2. pc-audio
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Could I make use of a DAC with my setup?

I stream music (Spotify Premium) from my PC via 3.5mm cable into a Parasound P5 preamp, which is hooked to a Parasound A23 amp, and from there to Klipsch Fortes that I purchased new in 1986, I think. 

I had the impression that if I use a DAC before the P5 preamp, the DAC's output would be "reprocessed" by the DAC in the preamp, and, therefore, useless.

Is my impression correct?  Thanks!
forsooth

Showing 2 responses by n80

n80
2,100 posts
 
I deleted my initial post after reading a little about the P5.

It seems to me that for playing Spotify files there would be no benefit to an external DAC unless the DAC in the P5 is really bad and even then, only if there are input options in the P5 that would allow you to bypass the internal DAC.
n80
2,100 posts
 
Something has to amplify the signal coming from the DAC, typically a pre-amp without a DAC and then the amp which drives the speakers. So something like this:

Computer---USB cable---DAC---RCA cable---Pre-amp---RCA (or XLR) cables---Amp---Speakers.

There is no end to what you can spend on a pre-amp, amp, DAC combo but companies like Schiit make affordable components to do just that. I just purchased one of their low end DACs (used) for my higher end system just to give it a try. It has not arrived.

Spotify files are fairly low quality. So in your case I doubt a better DAC than is in your pre-amp is going to help much although I do not have enough experience to say how much bypassing the headphone jack might help. Again, I think a lot of what you may want or need depends on how good the DAC in your pre-amp is. It might be better than many low end external DACs for all I know.

Again, take my answers with a grain of salt, I’m new to all this too. And if I’m talking down to you, my apologies....I don’t know what your experience level is....quite probably higher than mine.
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