2. digital
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DAC upgrade

Hi, My digital system currently consists of a Logitech squeezebox touch (Jerome PSU upgrade, software mods) into a Music Hall DAC 25.2 (Tube & output cap upgrade), Marantz PM-15S2 integrated amp, and DIY Seas Thor speakers, all cabled with blue jeans cables. The PSU to the touch was an immense upgrade in terms of resolution, as was the output caps to the music hall dac, but I'm still looking for more resolution.

This was my first DAC, and kind of stands out as being the "weak link" in my system. Does this sound right? What is audiogon's thoughts on upgrading to a better DAC? How much should I spend? Or should I not bother switching DACs, and upgrade the MH unit further? Or... am I overlooking something else?

P.S. My analog front end sounds very good to me, but I don't have nearly as much vinyl as music files.

Thanks for any recommendations
acold7dusta

Showing 2 responses by audioengr

audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Once you change to a USB DAC, you will need to convert your best files to .wav. Right now, you dont have an issue because you are networked, but the fact is that most FLAC decoders cannot keep up with the datastream real-time, so it compromises the audio quality. XLD is a good way to convert on Mac.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
since I'm networked, is it even worth it reripping what I already have?

If you use a networked converter, such as Sonos, Logitech or PSAudio, then the data is the data. The core audio stack is not involved. Therefore, music format is less likely to affect sound quality.

When you involve the core audio stack on PC or Mac, then the latency issue raises its head and SQ starts to suffer with compressed formats. All of the compressed format CODECs that I have heard compromise SQ because they cannot keep-up with the data stream, at least that is my theory based on experience with them.

I think the networked versus non-networked is one reason why some heard SQ differences with FLAC and others dont.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
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