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KEF LS50 Wireless Internal vs External DAC ??

I am finding my KEF LS50 Wireless to sound warmer, fuller, and more spacious, with better resolution of image location, when running my streamer (Audio Alchemy DMP-1/PS-5 power supply) to Audio Alchemy DDP-1 DAC/Preamp into its RCA inputs (which are then internally converted via ADC and again DAC) than I am running my streamer direct to the speakers via USB.
Given the numerous redundant conversions at play, I speculate that the ADC conversion is so much more transparent than I imagined and that the internal DAC in the KEFs is so much worse than I expected that I would recommend others use a high-quality external DAC with these speakers (even if they are to be internally re-DACed within them). 
Anyone have this experience?? Thoughts??
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Showing 1 response by woodsage

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woodsage
74 posts
 
Is it the internal DAC that is lacking or the USB conversion?

Its been my experience, with all the DACs I have owned, that the RCA S/PDIF input fed by a good quality USB to S/PDIF converter sounds significantly better than the USB input. And it also makes for no Blue Screen of Death that I found so common using DACs with USB driver software. 

It’s a shame they didn’t add RCA S/PDIF digital inputs on these. 

As posted earlier, a USB reclocker like the W4S might greatly improve the SQ of the USB input. 

I would be curious to hear the results from someone who has tried this. 
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