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Grant Fidelity Tube DAC-09 question.

ludwigman

ludwigman

"kick out the jams"
My gear:

Pioneer SX-950
Pioneer PD-65 CD player
Older 28" TV
Cheap DVD player
Laptop computer

I am thinking about purchasing the Tube DAC-09. My goal would be to use the two analog ins (on the DAC-09) for my TV and DVD player, the USB in for my laptop and the optical in for my CD player. Then I can use one of the outputs (on the DAC-09) to my AUX input of the SX-950. At that point I can select which input (on the DAC-09) I want to use with the selector switch. The only thing that the device may not improve is the CD player.

It seems like an improved and cheap way to have multiple pieces of gear going into one AUX input on my receiver.

What do you all think?
 

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I think thats fine, it will certainly work well as an outboard extra preamp. As far as improving or not the cdp..using the optical youll only be using your cdp as a transport I believe..it would be interesting to a/b the cdp norm output vs through the DAC09. Remember, you have a choice of 2 outputs on the 09, just through the DAC and through DAC and tube.
Personally coming through the tube using my lowly Luxman as a transport really improved my CD listening experience, kind of warmed things up and humanized them. Ive also used my 09 as outboard from computer ...there again, big improvement over the sound card.
 
ludwigman said:
My gear:

Pioneer SX-950
Pioneer PD-65 CD player
Older 28" TV
Cheap DVD player
Laptop computer

I am thinking about purchasing the Tube DAC-09. My goal would be to use the two analog ins (on the DAC-09) for my TV and DVD player, the USB in for my laptop and the optical in for my CD player. Then I can use one of the outputs (on the DAC-09) to my AUX input of the SX-950. At that point I can select which input (on the DAC-09) I want to use with the selector switch. The only thing that the device may not improve is the CD player.

It seems like an improved and cheap way to have multiple pieces of gear going into one AUX input on my receiver.

What do you all think?
Click to expand...

If bascially what you want are just more inputs a switch box will do that for less $, especially if you think there will be little improvement for certain items.
 
bobaloniny said:
Remember, you have a choice of 2 outputs on the 09, just through the DAC and through DAC and tube.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure of the differences, can you please explain? I know that if I use the optical out of my CDP that it will only be used as a transport. I'm just not sure if it will improve. I'm curious about the A/B test myself.

whoaru99 said:
If bascially what you want are just more inputs a switch box will do that for less $, especially if you think there will be little improvement for certain items.
Click to expand...

I should have explained that it is more to improve the sound quality of my laptop. I only have 3.5mm headphone output and I am certain the unit in question will greatly improve the sound quality running through my receiver. After researching the unit and it's capabilities I started thinking of other uses for it.
 
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It's sort of what I do with one of my systems. And if your DVD player has a digital coax out, you can also use the DAC 9 as an outboard DAC/tube buffer. I find it's a nice way to get a server, CD, DVD & TV into vintage gear that has very limited limited inputs. A bit more flexible than many DACs.
So basically I use it as both a DAC & a switch box.
 
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Frank Sol said:
The normal output bypasses the tube circuitry...
Click to expand...

Ok...now I see the normal and tube outs in the picture, thanks.

Naptown Rob said:
It's sort of what I do with one of my systems. And if your DVD player has a digital coax out, you can also use the DAC 9 as an outboard DAC/tube buffer. I find it's a nice way to get a server, CD, DVD & TV into vintage gear that has very limited limited inputs. A bit more flexible than many DACs. So basically I use it as both a DAC & a switch box.
Click to expand...

I know my CDP has an optical out so that should work. Using it as a "DAC & a switch box" is exactly what I intend to do. I know it will improve the Laptop but not sure about the CDP yet.
 
MWalt said:
The GF DAC 09 is sooooo flexible. I would use the coax to the CDP.
Click to expand...

Does coax work better than the optical?

My DVD player has a coaxial out so I was going to resreve it for that. I was going to basically run video from the dvd player to the TV using analog (RCA) and use the digital coaxial out from the DVD to the DAC for better sound when watching movies. I'm not sure if it will work but that's what I'm thinking.
 
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ludwigman said:
Does coax work better than the optical?

My DVD player has a coaxial out so I was going to resreve it for that. I was going to basically run video from the dvd player to the TV using analog (RCA) and use the digital coaxial out from the DVD to the DAC for better sound when watching movies. I'm not sure if it will work but that's what I'm thinking.
Click to expand...

Personally Im not so sure you would tell a difference as long as you used a decent quality cable for both. I would stick with plan A, which is well brain engineered and would work.
If you really thought there may be a diff then I suppose you could use an av switcher to choose between the 2 devices into the one input, but...seems a step too far...from there maybe a gerbil could be trained to make the sw between the 2 devices on some manner of whistle command.
 
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