To Dac or not to Dac

Ed

because I use 2 channel only in my video system to listen mostly to concert dvds, I run my DVD player into a Timbre TT1 dac...the audible difference is not subtle....I am also using good quality main speakers...

Using a good digital cable is very important. Most of the DACs that I tired in my system made a difference over the stock players. There are many different DACs and they all have a sound. You need to pick one that you like in your system. There are plenty used on Audiogon that you can buy and resell for about what you pay for. Tube vs solid state is your first decision and then the amount you want to spend to get better sound.

Happy Listening.

Bigkids
Do you have any experience with any particular SS DAC that you think might enhance my system?

That Arcam is a pretty damn good sounding unit. You may find that it will take a pretty expensive DAC to get meaningfull improvement. Then of couse you'll need a cable. Then you might have issues with jitter and might decide uou need another device to deal with that. In the end you might discover that you have a different sound, but, not necessarilly a better one. Then there's the coming Hi Def video thing to consider. Lastly, digital gear doesn't seem to hold its value as well as other gear.

I agree the Arcam is a terrific player! I've spent a lot of time with one myself. I also agree you'll get a different sound with the DAC. Whether you like it will depend on your taste. I've put my $350 Audio Sector DAC up against the Arcam DV27. The owner and I both prefered the DAC over the player. We used the Arcam as a transport. The Dac was more fluid and natural than the players analog outputs IMHO. Also there was just more definition and focus between acoustic instruments. So cost isn't an issue..it is the design of the product. FWIW.. the commercial version of the DAC does retail around $1200.

Good Luck