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noob DAC question

Hello all. Building a system gradually and would like to know about CD players with built-in DAC's. My first purchase in many years (Anthem Integrated 225 - to replace a Yamaha A-1020) is strictly an analog amp. If I purchase a CD player w/ built-in DAC but use the standard (non-digital) outputs, is the DAC function effectively bypassed...or does the signal still travel though the built-in DAC en route to the analog output?

In other words, by having an analog amp is a built-in DAC inconsequential because an external DAC is required by definition - or does a built-in DAC save me a step?

thanks much
sartorical

Showing 3 responses by audioengr

audioengr
3,282 posts
 
The best way to interface a PC with a DAC is using USB converter. These are available from $150 to $4K depending on the sound quality you want. They have USB input and digital coax output, as well as AES/EBU and I2S output on some units. The best are powered from good external power supplies. Sounds cards are not in the same league.

This USB converter is where the MASTER CLOCK resides, so it is the most important part of the digital system, more important than the DAC even.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
I use a Sonos myself for general background listening, but I reclock it with a Synchro-Mesh. It is very easy to use and the software works well, as long as you keep it up to date. The main limitation is that it only plays 44.1 files. It is one of the cheaper ways to get good audio, about $1K total.

I use USB for all of my 88.1-192 files, which are about half of them.

Sart- I don't understand why you are bringing the blu-ray player into the conversation. This is for playing disks and movies, nothing to do with computer audio.

The computer quality and particularly the power supply and the USB ports and topology all affect sound quality, but not as much as the interface that contains the MASTER CLOCK. This is the most important thing to get right. Here are some tips to get the optimum sound from a computer:

http://www.empiricalaudio.com/computer-audio/

http://www.empiricalaudio.com/computer-audio/recommended-systems

The problem with soundcards is they usually have cheap jittery master clocks and they are powered from a very poor computer power supply. I have had the very best ones here, (over $1K) and they need reclocking to sound decent. It is best to not use them and instead use a USB DAC or better yet a USB converter.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Sart - once you play a track on a decent computer-based system, you will never spin a CD again. Sounds better and much more convenient. It's a no-brainer IMO. I gave away all of my disk spinners.

What most people don't understand is that computer audio is an opportunity to improve your playback sound quality significantly. It's not just about convenience. Look at the rooms that won the best of shows at RMAF last month. The vast majority use servers or computers.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
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