go wrong with the modi, but if the budget allows, I'd at least get the modius.

 

[mrehorst]

So turns out I listen to a lot of CDs in my living room, mostly as background music. I think it's a nice set up in here, Denon Preamp, Adcom Power amp and JBL L100t speakers.

I listen to CDs through an early 2000's Marantz DV6400, I've never been particularly blown away by this or any other CD player. Do you all think that a modest investment ($100 - $150) on a DAC would provide a noticeable improvement?

I'm not even sure I can use one with this CD player so here's some pictures of the CD player I'm using, I imagine the DAC would connect via the optical or coax out?
Sorry for being a total newb on this ... if you ever need help getting a Rek O Kut turn table to spin at 33.33 let me know but DACs is something I know nothing about.


View attachment 3431233View attachment 3431234

I'd probably want to get something from Schitt but open to reccomendations.

Your Marantz SACD player probably has a pretty decent DAC in it.

ASR did a measurement of a early 90s TEAC VRDS-20 CD player like the one I use and didn't find it's DA converter particularly good compared to modern units. I needed a USB DAC, so I bought an SMSL SU-1 for $80 via amazon. ASR also did tests on the SU-1 and it measured very well, definitely better than the VRDS-20. Just for funzies I connected the SU1 to the VRDS-20 which allows digital and analog output at the same time, then I switched between the two by switching inputs in the amp. I was unable to hear any difference between them, but my ears are getting old- maybe someone younger might hear some difference, but it can't be much. I'd say DACs are second only to cables in the minimal difference they make in the sound of a system, so I wouldn't recommend spending much on one.

Some might argue that my system isn't high enough in "resolution" to hear the difference between the DACs, to which I would reply that if the system has to have super high "resolution" to make the difference between DACs audible, it must not be much of a difference. Likewise, some would say that my ears aren't sufficiently trained to hear the difference to which I would say that if my ears have to be trained to hear it, the difference can't be very large.

Have a look at this thread about audible differences in DACs

 

[Gigantic]

I have to respectfully disagree with the above posts; that an external DAC will not make a difference.

My story: For many years, all I'd ever used were cheap, thrift store CDP's (mostly Pioneer). Several years ago I decided it was time to upgrade and bought a new Onkyo DX-7555, thinking that it would surely be better than what I had been using. Well..............it was not! I came close to returning it, but since it was a single disc (as opposed to my other 'cartridge' players, I kept it for my office system.

Some time later I came across a few threads (here on AK) about DAC's, and bought a Schiit modi multibit. Hooked it up to the Onkyo and was blown away at the difference in SQ. Granted, I was using some very revealing ribbon tweeter speakers, but even with other speakers the improvement was obvious.

I've since acquired 2 more DAC's (a regular Schiit modi, and an entry level Topping-D30, I think). Those 2 sound about the same. However, the multibit is the better of the 3, having a smoother, less harsh, more enjoyable to listen to presentation.

I don't think you can go wrong with the modi, but if the budget allows, I'd at least get the modius.

People aren’t saying that an external DAC won’t make a difference, we’re saying that a $100 DAC won’t make a difference.

 

[Andyman]

I run a Topping E30 I bought in Bartertown probably 5+ years ago and it sounds fine. I ran through several entry level DACs and one big hot rodded Emotiva deck, and noticed little difference between them. Same when I used them with my CD players.

The reason I bought the Topping was that it was HiRes capable and opened the door to that format to me. I suggest that if you do buy a DAC, get one with these capabilities and a USB input. You can test it with your CD deck and see if there is a difference, but you can also hook it Mo to a laptop and join the world of online streaming as I did.

I’m now selling all my seldom played LP and CDs as I can stream them in more than acceptable quality for $130/year. Some may find discarding physical media heretical, but many are also seeing the virtue of having high quality access to literally billions of songs anywhere you can get online.

Good luck with your quest!

 

[rickb119]

People aren’t saying that an external DAC won’t make a difference, we’re saying that a $100 DAC won’t make a difference.

I disagree...sort of. It depends on the CDP being used, the rest of the system, and the listeners ability to hear those differences. For some, it will make a big difference. For others, not so much.

Also, that difference may, or may not be to the listeners liking. For the OP, a $100 DAC may indeed be a lateral move. But then again, he won't know unless he tries it.

