Outboard DAC connection
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bryblob
Super Member
optical ouput cd player or sound card to optical input on DAC. Then rca outputs on Dac to any input on your preamp/receiver except the phono input.I would just use an aux or cd input. It will still work on the phono input but will sound very weird because it uses RIAA equalization that is only meant for turntables.
Gang-Twanger
Resident Wharfedaliophool
Yeah, I use the aux-in. Mine's a vintage receiver, so I use a dac with an RCA-out. Depends on the amp/receiver and dac in mind. If you're shopping for a dac, get one that's optimized for your type of system/hookup-connections.
Thanks Gang-Twanger. I happened to stumble across Cambridge Audio DAC Magic user manual, and it said to hook it up to the line-level phono/RCA input of the amplifier. I was puzzled, as I'd been using Audio Alchemy DDE and DTI for many years and hook the DDE to my CD input. Unfortunately, they aren't working now. Sad, as I really like the warmth in the music produced. I don't know of anyone here in Perth who can repair these units.
I was thinking about the Cambridge Audio DAC Magic. Any thoughts on this unit? You mentioned to consider my type of system/hook-up connections. Can you elaborate a little on matching the DAC with the system? My budget for DAC is about $500.
I was thinking about the Cambridge Audio DAC Magic. Any thoughts on this unit? You mentioned to consider my type of system/hook-up connections. Can you elaborate a little on matching the DAC with the system? My budget for DAC is about $500.
Gang-Twanger
Resident Wharfedaliophool
I guessss what I'm saying is (What am I? A snake?), what's your source unit (the piece of gear where you pick/play digital audio.... i.e., a CD-player/SACD-player, or a computer/laptop)? These days, in terms of digital audio, the trend is moving towards computer-based stereo systems that use an outboard dac. There are plenty of people out there still using outboard CD/SACD/DVD-players, but the computer-based systems are on the rise in a big way. Depending on the computer, some people run a cable from either the Toslink-out or S/PDIF-out (if the computer has one) and send that cable to the dac, and then connect another cable to the aux-in of their amp/receiver. Others, like me, have to rely on the usb connection. If your digital source unit is a computer with NO Toslink or S/PDIF-out's and you're looking for warm, smooth sound, then grab the HRT MSII ($150-US... Your best bet for that kind of sound from that kind of setup), but if your digital source is a computer that DOES have Toslink/S/PDIF-out's, then this gives you more options/DAC's to consider. If you have to use the USB connection, you'll want to think about getting a DAC with asynchronous-usb capability (The key here is to use your computer for a transport and that's it. You want the DAC to do all the heavy-lifting). The prices for computer-based DACs have gone down considerably, and there are some smaller, boutique-style companies building really-nice DACs these days. For what I spent on my DAC, I still can't believe the performance. If you're using your computer, a $500 would be overkill IMO. You can get first-class results with half that much. It all depends on the gear you're using (or planning on using).
If you're using an outboard CD/SACD/DVD/blu-ray-player (or something along those lines), then you'll be looking for a slightly-different kind of DAC.
Whoops... Almost forgot... What are you using for an amp/receiver? And how about speakers?
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I have a Revox CD player and Revox amplifier, and a pair of Goodmans bookself speakers. I'm looking for a DAC that has multiple inputs for computer and stereo. The Cambridge Audio DAC Magic has inputs for USB, optical, and co-oxial. I listen to more CDs rather than thru' my computer. I wonder why the user manual recommended that the DAC be connected to the phono/RCA input of the amplifier.
Gang-Twanger
Resident Wharfedaliophool
OK, in that case, the HRT MSII won't work in your setup (It simply has a mini-USB connection on one end and a pair of rca connections at the other... but it's specifically-designed for people who only have computers with USB only), however, one of their other models might work for you.
