2. digital
  3. 1391196564

A DAC into a DAC?

Help me understand the signal path and clarify my options…

A little background: my digital source feeds into a pre-pro which I am using as a pre-amp only. It has Burr-Brown 24/192 DACs, (I don’t know which ones, nor can I bypass them). I am converting to a 2 channel system, which would include a new DAC, but I believe my pre-pro is limiting my options if I keep it in the chain.

Here’s my understanding: If I insert (between my source and the pre-pro), a new DAC that’s SUPERIOR to the pre-pro’s DAC, I assume that the pre-pro would limit or degrade the SQ of the new DAC. Correct? Is feeding the signal from the pre-pro an option in this case?

And if I insert some INFERIOR DAC into the chain, I assume that I couldn’t hear it at all, (preventing A/B comparisons). Another waste. Correct?

With my current set up, it seems like either I would have to abandon the idea of A/B comparisons of any new DACs OR that if I wanted to A/B, I would need to commit to a DAC that also functions as a pre-amp, or else buy a new pre-amp, which I don’t want)… Am I on the right track?

Thanks!
Michael
mkh1099

Showing 1 response by willland

willland's avatar
willland
846 posts
 
What brand and model pre/pro are we talking and the same for the outboard DAC?

If you have a superior outboard DAC, it will convert to analog and then enter your pre/pro. If the analog stage of the pre/pro is of low quality, then it may hamper the sound quality.

You probably should be a little more specific to give us a better idea of how to better answer your questions.

I have a Cambridge Audio 840C player/DAC that is of pretty high quality that goes in to an also pretty high quality NAD T175HD pre/pro. I use the CA 840C's DAC to convert and upsample(24/384)a Pandora stream from my Samsung TV and it does a better job than the T175HD's DAC. On the other hand, when I play redbook CD's, I mainly use the 840C as a transport only selecting the "pass through" setting with no upsampling and let the T175HD do the D/A converting.

Bill
More to discover