Do I need a DAC?

[Django x2]

For my HTPC?

I ask, because generally, sound will be passed to an AV receiver through HDMI or optical. But if I wanted to listen to my mp3 collection, I would have to switch outputs on the HTPC.

Is there any real gain in doing this when all I'm using is an AV receiver?

 

[gurusan]

Your AV receiver already has a DAC. If you want to listen to your MP3 collection you shouldn't have to change anything.

 

[Django x2]

Sorry, should clarify. I meant a decent stand-a-lone DAC, like a Beresford, etc

 

[gurusan]

Only reason would be if you don't like the performance of the AV receiver DAC.

 

[marscay]

For my HTPC?

I ask, because generally, sound will be passed to an AV receiver through HDMI or optical. But if I wanted to listen to my mp3 collection, I would have to switch outputs on the HTPC.

Is there any real gain in doing this when all I'm using is an AV receiver?

A £200 DAC like the Caiman or similar wipes the floor with just about any receiver for 2 channel playback.

Even a lot of the cheaper DAC's would put up a great fight against the majority of AV amps.

I have a high end processor but i still used a Caiman for stereo for a few months ....have since moved to a Chord DAC64 but the Caiman is very nice for the money.

 

[rG-tom]

you can set the output of most audio programs to a specific soundcard, ie media monkey or winamp, so you can have everything going through the AV except mp3s that go through the DAC

 

[Bossk128]

Is an uprated DAC necessary for MP3s? If you get one, you should try out MP3s vs. FLACs to see if you'll get the benefit of the better sound.

 

[marscay]

Unless you have a very good system it's pretty hard to distinguish a well ripped 192-320kbps mp3 and it's lossless counterpart so yes a good DAC is still worth it if you only have mp3.

But a good and revealing DAC is terrible for badly ripped or poorly mastered material....it amplifies all the flaws.