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Processor DACs

I am shopping for a new Processor. I’ll probably get an Integra DHC 80.3, so I am curious if anyone has ever compared the onboard DAC of their processor to an established benchmark DAC such as a W4S DAC-2. Since my music server has USB outs, it would require purchasing a USB to S/PDIF converter (such as the Anedio U2) to hook up the processor to the server. Before spending the money on a converter, I am wondering if people have tried this out, and what their experience with it is. It seems that most mainstream processors have solid DACs to do all the Dolby Digital conversion, so wouldn’t it make sense that they should perform excellent as a standalone DAC? I would appreciate your thoughts and experience.
hifiguy5
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,424 posts
 
Well, you could add Meridian to the list as they permit such low res digital output, as well.
edorr
714 posts
 
Another more realistic option I totally forgot about it this. If you can live without sub(s) in stereo mode, you can still have full blown room correction, an external DAC and integration with an SSP with its own room correction.

You would do this by running the room correction for 2 channel on your music server PC. Dirac now sells their software to run on a PC (I believe around $700), and there is also acourate, which is even cheaper. This is full blown 2 channel room correction with phase / time alignment. So you would run the music server (which also runs the correction) into the DAC over USB. If you buy the wyred4sound DAC2, you would run the SSP through the HT bypass on the wyred4sound. In 2 channel mode you use the wyred4sound volume control.

This would be a relatively cost effective integrated 5.1 and 2.0 system. With room correction in both modes.
mateored
258 posts
 
Steve N - so in a room with terrible acoustics, do you think it would be worth sacrificing the room correction for better DACs for 2 channel music? I know I could just try it, but every time I buy new equipment or make changes to the living room rig, my wife starts asking a lot of questions ; )
edorr
714 posts
 
Mateored, for two channel there are many more options that will give you both room correction and outboard dac. I mentioned running room correction on a pc. You can use PEQ in amarra on a Mac (something Steve is a strong advocate of). You can also use a dedicated box such as tact, lyndorf or trinnov.
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
"Steve N - so in a room with terrible acoustics, do you think it would be worth sacrificing the room correction for better DACs for 2 channel music?"

Absolutely. Room acoustics will do little to improve detail rendering and dynamics if the source cannot deliver these. Good for eliminating bass resonances mostly.

However understand that it's the master clock in the DAC or the source that is more important than the DAC. If you are using a source such as Sonos, SB, Apple TV or a CD transport, get a reclocker to reduce its jitter. If you are using USB, make sure the master clocks in it are up to snuff.

If you are using an active preamp, get rid of it and replace with a DAC with a good volume technology or use a transformer linestage such as Music First or these others:
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=89744.0

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
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