2. digital
  3. 183006-22888

transport/dac vs integrated player

I have almost always used an outboard dac,  primarily because it always sounded much better, presumably because the external dac was better than my cd players internal dac. I have always concentrated on the dac and not on the quality of the transport, and planned on trying better transports and also playing via computer with a usb to s/pdif bridge. The question I have is this: assuming the dac in an integrated player equals the sound quality of an external dac, does the fact that it is in the player itself  alleviate any issues with the connection from a transport to an external dac?   To put it another way, assuming all things being equal, am I better off seeking out a player rather than a separate transport /dac?  Thanks in advance. 

majorc

Showing 3 responses by soix

soix
8,809 posts
 

If you’re considering streaming, and you DEFINITELY should as you’ll have access to worlds of new music, just go with a separate DAC. Computers are awful as streaming sources, and when you can pick up a good streamer like the iFi Zen Stream for $399 (and even less used) or a Bluesound Node there’s really not much cost involved for significantly better sound. And the Zen has an SPDIF digital out so no need for a bridge to convert from USB. Hope this helps, and best of luck!

Incidentally, many people have bought the Audiolab 6000CDT transport with good results.  It appears to be at a big discount on Amazon…

https://www.amazon.com/Audiolab-6000CDT-Dedicated-Transport-Remote/dp/B07HS2PDBM

soix
8,809 posts
 

But the narrow question I have is for playing my cd collection: whether having an all in one player alleviates the concerns with the connection from the transport to the dac

Well, if you’re going the streaming route anyway you could consider getting a streamer like an Innuos Zen Mini or Zen that also has an onboard disc drive and internal storage so you can just load all your CDs directly into it and have access to all your music from your chair and no need for a separate transport.  Just another option to consider FWIW. 

soix
8,809 posts
 

You want a PC no where in the loop or near your audio system.

@ghdprentice big +1 — a computer should be no part of your audio system.  It’s the nosiest source for music, and noise is the arch enemy of good-quality streaming, which is why standalone streamers exist in the first place.  Nobody who has a decent system, has any idea what they’re doing, and cares about sound uses a computer as a source.  Just go to an audio show — no one uses a computer as a source and all use streamers and/or vinyl.  That’s a big clue.  

More to discover