2. digital
  3. 1326429460

To DAC or not to DAC

I have somewhat of a dilemma. I got an Amazon gift card for Christmas and had forgotten about it. I just ran across it and have to spend some money. I kind of got all up into doing the digital thing, starting off with a Sonos unit, but I think that I want to run down the road of some quality CD music.

I'm currently running an XDA-1 DAC. Right or wrong, I kind of view it as being a budget solution, but it's doing fine as the converter for my Sonos and Apple TV. My dilemma is whether I should get something along the lines of a decent CD player in the form of a Cambridge Audio 550C and either run that through my XDA-1 or get a better DAC. The second choice would be to get something like the 650C which has dual DACs and just run that straight through the analog outs.

I guess what I'm asking is, will I get better results with the 550C and an external dac or with getting the 650C using its internal DACs.

My next question is whether something like a DacMagic would be an upgrade from the XDA-1, if I go the route of the 550C and external dac. For that matter, would the internal dac of the 550C be better than either the XDA-1 or the DacMagic?

I'm just lost.

Thanks.
tonyangel
stanwal's avatar
stanwal
3,147 posts
 
Musical Fidelity V-DAC is what you are looking for. Better than the ones you mention and dirt cheap on top of it.
afranta
180 posts
 
I haven't heard the XDA-1 but have heard very good things about it. My bet is that the options you're considering might sound different rather than better (and maybe not that different). I'd go for a cheaper transport (Cambridge Audio 350C or Marantz CD5004) with the XDA-1.
tonyangel OP
309 posts
 
All of the options are just mind numbing. I do appreciate the responses.

Since my primary source these days has been my Sonos, I guess I'm gonna try to get that sounding better first. Then I'll get a good transport or CD player.

Stan, I'm glad that you had the positive comment about the V-Dac. I ordered a V-DAC II last night. It'll be here tomorrow. I had given some thought to the DacMagic, but something just made me pull the trigger on the V-DAC. Looking at the specs, the DacMagic should be the better unit, with twin dacs and all, but the V-DAC is going to be easier to integrate into my system.

In any case, I can get a DacMagic locally. I might go by my local shop and see if I can audition one and do an A/B comparison.

Of course, if they both sound better than the XDA-1, I might just sell it and keep the V-DAC and DacMagic.

Thanks again.
ssglx
203 posts
 
Just my experience, but I love my V-dac with my AppleTV. I sent a DacMagic back. V-dac is much warmer and is so smooth. Now running it with a Pyramid power supply and it has a higher level of solidity and balls.
More to discover