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Try to avoid duplicate DA Conversion with USB drive to Amplifier direct

After my recent acquisition of an Arcam SA20 integrated amplifier and a pair of Sonus Faber speakers, the next logical step appeared to be getting a new CD player with a respectable DA converter, as I have a large collection of musical CDs. However, the Arcam SA20 has a USB port and a decent DA converter already. I am wondering if I should just rip my CD collection to a USB flash drive and just plug in to my Arcam SA20. This supposedly avoids getting a duplicate DA converter (in an extra CD player); any suggestions or thoughts?

128x128mtvernon95
chenry's avatar
chenry
191 posts
 

Unless your DAC is not high quality, i suggest using your digital-out from your CD player to either a separate high-quality DAC or to the DAC module in your Integrated amp, if you prefer that. The decision to rip all or part of your CD collection to lossless files on a computer or network server should be a separate question. Having your collection available on selection from your PC or MAC is very convenient.

mtvernon95's avatar
mtvernon95 OP
1 posts
 

Thanks for the suggestion Chenry! Connecting the digital-out from my run-of-the-mill and old CD player to the DAC input of the Arcam SA20 amplifier is something I should try before acquiring a newer and better CD player. Consolidating the CD collection to a single file is also a worth-while but separate project as you pointed out. BTW, just realized the USB port at the back of my Arcam SA20 is for software update only, so has a very limited purpose.

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