You may also want to check out the Trends Audio dac. VERY-good price for the quality (The review in this link is a kind of "David vs Goliath" shootout where they compare it to the $15,000 Nagra CDC, and once the reviewer switched to some better-quality cables, the Trends dac gave the uber-expensive Nagra a run for it's money.... quite a bold statement considering the ultra-low price of the Trends dac... In several reviews I've read, the HRT MSII that I own was also said to be on par with expensive, high-end CDP's, and I can attest to that)
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/trends3/trends.html
And I would definitely take a look at the AUDIOgd dacs as well. With the recent advances made in dac technology, you no longer have to spend a ton of money to get great digital sound. These days, with your setup, you should be able to find a great-sounding dac for $300 or less (and I mean GREAT-sounding... Just to give you an idea, my HRT MSII at $149 was compared favorably with the Cambridge Audio DacMagic in one of the pro reviews I read, certainly in terms of bass-response... The thing I love most about my MSII is how incredibly-analog it sounds). If I were you, I would read lots of reviews on various dacs before making a decision. Since everybody's ears are different, you can't necessarily rely on one person's point of view. But that said, I prefer the kind of warm, smooth sound that you seem to like.
Not sure which Goodmans you have, but they made some really-nice bookshelf speakers, and it's no secret that Revox made some outstanding CDP's... Really-nice stuff with all-metal transports and that sort of thing, unlike what we see these days (So, yours is compatible with an external dac, huh? That's pretty-cool considering it was probably made back in the '80's).
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ldatlof
We are all steak
I have my DacMagic connected to the line level input (via RCA), not the phono input, on my preamp. I have also connected the DacMagic directly to my amps and used the volume control on my squeezebox to regulate the volume. If you connect to a true phono input then RIAA equalization comes into play and will sound bad. The manual is either mistaken or you misunderstood it.
The setup looks like this:
Squeezebox Receiver to DacMagic via Coax cable (by passing the SBR's DAC) to preamp via RCA interconnects (CD input).
SoNic67
Well-Known Member
Some "phono input" are not magnetic coil cartridge, are ment for piezo cartridge. Therefore have higher input level than line in, have higher impedance, and no correction.
Still, IMO is not recomended to connect a DAC to that input, usually is noisier than the line in one because of high impedance.
Still, IMO is not recomended to connect a DAC to that input, usually is noisier than the line in one because of high impedance.
SoNic67
Well-Known Member
I did listen a short time to DacMagic and like it. Reviews are good. Upsampling is one of the best out there, but some people don't like it that much.
The 100 doesn't have that upsampling anymore and used DAC chips are sligthly less performant, but still good.
As for USB connection... meah. Not my cup of tea. I'll take SPDIF anytime over USB. CA provides ASIO (and WASAPI) drivers for their DAC - that is a step more than others do. I totally agree with their USB guide:
http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/assets/documents/AudiophileguidetobitperfectUSBAudio_ENG.pdf
PS: Foobar2000 with dedicated ASIO drivers is what I recomend to use on a PC.
The 100 doesn't have that upsampling anymore and used DAC chips are sligthly less performant, but still good.
As for USB connection... meah. Not my cup of tea. I'll take SPDIF anytime over USB. CA provides ASIO (and WASAPI) drivers for their DAC - that is a step more than others do. I totally agree with their USB guide:
http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/assets/documents/AudiophileguidetobitperfectUSBAudio_ENG.pdf
PS: Foobar2000 with dedicated ASIO drivers is what I recomend to use on a PC.
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ldatlof
We are all steak
The DacMagic is the only stand alone DAC I have ever used or heard. It was definitely a step up over the DAC in the Squeezebox Receiver. At one time the DM was the flavor of the month but the market has moved on to other DACs. It seems like there are some very fine DACs for less than $300 these days. Some are only $150!
I have never used the USB connection so I don't know if it is good or bad. I keep the stereo and the computer separate.
Tube DACs are popular now but my amp and pre use tubes so I didn't think I would need more tubes. But if I had a SS system I would consider a tube DAC.
I hope this helps.
I have never used the USB connection so I don't know if it is good or bad. I keep the stereo and the computer separate.
Tube DACs are popular now but my amp and pre use tubes so I didn't think I would need more tubes. But if I had a SS system I would consider a tube DAC.
I hope this helps.
Thanks guys. I'd finally localized the problem to my DTI/DDE. The fault lies in either the I2S cable or the connector in one of these devices. I am now using the co-axial to connect between the DTI and DDE. Although these devices are old, it serves my needs, and I shall live with this shortcoming for the time being.
