zenaudio wrote:I agree with the others that you get more bang from your buck with an outboard DAC.
In fact, I have that set-up too -- a Pioneer Blue-Ray/DVD player (which I also use for watching movies) connected to a Musical Fidelity X-DAC for music. The X-DAC costs a little above P10k, if I'm not mistaken, and it can give more expensive CD players a run for their money.
muypogi wrote:I vote for better DAC. You can channel the extra funds by keeping your dvd/cd player and investing in an outboard DAC.
Or you can skip the CD player altogether and rip your CDs so you can send your files to your DAC.
ave t
I've ripped my CDs into Apple Lossless and wirelessly stream them through the DACs in my 2 systems via an Airport Express and an Apple TV.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk . . .
Gino wrote:Foobar in Windows is better sounding than iTunes. You can also tweak its drivers when you have your dac. Choose a dac with the connectivity options to allow you to use your pc or cd/dvd player. If you decide on dedicating that dac to one particular player then on the relevant inputs need to be included.
Mamimili wrote:Another vote for the DAC.
I would not call myself digital fan, but laptop>airport express>DAC is great for casual listening and really works well if there is more than one person listening.
I went with Cambridge Audio's original DACMagic with AudioQuest Forest cable, it took a few attempts to get to this pairing.....the cable really made a difference in my system.
hawk01 wrote:Mamimili wrote:Another vote for the DAC.
I would not call myself digital fan, but laptop>airport express>DAC is great for casual listening and really works well if there is more than one person listening.
I went with Cambridge Audio's original DACMagic with AudioQuest Forest cable, it took a few attempts to get to this pairing.....the cable really made a difference in my system.
Sir query from a total newbie only. What does it mean "it took a few attempts to get this pairing"?? From where I stand isn't this supposed to be a plug and play affair only with a box and cable mated together? Once up and running does its job as advertised?
Just to confirm this is the DAC MagicPlus with a headphone jack? Is the volume knob bypassed when connected to a device like laptop, CD player, etc?
Mamimili wrote: Having said that i will listen to Schitt Audio's Modi and Loki DAC's next week, maybe they will change my mind as their prices are low.
I have yet to find any area of music reproduction that is plug and play. It is not and never will be a plug and play affair because all DAC's are different, all cables are different (which is why i have $500 interconnects in a box and use $100 DIY interconnects).
Reviews can give you a short list. Then you have to listen to as many combinations as you can with the music you want to listen to. Good luck!
carbondated wrote:Mamimili wrote: Having said that i will listen to Schitt Audio's Modi and Loki DAC's next week, maybe they will change my mind as their prices are low.
I have yet to find any area of music reproduction that is plug and play. It is not and never will be a plug and play affair because all DAC's are different, all cables are different (which is why i have $500 interconnects in a box and use $100 DIY interconnects).
Reviews can give you a short list. Then you have to listen to as many combinations as you can with the music you want to listen to. Good luck!
By the way, sorry for the OT, but where does one audition the Schiit products? I thought they were mail order only…
Mamimili wrote:Its the DACMagic, the model before the plus.
My problem was/is i compare everything i hear to vinyl and tubes, and my starter digital setup was not up to par, it was not involving, i was up and moving around within minutes, skipping from one track to another instead of letting the music flow.
I started with the usb connection and it sounded flat and compressed, everything i hated about CD's. So i tried a cheap optical cable, then borrowed a better optical and then i gave up and put the DAC back into its box and forgot about it. I cannot remember how long it was before i tried again. To cut it short i tried some higher res files and found some improvement, then tried the AQ optical cable and heard a major improvement. This is where i am today and it is "fine".
I have little interest in trying to improve what i have for digital, i would rather spend the money on vinyl or cartridges. Having said that i will listen to Schitt Audio's Modi and Loki DAC's next week, maybe they will change my mind as their prices are low.
I have yet to find any area of music reproduction that is plug and play. It is not and never will be a plug and play affair because all DAC's are different, all cables are different (which is why i have $500 interconnects in a box and use $100 DIY interconnects).
Reviews can give you a short list. Then you have to listen to as many combinations as you can with the music you want to listen to. Good luck!
Mamimili wrote:At a friends in the US, he is possibly selling them if anyone is interested, note possible.
He also has the Valhalla headphone amp so i will try that as well.
If anyone does want to order any Schitt product let me know. I could easily carry a few back to Manila (sometime mid-May)
hearhead wrote:Mamimili wrote:Its the DACMagic, the model before the plus.
My problem was/is i compare everything i hear to vinyl and tubes, and my starter digital setup was not up to par, it was not involving, i was up and moving around within minutes, skipping from one track to another instead of letting the music flow.
I started with the usb connection and it sounded flat and compressed, everything i hated about CD's. So i tried a cheap optical cable, then borrowed a better optical and then i gave up and put the DAC back into its box and forgot about it. I cannot remember how long it was before i tried again. To cut it short i tried some higher res files and found some improvement, then tried the AQ optical cable and heard a major improvement. This is where i am today and it is "fine".
I have little interest in trying to improve what i have for digital, i would rather spend the money on vinyl or cartridges. Having said that i will listen to Schitt Audio's Modi and Loki DAC's next week, maybe they will change my mind as their prices are low.
I have yet to find any area of music reproduction that is plug and play. It is not and never will be a plug and play affair because all DAC's are different, all cables are different (which is why i have $500 interconnects in a box and use $100 DIY interconnects).
Reviews can give you a short list. Then you have to listen to as many combinations as you can with the music you want to listen to. Good luck!Mamimili wrote:At a friends in the US, he is possibly selling them if anyone is interested, note possible.
He also has the Valhalla headphone amp so i will try that as well.
If anyone does want to order any Schitt product let me know. I could easily carry a few back to Manila (sometime mid-May)
Hmmm... I like how you're approaching your DAC selection. I'm also currently looking for a DAC source and listening to some of them (Audioquest Dragonfly and the Rega DAC are my most preferred after auditioning them). I like that you used the word "involving" in your preference standards as I feel and believe that this characteristic will define how an audio device can cut across the sensory and mental overload that we're currently being subjected to in this hyper connected world. It's hard for the layman to hear soundstaging, imaging and all that jargon when most people will listen to equipment in cramped condos where its hard to reach optimum loudness (me being one of them ). Vinyl playback has that involving quality and I'm curious as to how a DAC can deliver that. Though I know the two formats are incomparable, an involving and analog sounding DAC is definitely worth investigating as the convenience of digital may win you over when a toxic work schedule makes LP playback a bit cumbersome.
I'm interested on how the Schiit products will fare with your taste though, do update us if it's any upgrade over the "fine" rating you have with your current DAC and if it approaches the audiophile wordporn trifecta of tubes, analog and vinyl. . I'm kinda liking the concept of the Bifrost but I haven't heard it yet maybe you can include this in your DAC tasting session. (Pretty Please )
As for the TS it seems that a stand alone DAC is the unanimous vote, you'd be surprised how a DAC levels up a 320kbps mp3 file if you're used to CDs and smartphone level outputs (its an improvement but it isn't life changing though ) Some CDs released during the 00's sound mp3 like and a DAC can improve your listening sessions with them too.
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