I can vouch for the DA2 as well. I am targeting a separate DAC down the road, but the DA2 is really very nice in the meantime. Make sure it implements the latest firmware and you will see a definite difference compared to the DA1. That said, I am frustrated with McIntosh in that we have had the DA2 for what, 3 or 4 years at least and there is no DA3 that would be comparable or based on their latest products (MCD12000). A DA3 that kept up with the latest in high-performing delta-sigma dacs (see T+A DAC200) would be super-desirable for me as a C2700 user, since I do enjoy keeping remote control confusion to a minimum and also keeping things useable for my wife.
Is My McIntosh C52 Pre-amp The Weak Link?
I currently stream music, from Qobuz, via an Aurender N10 streamer into a McIntosh C52 pre-amp for D/A conversion, analogue output, into a McIntosh MC312 power amp, driving Magico A5 speakers. SQ IMHO is outstanding/perfect, but, I am an audiophile, so there is no such thing as perfect! Time to upgrade something. It is my opinion the C52 built in DAC is the weak link in the system? Thinking of upgrading the Aurender N10 to an Aurender A20 (streamer with built in DAC) and feed the analogue output into the C52. Your thoughts please, have I correctly identified the weak link in the system?