DAC: Mobile or Full Size?

[travellersol]

I have a very nice vintage Marantz 1060 integrated amp, connected to JBL TLX 14. My CD player is sent to service and it might take some time, in its place I use a Fiio X3 mobile player to play flac and ape lossless material as source, and the result is pretty good. I am thinking of getting a DAC to convert signals from the Fiio and send them to the Marantz, as suggested by a friend, saying that it will improve the sound quality a lot.

My question is: should I get a DAC for mobile system (so that I can use it for the home system as well as for outdoor headphone listening sessions), or a dedicated full size DAC like the Cambridge Audio DacMagic. Would there be any real difference in terms of sound quality, if used for the home hifi system?

 

[darkblue94]

I have a very nice vintage Marantz 1060 integrated amp, connected to JBL TLX 14. My CD player is sent to service and it might take some time, in its place I use a Fiio X3 mobile player to play flac and ape lossless material as source, and the result is pretty good. I am thinking of getting a DAC to convert signals from the Fiio and send them to the Marantz, as suggested by a friend, saying that it will improve the sound quality a lot.

My question is: should I get a DAC for mobile system (so that I can use it for the home system as well as for outdoor headphone listening sessions), or a dedicated full size DAC like the Cambridge Audio DacMagic. Would there be any real difference in terms of sound quality, if used for the home hifi system?

Take a look at the Audioquest Dragonfly DAC's, I know several people that own them and they all speak highly of them.

 

[travellersol]

Take a look at the Audioquest Dragonfly DAC's, I know several people that own them and they all speak highly of them.

the Dragonfly is a USB device, but my Fiio X3 has only 2 output: an analog headphone jack and a coaxial jack. There is a mini USB port though for charging and connecting to PC - can this be the one that outputs digital signals to the Dragonfly?

 

[Jayrosc]

I use Meridians version of the Dragonfly, they call it the Explorer. Thing is, it ONLY works to connect a computer to my stereo set up. It would not function if I tried to run it between a CD player and a receiver. Makes Spotify and iTunes sound much better.

 

[darkblue94]

the Dragonfly is a USB device, but my Fiio X3 has only 2 output: an analog headphone jack and a coaxial jack. There is a mini USB port though for charging and connecting to PC - can this be the one that outputs digital signals to the Dragonfly?

Yes. You may need to use a mini-USB to USB adapter.

 

[slow_jazz]

I would go with small size.

 

[Old Guy8]

BTY, there are two Dragonfly versions, Red and Black, at different price points, if thinking of them. No experience with them. I have Modi Multibit. Not that mobile.

 

[travellersol]

it seems i can use both the mobile and dedicated (deck) DAC. Then comes the question: would there be any REAL difference in sound quality?

 

[Old Guy8]

There is not as much traffic in the DAC section. But you could also peruse there. There are a few threads asking about head to head DAC comparisons by those that have heard multiple models.
Personnally, only have heard my Schiit Modi Multibit DAC for streaming between PC and analog amp. It needs wall wart power. It is about 6" square x 1-1/2" high.
Good luck.

 

[Xtinc]

I have a Fiio X3 II and feel the internal DAC is pretty good and any improvement will be subtle and not mind blowing. Can't speak to super hi-end DACs though, just comparing to my Cambridge Audio DacMagic.

The Fiio coax output can be switch to lineout rather than using the headphone variable output. This will improve the sound if you're curgently using the headphone output to your receiver.

 

[bimasta]

Go small. I have a full-sized DAC, and it can only do 2 things: sound really good, but only in one system in one place; and take up a lot of space.

 

[coolness]

Schitt makes some nice quality small and larger DACs. Start at $99 and go up to $2299. Check 'em out...schiit.com/products

 

[travellersol]

I have a Fiio X3 II and feel the internal DAC is pretty good and any improvement will be subtle and not mind blowing. Can't speak to super hi-end DACs though, just comparing to my Cambridge Audio DacMagic.

The Fiio coax output can be switch to lineout rather than using the headphone variable output. This will improve the sound if you're curgently using the headphone output to your receiver.

Cambridge Audio DacMagic is quite a highly praised DAC on many mags and forums, if you find Fiio X3 II's internal DAC comes close to it, then Fiio must have done some amazing job on their players! If this is ture, I'll save the money and use it to fund for a tube amp.

 

[travellersol]

Go small. I have a full-sized DAC, and it can only do 2 things: sound really good, but only in one system in one place; and take up a lot of space.

The only thing I need to ensure is: would the mobile DACs produce the same SQ as compared to a full-sized one? I seldom listen to music when I'm outside, so SQ is the only deal breaker to me.

 

[bimasta]

I don't know, can't advise you. I'm using an older DAC, Adcom, sold for $1K back in the day, all the reviews said it competed with the $5-6K models. And the Adcom cost me a whopping $8 at a thrift shop. Not a scratch on it. All I know is it's an improvement over my Marantz CDP, and I thought that one was great. There's a lot of talk about "advances" in tech, but I don't know if it's marketing hype. I have another CDP that plays the higher rez formats but to my ears the difference is very small.

I'd like a smaller unit, as good as what I have, just 'cause I don't like looking at big black boxes anymore. And dusting them.