huggzymers
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- Jan 31, 2022
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Question for you all. Thanks in advance for any help/replies.
Question
How do people typically share a DAC with a headphone amp and an integrated amp for speakers? I currently have 2 DACs, one for headphone and one for speakers, but thinking of consolidating into one unit.
Are there any budget(ish) DACs out there with multiple RCA outputs and a switch, or is that something only higher end models have? By budget I'm thinking around $AUD500, i.e the price of 2 budget DACs!). Not interested in bluetooth, MQA, remote control. Just looking for a decent-ish featureless DAC, but with 2 RCA outputs to avoid purchasing 2 separate DACs for headphones and speakers.
Am I overthinking this? Is it just a RCA Y-splitter situation...? I've seen passive switch boxes but the prices of those things seems only justifiable if you are spending $$$ on your components. Buying a passive switch box that is more expensive than your DAC doesn't make sense!
My set up
The two DACs I currently have are: Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (Gen2) Audio Interface and an original Cambridge Audio DAC Magic (limited to 44.1khz via USB). On the amp side I have a SMSL SP200 headphone amp and a Marantz PM 7200 for the speakers (Yamaha NS690III).
The Focusrite doesn't seem terribly well regarded as a DAC, and the CA is fully featured but somewhat older. Doing a listening test, it's actually really hard to tell the difference between the two. I'd say that the CA edges out the focusrite for detail and smoothness, but hard to tell due to a significant volume difference where the CA seems much louder. And if it's hard to tell, perhaps there isn't a difference......
My philosophy..?
I'm not sure where I sit on the objectivity v subjectivity debate, probably closer to objective. In my mind, uncompressed FLAC sounds better than MP3s, that's easy.. Hi Res uncompressed FLACs sound the same as CDs. But the biggest impact I have noted on the sound I experience is the mastering of albums (dynamic range, and other things, i.e Beatles original 60s vinyl v 80s CDs v 2000s remasters) and in respect of my speaker set up, the impact of the room.
I don't discount the possibility of the choice of a DAC impacting on the sound in some way. But curious to see whether more recent DACs will sound different to the older units I currently have. Whether an upgrade is worth it. But not so curious to needlessly throw money at the situation!
I'm relatively easy to please once I've reached a certain level of sound. Not too prone to upgrading, happy to settle into one setup and stay there indefinitely!
Would appreciate any thoughts, suggestions, comments etc. Thanks!
Question
How do people typically share a DAC with a headphone amp and an integrated amp for speakers? I currently have 2 DACs, one for headphone and one for speakers, but thinking of consolidating into one unit.
Are there any budget(ish) DACs out there with multiple RCA outputs and a switch, or is that something only higher end models have? By budget I'm thinking around $AUD500, i.e the price of 2 budget DACs!). Not interested in bluetooth, MQA, remote control. Just looking for a decent-ish featureless DAC, but with 2 RCA outputs to avoid purchasing 2 separate DACs for headphones and speakers.
Am I overthinking this? Is it just a RCA Y-splitter situation...? I've seen passive switch boxes but the prices of those things seems only justifiable if you are spending $$$ on your components. Buying a passive switch box that is more expensive than your DAC doesn't make sense!
My set up
The two DACs I currently have are: Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (Gen2) Audio Interface and an original Cambridge Audio DAC Magic (limited to 44.1khz via USB). On the amp side I have a SMSL SP200 headphone amp and a Marantz PM 7200 for the speakers (Yamaha NS690III).
The Focusrite doesn't seem terribly well regarded as a DAC, and the CA is fully featured but somewhat older. Doing a listening test, it's actually really hard to tell the difference between the two. I'd say that the CA edges out the focusrite for detail and smoothness, but hard to tell due to a significant volume difference where the CA seems much louder. And if it's hard to tell, perhaps there isn't a difference......
My philosophy..?
I'm not sure where I sit on the objectivity v subjectivity debate, probably closer to objective. In my mind, uncompressed FLAC sounds better than MP3s, that's easy.. Hi Res uncompressed FLACs sound the same as CDs. But the biggest impact I have noted on the sound I experience is the mastering of albums (dynamic range, and other things, i.e Beatles original 60s vinyl v 80s CDs v 2000s remasters) and in respect of my speaker set up, the impact of the room.
I don't discount the possibility of the choice of a DAC impacting on the sound in some way. But curious to see whether more recent DACs will sound different to the older units I currently have. Whether an upgrade is worth it. But not so curious to needlessly throw money at the situation!
I'm relatively easy to please once I've reached a certain level of sound. Not too prone to upgrading, happy to settle into one setup and stay there indefinitely!
Would appreciate any thoughts, suggestions, comments etc. Thanks!