DAC Info that may be helpful

AwesomeDawson

Does this mean that I'd also have to change my speaker settings to full range and ditch the cross over frequency?

The Onkyo 606 has a Pure Audio button which is 2.0

The speakers are B&W 685s.

sounddog

If you use the Pure Audio button what should avoid Analogue - Digital - Analogue conversion but (as you noticed) that will only offer you 2.0

Eloise

sounddog

Great write up on your experiences...

Just one comment
Its more likely that the output of your Macbook (I assume via the Mini-TOSLink?) is inferior to the output of your CD Player.  You should also ensure that on your Mac you have the AudioMidi utility control pannel set so your Mac outputs 16 bit and 44100Hz (44.1kHz) so that no resampling happens.

Some people will disagree with me here, but your MacBook is perfectly capable of matching the CD transport, but only if you use it with a DAC offering a good USB interface (the Beresford DACs don't have good USB interfaces); or use a separate USB to SPDIF interface.  The transport does make a difference to the quality of the playback.

Eloise

ajex

Bought 2 DAC's on whim last week ..

My logic is if Samsung S4 Qualcomm Processor costs to Samsung is 30$ the why a DAC should cost Hundreds of quid??(probably opening pandora's box)

Have started trying Mini DAC TDA1543x4 DIR9001 and also FiiO Taishan ..

Will try to update my impressions after long term use but initial impression is  quite good...

Blue_Max

TY Alex, keep us posted.  
Last year after recomendations by Ashley and others at the AVI HiFi Forum, I bought an M-Audio Transit. Essentially an USB to optical converter, it also has built in 24/96 DAC with line output.  Very pleased with the performance from this little box

CJROSS

Yep great cheap way to get audio out of a laptop/PC.

Also look at the Behringer UCA-202 / 222. Amazing what £20-30 can buy in DAC terms.

Gboardman1959

I hope someone will be able to help. I'm thinking I might buy the Arcam Airdac I have all my music stored on my I pad and I pod touch I know if I connect the Airdac to my Onkyo 5509 by the Analog connections I should get improved sound from the Airdac plus I would be able to use the Airplay feature which for me is very appealing.I'm currently just connecting the I pad to the front USB port and setting the amp to All channel stereo so the sound comes through my 7.1 speakers which I prefer is there going to be a problem if I want to listen through all the speakers I don't really want a two channel stereo set up.hope someone would be able to give me some advise
Geoff

Joe Fernand

Would seem a touch counterproductive to add in the DAC to then ask the AVR to create an all channel mode - I'd keep the AVR in Stereo mode (with the DAC installed) or stick with what you have now!

Joe

Gboardman1959

Yeh i thought you might say that the problem now is when I try just stereo the sound is awfull when set to All Chanel stereo the sound is good would the Airdac connected to my amp sound a lot better in 2 Chanel stereo than it does connected just using the USB input

Joe Fernand

'when I try just stereo the sound is awfull' - how are you configuring the AVR? 2.0 or 2.1 when in Stereo mode!

Joe