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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
audphile1's avatar
audphile1
4,836 posts
 

Never compared but the dac in the McIntosh is nothing to write home about. It’s a good option to have. 
I do not know what the aurender dac sounds like. I have N200 going into PS Audio DSD DAC and it’s awesome. 

deadhead1000's avatar
deadhead1000
714 posts
 

I have an N200 and didn’t go with any built in DACs in any of my hardware (I use a PS Audio DAC), the reason I don’t use a built in DAC is that they are still improving them and this way I can swamp out the DAC without having to replace any other hardware. So in the end, to me it doesn’t matter how good the built in DAC is. 

glennewdick's avatar
glennewdick
1,644 posts
 

I compared the A10 to my C2700 (DAC 2) and the DAC2 is better IMO. not sure if that's a fair comparison but close as i have.

Upgrade your DAC1 to the DAC2 maybe the way FWD. The DAC2 also offers HDMI input for a potential TV input. 

oddiofyl's avatar
oddiofyl
3,758 posts
 

I agree, maybe the DAC 2 card is the way to go.   My Dad has a Mc MA8950 and it sounds great with his streamer and the Amp's DAC 2 card .    

I am a big fan of separates but if the built in DAC is well implemented it can sound really good.  

I have a Cyrus i7XR Integrated Amp with a built-in DAC, in fact it's the same chipset used in the McIntosh DAC.   I fully intended to use my RME DAC but the Cyrus sound so good with it's DAC I sold the RME. 

My main system uses an Aurender N200 with the LAB 12 DAC 1 Reference and it is an excellent sounding combo.  

It is nice to have that eArc inputon the Mac if you watch a lot of TV to it 

 

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