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Which DAC

Hi all-

I'm assisting my friend in setting up Sonos so she can stream Deezer (and perhaps Tidal when it becomes available on Sonos.)

Her current set up is is PMC Twenty.21 speakers with Exposure 2010s2 amp and cd player.

She will get the Wyred4Sound modified Sonos unit.

I am assuming it would be beneficial to run this Sonos into a DAC unit? The question is which one to steer her toward. I was thinking of three:

--the Arcam irDAC
--the Meridian Director
--Wyred4Sound's udac

Any thoughts about which direction to go here?

Also, I'm a newbie at this, but I am assuming the cabling would work like this:

Ethernet to Sonos; digital cable from Sonos to DAC; RCA cables from DAC to amplifier. Is that right?

And I'm thinking of Atlas cables since that is what PMC recommends with its equipment.

Any guidance appreciated. Happy Thanksgiving!
Margot
mcanaday
mceljo
983 posts
 
If her goal is to stream isn't the quality of the music already compromised. I am not sure any "upgrades" will have any value for her. Make sure your audiophile tastes don't waste her money.

What kind of amplifier and speakers are in play?
viridian's avatar
viridian
4,184 posts
 
So there is no need for subsequent stages to be maximally transparent if the source is compromised?

Why wouldn't distortion be additive? So that if one improved any stage that would provide a clearer sound.

My tastes are not audiophile at all, my first suggestion being a DAC that costs only 2/3 the price of the Meridian Director and Arcam ifDac which the OP is considering for her friend. It's not cheap in absolute terms, but it certainly is in audio land.

Please be so kind as to actually make a suggestion as to which DAC will be the maximally effective for the minimum cost given the compromised source that is in play. It's time for you to help her out.
beewax
173 posts
 
I am not audiophile by any means. I just enjoy good music. Since "she will get the Wyred4Sound modified Sonos unit".
It already have W4S/UDAC Built-in and she doesn't need another cable and DAC.
beewax
173 posts
 
I am also not audiophile by any means. I just enjoy good music. Since "she will get the Wyred4Sound modified Sonos unit".
It already have W4S/UDAC Built-in and she doesn't need another cable and DAC.
austinbob
198 posts
 
She will benefit from a good DAC via the Sonos coaxial output. Any of the DACs you mention are fine--I think the Arcam is a good DAC under $500. I used to own the Wyred4Sound modified Sonos and it was great but it will only output 24/96. Deezer is CD quality so that's fine.
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