Do I really need a Dac?

Oh wow! this isn't really that hard or complicated. I believe the original poster was really asking "do I need an external DAC?" it depends on whether you are happy with your current sound or not. If you are, then enjoy. If not, then it can't hurt to "borrow" a few external DACS, connect them to your current CD player's digital output and hear for yourself. Yes, your transport is slightly old, but some are actually well designed and built but in my experience, most CD players have woefully inadequate internal DACS. most of the problem actually is in two places. 1) the analog output stage (which is basically a pre-amp) is pretty badly designed and built and it typically cheap, 2) the power supply is typically not very good. A very good DAC has very good power supplies and analog output stage that is very good also. So, go borrow a few, connect it to the digital output of your CD player, sit back, play a few of your favorite songs that you know well and listen for yourself. Depending on your price point, there are some very good external DACs that will outperform your existing unit and really suprise you. I wouldn't change anything else until you are use to the sound of the new or used DAC. There are some CD players that actually have decent internal DACS, but depending on the quality of your system, those typically costs.

Go borrow a few, listen and come back and let us know what you have heard.

enjoy

Actually Gfcf424892, my statement was actually true. Most CD players compromise on the analog stage and power supply. this is why "audiophiles" typically have separates in the first place. Separate power supply responsibility and signal crosstalk, etc. I have only heard a very few CD players that have internal DACs that can compete with good quality external DACS using the design and construction standards I mentioned earlier. I'm sorry if you disagree, but it really is true. Note, I did write most, not all. In my opinion, most CD player's internal DACS really don't have quality analog output circuity. You really have to look at that circuitry the same as you would with a decent pre-amps analog circuitry and power supply. Now, I am not comparing apples to apples here, so forgive me. An inexpensive CD player's internal DAC vs an equally inexpensive external DAC and there really is no comparison needed, because they both will be well below the standard of a high quality CD player and high quality external DAC. But take most CD players and get an external DAC that is built like a tank, like say, Theta DS Pro Gen VA and compare. you will hear remarkable differences. The real question asked was Do I really need an (external) DAC? the answer is, it depends on what you are currently using and what level of sound reproduction quality you are looking for. If you want "as real as possible" within set price points, (high end) then yes, you do. Because most internal DACs don't cut it. Again, top of the line Wadia, Boulder, Mark Levinson, Audio Research, etc. CD Players, would compete very well with equally quality external DACS. But, most CD players, well, they just don't.

enjoy