 

[onepixel]

About 15 years ago I got a used Entech 205.2 for my dedicated headphone system. Think I paid for around $80. Made a good difference. No longer have that system

I listen to a lot of CDs so I'm looking for a new CD/DAC player.

 

[Guido57]

I have to respectfully disagree with the above posts; that an external DAC will not make a difference.

My story: For many years, all I'd ever used were cheap, thrift store CDP's (mostly Pioneer). Several years ago I decided it was time to upgrade and bought a new Onkyo DX-7555, thinking that it would surely be better than what I had been using. Well..............it was not! I came close to returning it, but since it was a single disc (as opposed to my other 'cartridge' players, I kept it for my office system.

Some time later I came across a few threads (here on AK) about DAC's, and bought a Schiit modi multibit. Hooked it up to the Onkyo and was blown away at the difference in SQ. Granted, I was using some very revealing ribbon tweeter speakers, but even with other speakers the improvement was obvious.

I would suggest your Onkyo is/has a better transport than your thrift store CDP's. I had similar experience with cheap players but my 'solution' wasn't a better transport, it was ripping my CD's to a hard drive. Didn't have to explain to my wife why I needed a couple of dedicated CD players when we already had relatively cheap blue ray players.

 

[rickb119]

I would suggest your Onkyo is/has a better transport than your thrift store CDP's.

Probably. And yet, my 2 (identical) Denon, 6 disc cartridge players (one a thrift store find) use the same Pioneer mechanism (as my older Pioneer's did), and have never given me any trouble. I got rid of the Pioneers as they were so old that they didn't have coax out. They were still working good when I gave them back to the thrift store.

I don't know how well the Onkyo will hold up as it's in the garage system and doesn't get used much. So far, so good though.

 

[lissenup]

So turns out I listen to a lot of CDs in my living room, mostly as background music. I think it's a nice set up in here, Denon Preamp, Adcom Power amp and JBL L100t speakers.

I listen to CDs through an early 2000's Marantz DV6400, I've never been particularly blown away by this or any other CD player. Do you all think that a modest investment ($100 - $150) on a DAC would provide a noticeable improvement?

I'm not even sure I can use one with this CD player so here's some pictures of the CD player I'm using, I imagine the DAC would connect via the optical or coax out?
Sorry for being a total newb on this ... if you ever need help getting a Rek O Kut turn table to spin at 33.33 let me know but DACs is something I know nothing about.


View attachment 3431233View attachment 3431234

I'd probably want to get something from Schitt but open to reccomendations.

I’ve never listened to a Schiit DAC, but the SMSL SU-1 for a budget DAC is amazing. You will absolutely notice a difference from your older DAC.

 

[rickb119]

I listen to a lot of CDs so I'm looking for a new CD/DAC player.

I can't speak to the newer players, but I sure like my Denon DCM-450, 6 disc cartridge players. I started out with the original Pioneer cartridge players, but moved onto the Denon's because they have coax out (and a remote). Never had a problem with any of them.

I like the cartridge because I can sort different genre's/sub genre's and have 5-6 hours of play time without needing to change the disc. And, it's quick and easy to change the cartridges, as opposed to removing/replacing 5-6 individual discs in a carousel player. I also have a single disc cartridge, for those one off's.

When my next shipment/purchase arrives (this week), I'll have around 100 cartridges. The cartridges sit next to the empty cases (housed in a bookcase), so I know what I'm grabbing.

 

[init4fun]

Well now, after a bit of post pruning, we now have a nice friendly thread again

 

[onepixel]

I can't speak to the newer players, but I sure like my Denon DCM-450, 6 disc cartridge players. I started out with the original Pioneer cartridge players, but moved onto the Denon's because they have coax out (and a remote). Never had a problem with any of them.

I like the cartridge because I can sort different genre's/sub genre's and have 5-6 hours of play time without needing to change the disc. And, it's quick and easy to change the cartridges, as opposed to removing/replacing 5-6 individual discs in a carousel player. I also have a single disc cartridge, for those one off's.

When my next shipment/purchase arrives (this week), I'll have around 100 cartridges. The cartridges sit next to the empty cases (housed in a bookcase), so I know what I'm grabbing.

I have several Yamaha 6-disc players. They sound and work great. But I sold the old DAC. Looking at a new Yamaha single CD player with a DAC.
Like with vinyl, I like taking my time.