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Benefits of an external DAC

I need a sounding board from you folks.  I have a slightly upgraded Oppo 103 CD player that was a big SQ improvement over my Consonance tube CD player.  I need a DAC to take the stream from my iMac, turn into an analogue signal to my preamp.  Lots of folks rave about the benefits of an external DAC so, in progression, I got a Jolida tube DAC, a Schiit Gungnir, and a Channel Island Audio DAC.  I connect the Oppo to the CIA DAC with a coaxial cable.  I input the analogue signal from the Oppo into my preamp with RCA IC's.    

It is easy to switch between DAC in the path vs. the Oppo analogue signal straight into the preamp.  I tell ya, I have done the comparison between all three DAC's vs. the analogue signal run from the Oppo to the preamp and have been unable to discern any difference.   Zero, zip, nada.  I have done the comparison with lots of audio pals and nobody hears a wits worth of difference.

There clearly are lots of devotees using external DAC, but in my system (with a Don Sachs tube preamp, Pass Labs First Watt F5, and Spatial Audio M4 Turbo S speakers, with good cabling), I am perplexed as to why the use of an external DAC makes no difference in the SQ in my system. It sounds exactly the same.  

I am awaiting a demo of a Denafrips Ares DAC to see if this well-regarded DAC does something to the SQ -- one way or another.  So far, the employment of a DAC to improve the SQ of the signal from my Oppo has been an utter waste of time.  What am I missing?
whitestix

Showing 6 responses by whitestix

whitestix OP
733 posts
 
Thanks for the insights very much.  Some years ago, I was at the CA Audio show and the particular vendors were using a Bricasti DAC, selling for $5K-$6K.  They also had a Jolida Tube DAC which they were able to switch back and forth with the Bricasti DAC.  After a couple of minutes of switching back and forth, I looked that the fellow doing the demo and simply shrugged my shoulders... they both sounded the same to me.  He heard the same thing I heard and agree the Jolida was quite good. 

I figure others are right that if i move up the food chain of DACs, I will hear a difference... whether that difference is better or not is subjective.  The cost of such a DAC is out of my sensible budget for audio gear.  What amazes me it that I hear absolutely no difference with or without my CIA DAC in the path.  There is not one aspect the music that is different with the DAC in the path.  Literally, the sound is indistinguishable to my 64 year old hear. How swapping my McCormack amp for my Pass Labs amp yields sonic difference that I could spent a long time describing.  Same thing with tube rolling... the differences are immediate and often very dramatic.   

I am going to audition the modestly-priced Denafrips AresDAC in my system soon to see if it creates the sort of sonic wonders that devotees of external DAC's are hearing.  If not, I conclude that I will be happy living with the sound of the Oppo sans DAC.  Thanks again for the comments.  
whitestix OP
733 posts
 
Helomech,
I guess my system is about $10K, and is the most revealing ensemble of gear I have ever had... and I have gone through a boatload of electronics and speaker in the past 20 years to arrive at this magical set-up.  I can honestly live very happily with the sound of my Oppo player.  "Cheap and cheerful", that is the way I roll these days.  
whitestix OP
733 posts
 
Oddiofyl,
I have the CIA VDA 2 with an external power supply and the comparison to the signal straight from the Oppo into my preamp vs. through the DAC provides no perceptible difference in SQ.  Maybe I have connectivity issues.  I will report back to you folks how I fair with the Denafrips home demo.  
whitestix OP
733 posts
 
Stfroth,
You have a solid take on my dilemma. so thanks for the erudite post.  The Denafrips Ares audition is in the works at the moment and I am keen to audition it.  What totally perplexes me is that in the comparison of my CIA and Gungnir DAC's to the Oppo straight into the preamp, I frankly could perceive no difference in the SQ either way.  Trying as I could, with a pal switching back and forth on the selector switch, there was absolutely no perceptible difference in SQ in any fashion with or without the DAC in the path.  Bring on the Denafrips DAC and let's see what I hear.   :-)  
whitestix OP
733 posts
 
bigkidz,
I do have a Denafrip Ares en route to me for a demo, similar in price to my CIA DAC, so I will give the a listen to it in my system. I can hear clear differences in SQ swapping amps, preamp, tubes, cables and speaker wire, but I will be damned if I hear any difference with modestly-priced DAC such as I have or have had compared to my Oppo.

I will get back to you guys early next week with my impressions of the Denafrips DAC.  If it doesn't improve the SQ of my system, then as you suggest, I am going to "just be happy".  I am enthralled with the sound of my system as it is.   Thanks. 
whitestix OP
733 posts
 
As I posted on my Denafrips thread, I heard zero difference running my Oppo 103 through the Denafrip, the lowest-priced DAC they sell, vs using the analogue output from my Oppo to my preamp.  Other listeners validated my listening comparison.  Today I swapped a new Oppo 205 for my 103 and did the same A/B comparison with the Denafrip. Again, zero sonic difference in what I could hear coming out of my speakers.  (I will be keen to compared my 103 to the 205 to discern differences.)

So, lads, I am folding up my tent, sending the Denafrips back and am going to live happily with the my current set up.  I think it sound stunning as it is and as I will be a pensioner soon, I can avoid the cost of the new DAC.  My Channel Islands DAC functions perfectly for the stream from my iMac, but as will the Denafrip, does nothing to enhance the signal from my Oppo CD player.  Cheap and cheerful, that is my motto.    
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