DAC inside the Amplifier better ?

[ANADROL-50]

For the best cd quality playback is it a better approach to use a cd player, analogue interconnect and a "normal" amplifier, or, use a cd transport, digital interconnect and then an amplifier with the DAC chip contained inside ?

 

[Chumpchops]

Yes

 

[hiesteem]

For the best cd quality playback is it a better approach to use a cd player, analogue interconnect and a "normal" amplifier, or, use a cd transport, digital interconnect and then an amplifier with the DAC chip contained inside ?

I don't think there is a definitive answer. I tend to do research online about the product I am interested in. There is so much information about different DAC chips/op-amps etc .
How well they are put together and implemented is very important as the same Dac can be made to sound different depending upon this.

 

[DomT]

Depends. And probably the answer may vary depending on your budget. Many good and bad examples of both approaches. Some people are worried about CD mechanism failure. I have tried cheap CDP as a transport and it sounded much worse than a decent CDP into the same DAC.

 

[Boris the Animal]

Since changing from a cd player to a cd transport and internal DAC I’m enjoying much improved performance. That will to some extent be on account of general improvements in DAC technology though.

 

[newlash09]

For the best cd quality playback is it a better approach to use a cd player, analogue interconnect and a "normal" amplifier, or, use a cd transport, digital interconnect and then an amplifier with the DAC chip contained inside ?

Hi sir

In my humble opinion it will depend on the age of the components involved.

In a CD player, the lens reading mechanism and the dac are synced to the same clock.

But when we use the same CD player as a transport to an external dac, that time sync is lost. However, if the external dac is really superior to the inbuilt dac of the CD player, then it might sound better.

Not to mention adding external clocks to sync the CD transport to the external Dac.

So considering so many variables involved, including the quality of the interconnects, I think it will be difficult for me to absolutely take one side sir 😁.

Probably auditoning is the only way to find out 😜

 

[Bodgit]

Another consideration is what other digital sources will need a DAC, what is the priority of SQ for those sources
My Wadia CD player is hardly used as a CD player, but its DAC with volume control works well as a DAC and pre-amp for the TV and streamer.
There are various ways to slice and dice the system.
If I had to buy something to replace this setup, I'd first be looking for a good DAC with volume control, then work from there, may be with streamer functionality too. CD can easily be added with a transport.
If you have analogue sources to plug in too, then you're more restricted and likely will need an analogue pre-amp with a DAC separate to it.

 

[hearhere]

Yes

That's the best answer so far! Now remind me, how long is a piece of string?

Depends on quality of individual units, but if one option means there are fewer cables in the system (more likely with the DAC in amp), then I'd tend to favour that, all other factors being equal. The cable that improves sound has yet to be invented (it never will be), so the fewer the better IMO.

 

[lazycat]

My amp Dac has been better, equivalent and now not as good as the various dacs I've tried.

My new Gustard X16 is a step up from the Denon. But the Denon was much better, IMO, than a 2Qute.

 

[ANADROL-50]

Hi sir

In my humble opinion it will depend on the age of the components involved.

In a CD player, the lens reading mechanism and the dac are synced to the same clock.

But when we use the same CD player as a transport to an external dac, that time sync is lost. However, if the external dac is really superior to the inbuilt dac of the CD player, then it might sound better.

Not to mention adding external clocks to sync the CD transport to the external Dac.

So considering so many variables involved, including the quality of the interconnects, I think it will be difficult for me to absolutely take one side sir 😁.

Probably auditoning is the only way to find out 😜

Never been called sir before !

Noted your advice regarding a cd player having its lens reading mechanism and dac in sync with the same clock.

The Denon DCD-A110 / PMA-A110 units share the same DAC hence, can be connected via either analogue or digital cables, but your above point may be the reason why one method is better than the other.