2. digital
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mp3 bit stream to DAC?

I have an mp3 player (archos av340) which in addition to the headphone analogue audio out, has an SPDIF out. I used to plug the SPDIF out to my yamaha tuner/reciever/amp SPDIF in and play through my stereo system. The SPDIF out/in gave much better sound than the archos analogue out/ yamaha analogue right/left in's I used before I learned I could go the "digital" route (I guess the yamaha had a better DAC than the archos?).

The question - I bought new speakers (quad 989's), a tube amp and an ACK DAC 2.0 to be able to again play my mp3's the digital route through my new system. I get NO sound or indicator light "on" on the ACK indicating the ACK is getting a digital signal fed to it. Should the ACK (or any other DAC for that matter) be able to get and DAC mp3 bit streams (like my yamaha reciever did)? If so, any thoughts on what I could be doing wrong.

Finally, I know mp3's through a "nice" system is an oxymoron (i.e. the mp3 signal is compressed compared to a raw CD signal), but, most of my music is mp3's so I still want to make things work.

????
hovendic
steuspeed's avatar
steuspeed
501 posts
 
The Yamaha had a better DAC than an Archos mp3 player? No suprise there. The analog output of the Archos is probably junk too. It could be any combination of cheap DAC and analog stage within the unit.

The Ack Dack is a minimalist design. I am sure it has no clue what to do with your mp3 bitstream.
hovendic OP
9 posts
 
Steuspeed, thanks, any thoughts on what DAC to buy to handle mp3 bit streams?
peak
26 posts
 

The SP/DIF port on the Archros player is not an output but an input.
hovendic OP
9 posts
 
Peak, it is labeled input, but the manual says it is both in and out, and it has worked out to my yamaha digital in. That is the only reason I have kept it so long (the newer versions do not have it, I believe some worry about digital rights).
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