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DAC Topping D50S vs ALC892

A

alv75

New Member
Dear All,

I am new to this forum but I think you will be probably able to help me in deciding if I need an external DAC in particular the Topping D50s.

Long story short, I am owning a Dell Latitude with the ALC892 DAC and an old Pioneer HIFI system (1982) the SA-330 with the CS-363 speakers; as per now I am connecting directly my laptop with a cable out of the headphone to the AUX of my Amp.

I am listening FLAC with JRiver, mostly 192K 24bit and DSD files (of course my internal dac cannot reproduce the DSD) and so far I think it is quite good sound.

I have read that my HIFI it is considered entry level because the Pioneer systems in the early 80s were not as good as the 70s, but I am used to the sound.

Just few specs I am not clear at:
- SNR SA-330: 72dB (MM), 97dB (line)
- SNR Topping D50s @ A-Weighting: > 122dB @ 1kHz
- SNR ALC892 (my laptop) @ A-Weighting :95dB

that means that my SNR cannot be higher of 97dB even if my Topping DAC is capable of 122 dB? and in case i stay with the laptop DAC it will be at 95dB?

My question, in your opinion, an external DAC like the Topping D50s will improve the sound quality at the level to hear a difference, given the fact that my HIFI is not a top one?

I have found this DAC at 250 euros, not extremely cheap but also not a crazy price.

Thank you in advance for your help

Andrea
 
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I'd go for it. There should be an improvement. The DAC should be cleaner than the amp anyway, and modern amps are not necessarily any better than 97db SNR. You may want to consider the E30, cheaper and similar performance.
 
gvl said:
I'd go for it. There should be an improvement. The DAC should be cleaner than the amp anyway, and modern amps are not necessarily any better than 97db SNR. You may want to consider the E30, cheaper and similar performance.
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Thanks for sharing your opinion, I am into the idea of buying it just don't want to be disappointed to not to hear any difference.
 
Specs aside, any (most) properly functioning, and of decent build quality, external DAC will more than likely best the internal of the laptop. Definitely. Probably. LOL!
 
If you don't like it, return it.

Unless you have a truly high-end SOTA amp and speakers, you will find that any DAC with over 100dB SINAD will outperform your amp and speakers in technical terms. It's just the way things are.

The best performing amp I have seen is a Benchmark unit with 113dB SINAD, yet we are already past that with DAC performance, and the chip manufacturers and DAC manufacturers continue to be competitive and push things further each year.
 
patient_ot said:
If you don't like it, return it.

Unless you have a truly high-end SOTA amp and speakers, you will find that any DAC with over 100dB SINAD will outperform your amp and speakers in technical terms. It's just the way things are.

The best performing amp I have seen is a Benchmark unit with 113dB SINAD, yet we are already past that with DAC performance, and the chip manufacturers and DAC manufacturers continue to be competitive and push things further each year.
Click to expand...
Indeed mine is not a high end system, just curious to try, you are right, if i don't hear any difference i will return it. Thanks
 
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