I'm confuse Do i need a dac for my cd player ?

If it is a cd player and not a transport, you do not NEED the DAC. If the Arcam has a digital out, you can try and see if you WANT the DAC in the signal chain.

You need a Dac Period.

Pecolar - you do not NEED a separate dac. The Arcam CD73 is a standalone CD player.

As Swampwalker said, if the unit has a digital out you can connect a DAC in the signal chain to decide if there is an improvement over the stock Arcam unit.

When you run a cd player using RCA the signal passes thru an internal DAC, like others say if you want to use an outboard DAC you are free to do so using an optical or coax digital cable (then you cd unit becomes simpy a transport)

A outboard digital analog converter (DAC) replaces the built-in DAC of your CD player. It's a way for you to get a different sound from your digital source. DAC's come in different price ranges and quality. I love the sound of tube electronics so I've added a tube DAC to my Sony DVD/SACD 9000ES player and have noticed a "warmer" and more detailed sound. Experiment with higher priced DAC's than your unit to see what the fuss is all about including tube DACs. Use a coax cable to connect the DAC and Arcam instead of a fiber optic interconnect if your Arcam can accommodate it. If you like the sound of your current CD player, don't sweat it.

Ok- So, if you are using a DAC in your system, does the quality of the CD player/transport make any difference? It seems the DAC is re-voiceing the music anyway.

Yes, the new dac will "revoice" you digital sound, BUT, the player/transport also has a distinct role to play in the final sound. I have heard quite distinct differences between player/transports feeding the same dac. Some do better than others, no hard and fast rules.

Photon46,

Interesting. So does the "law" of a higher quality/higher priced (assumption there) CD player mean that the higher the quality CD player run into the DAC the beter the sound comming out? OR are the rules broken to the extent that an older and cheeper CD unit run into a DAC may sound just as good as a high end Wadia, Creek, Marantz etc.?

Tickfight, No if your CD player is a Wadia or a Pioneer or a teac, using the same mechanism(transport) then you would be suprised how similar used as just your CD reader(transport) they can be... I have tested this, When you purchase some of the higher cost players you are paying for the metal work, fancy jacks, Displays, and even sometimes the IEC detachable plug, and yes your Wadia unit, or Krell whoever is simply a very modified Sony, Teac, Pioneer, or phillips transport. So your education should start with Who uses the best transport in stock models, like the VRS? teac, The pioneer stable platter, Sony whatever.

I have directly owned and compared a Wadia and pioneer using the same transport, and even Logic system(board with all the functions on it), and even the Same remote(just silk screened over with Wadia's logo, and guess what? They were EXTREMLY similar when used as a transport only, however the Wadia blew away the pioneer if using the internal DAC and better Chassis damping and power cord.

Also I owned a Sony top player with the transport they use in some Krell machines, and again Near identicle using the digital out.. So even if a cheap plastic player is using a hi quality transport it should be pretty good even in comparison to a couple thousand dollar more player using the same, unless it has Extensive power supply upgrades, and most in the 300-3000.00 range do not.

So put most your money into the Seperate DAC first, find what you like, then Experiment with a 200.00 transport and a 4000.00 transport and make your decision on how much is enough. But guarantee that a Transport will make some big difference with the DAC it is matched too, I found some transports sound a little soft or fuzzy, and some sound deeper with better detail and bass on the same DAC, so they will be effective to the end result, but find a good dac first I say, and transports in all these machines are made by Sony, Teac, phillips for the most part today anyway from my understanding.

Guys,
Thank you very much to all of you,now i've learned a lot.

Undertow,

Yes, EXACTLY what I was looking for, thanks!! If anyone has a differing opinion please chime in, otherwise I will go a DAC searchin and put most of the $$ in that.

Tickfight, Just remember its all really experimental to your taste, but I think if you find the right direction in DAC with all the inputs and major requirements you need first, even if its 200 or 2000 you will find easily what you would like about a 99.00 dvd player or a 4999.00 CD player or transport. So you really can't go backwards in the cost, cause sure you could go to the best TEAC makes and use a 4000.00 transport and definatly have a great one, but then you are limited to finding the DAC you want, so mess around for a CD spinner after the fact, then you will hear the differences much easier when hooked to the DAC you already like and are familiar with regardless what transport you use.