DAC Comparison - Aurender A200 vs McIntosh C2600


This is a long shot, but I will ask anyway because it seems somebody somewhere has already investigated just about everything........

Has anyone done any critical listening to compare the DAC inside the Aurender A200 vs the McIntosh C2600?

I recently purchased an Aurender A200 streamer and I am using the DAC inside this unit. My system features a McIntosh C2600 tube preamplifier that has its own internal DAC and I am wondering if one DAC is noticeably better than the other, or if anyone has listened to them both.  I tried to do some comparative listening to them both yesterday but it appears I will need to do some firmware updates to my McIntosh before I can do this - hence this post and question.

Thanks from an old analog guy trying to learn the digital streaming world.

hikerneil

Showing 2 responses by hikerneil

Thanks for input from everyone.  I have no tv in this room, so that is not an issue.  I believe my long-term solution is a stand-alone DAC so I'm looking for the best solution right now.

I do appreciate that input on the DAC 2 card.  I may see what that cost is, but will likely just stick with my Aurender A200 internal DAC for now - it sounds quite good.  

If anyone has heard the C2600 DAC 1, let me know.  Thanks again!

blisshifi - I suppose I should also repaint my room with synergistic's acoustic paint so that my sound stage will increase and my music will be more resolving? haha