Shall I get a DAC for running pc -> hifi?

saitrix

saitrix

saitrix

Soldato
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Nottingham
Hi,

I will have a new hifi setup soon (most probably cambridge audio 640a v2 with monitor audio BR2's). Now the only problem is the setup I use for mp3's to goto the hifi.

Right now I am using a usb Creative Xmod, which is like their cheaper X-Fi soundcard but external. Then I run directly into the aux for the amp.

What is the best route for me? My motherboard has a coaxial S/PDIF Out and optical S/PDIF Out if that is handy? Really I am not sure on the best direction really. I have seen some DIY DAC's too which look really interesting.

Would I be correct in saying that the S/PDIF outputs have not gone through any soundcard etc?

Overall I am trying to do this on a fairly small budget so anyway of doing it cheaper I would be interested in.
 
A decent DAC will work fine on the back of the digital output from a PC. Infact I use a N OS DAC on the back of mine with a headphone amp for whilst I'm working on the PC.
External DACs will avoid a lot of the noise and RF that sits in a PC, so I'd expect any decent one to outperform an onboard card, having said that, it's a guess as I've never compared the two.
Typically, the coax SPDIF output will tend to sound better than the optical, but with lower range gear, it's not that noticeable.
There's now a reasonable range of low end DACs around that are worth looking at, e.g.
- N OS DACs. These tend to be fairly natural, if not having the ultimate detail. I'm using a Shrek mk2 with an uprated PSU.
- Upsampling DACs like the Beresford 7510. I used to own one of these. Plenty of detail and air, rather dry when compared to a N OS.
Both types can be bought for under £150 and will support a digital input.
I'd suggest you chose dependant upon how it will work with your existing amp/speakers.

If you're handy with a soldering iron, you might also wish to checkout a Behringer SRC2496. With some mods (don't ask me about them, I'm the wrong person), IMO this is the best sounding cheap DAC around.
 
Mr_Sukebe said:
- Upsampling DACs like the Beresford 7510. I used to own one of these. Plenty of detail and air, rather dry when compared to a N OS.
Click to expand...
I can thoroughly recommend this. Got one of the more recent mk6.3's.

Cost me around £120 and sounds glorious to me - just leave them on as the sound warms up a touch.

I run a pair of sennheiser HD650's off it and it drives them very well. Stanley (the maker of the 7510) actually re-calibrated the headphone output to match the HD650 for me since the Mk1 was originally calibrated using 650's.

Very nice all in one solution if you do plan to use some decent headphones.

gt
 
Aha, so all I need to do is connect a dac up to the SPDIF? I was also reading about the Monica3 from diyparadise, the usb one looks interesting, especially with him saying it eliminates a conversion, which can only be good. Really I am after the best I can for the money, even if that means building it. I haven't done much on pcb's with a soldering iron but I am fine with it for everything else, though I would be willing to learn how to solder to pcb.
 
gt_junkie said:
Beresford....I can thoroughly recommend this. Got one of the more recent mk6.3's....
Click to expand...

Had the MkII version a while ago, must admit didn't think much of it, thinking now of getting another DAC, probably the Cambridge Audio DACMagic that has just been released....
 
jbloggs said:
Had the MkII version a while ago, must admit didn't think much of it, thinking now of getting another DAC, probably the Cambridge Audio DACMagic that has just been released....
Click to expand...
Yeah, i think the improvements made over the last few revisions have been fairly noticeable from what i read on various audio forums.

Not as warm as a tube setup but is certainly detailed, accurate and able to produce a deep and believable soundstage.

The DACMagic does look good though. Was very tempted but couldn't wait any longer for its release.

gt
 
02112008057qt5.jpg


Thats my setup out my pc (flac files).

The cambridge audio dac is very good.
 
saitrix said:
Aha, so all I need to do is connect a dac up to the SPDIF? I was also reading about the Monica3 from diyparadise, the usb one looks interesting, especially with him saying it eliminates a conversion, which can only be good. Really I am after the best I can for the money, even if that means building it. I haven't done much on pcb's with a soldering iron but I am fine with it for everything else, though I would be willing to learn how to solder to pcb.
Click to expand...

I believe the Monica is also a N OS, and I get the impression that most of them have similar attributes of presentation, i.e. relaxed and natural, but not class leading for air and detail.
From reading elsewhere, whilst USB sounds like a great idea, but isn't all it's expected to be on listening. Stick with SPDIF.
 
gt_junkie said:
Yeah, i think the improvements made over the last few revisions have been fairly noticeable from what i read on various audio forums.

Not as warm as a tube setup but is certainly detailed, accurate and able to produce a deep and believable soundstage.

The DACMagic does look good though. Was very tempted but couldn't wait any longer for its release.

gt
Click to expand...

I have read that the more recent versions of the Beresford (esp the latest) are pretty good, but I fancy going for the DACMagic.....
 
jbloggs said:
I have read that the more recent versions of the Beresford (esp the latest) are pretty good, but I fancy going for the DACMagic.....
Click to expand...
I agree complately - as far as i could tell the dacmagic was better. However, i had a budget and i wanted an all in one solution because my pc desk is cluttered enough as it is!!! :D ;)

gt
 
i've got the latest 6/4 (MOD21) Beresford DAC and i can honestly say it's a very nice DAC for the price, good transparency and soundstage and now i'm putting some hours into it the bass is more pronounced and starting to tighten up, it sounded a bit lightweight at first and i need to grab a new PSU for it as i hear this gives even more benefits to the bass.....i have it feeding Arcam A90/P90 combo into my GR20 floorstanders.

i did have one of the newer DACMAgics but it only worked for about a day and developed a fault so impossible for me to compare these two, couldn't get a replacement because they're out of stock. the CA is obviously better looking than the Beresford but the latter is no ugly duckling and is a good 60-70 pound cheaper too - plus Stan B. is a good bloke from my experiences.

i might grab the DACMagic once they're in stock again and compare because i need a 2nd DAC for my Virgin Box - i haven't read any definitive reviews to say the CA is better...just hearsay and the fact it looks better and costs more ppl automatically assume it's better i think.
 
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Hope you dont mind if ask a question regarding the same thing - would an external DAC (such as the Beresford) give a better quality of playback of FLAC files from a pc than an internal card (in my case, the xonar DX, linked to a hi-fi)?

If yes, is it better to stick to using a soundcard to give optical/SPDIF, or would onboard SPDIF provide an adequate signal? (i presume since its digital, it should not matter, but i dont trust onboard audio much!)
 
I had a Xonar DX and while it was good i would say that the Beresford running off the mobo's (X38 DS5) onboard coaxial output offers an improved performance.

The dynamics are similar but there's less PC 'noise' and the whole soundstage seems expanded as a result of the silent background.

gt
 
Thanks gt - one of the main reasons i was thinking of an upgrade was to stop a very faint high pitched noise running through the speakers (which cant be doing them any good). Headphone amp section sounds good too. Been really thinking about the DAC magic, but for now, i dont think i would get £200 of use from it... the beresford on the other hand is very tempting indeed...
 
Mr_Sukebe said:
- N OS DACs. These tend to be fairly natural, if not having the ultimate detail. I'm using a Shrek mk2 with an uprated PSU.
Click to expand...
I've been using a shek d2 nosdac for over a year now and think it's superb. What PSU are you using Mr_Sukebe? Mind sending me a link if possible? Does it make a decent difference over the psu that's shipped with the dac?
 
I have owned both the beresford and the cambridge, both are very good, and i would recommend either.

which is better? soundwise there isnt much in it, i went for the cambridge because of the usb connection. Its very useful indeed for my application
 
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