Another DAC question

ratster
ratster Posts: 324
edited February 2013 in 2 Channel Audio
I keep reading about how wonderful these DAC contraptions are so I'm thinking I might need to try one. I guess my big question is ,will it improve the sound quality of Sirius/xm since this is the majority of my listening followed closely by the CDP.
Thanks,
Rhett
Main
Parasound P5
Parasound A21
CA music streamer
marantz 6005
Clear Day dbl.shotgun
Morrow Xlr
1.7 Maggies


Bedroom
adcom Gfp750
Adcom 555
Rotel 1072
CA tuner
LsiM703
Clear day dbl shotgun
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited January 2013
    From what I have read, satellite radio uses lossy compression for transmitting. If that is true then no DAC will improve it. Also, does the receiver output the satellite digital in a format the DAC understands?
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,194
    edited February 2013
    Depends on the quality going in , it's not that good from the start but it might error correct some issues with the output. I say give one a try , Audioengine makes a very affordable 24/96 DAC that might be worth giving a test drive. See if your dealer will give you 30 day return to try it out.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited February 2013
    BlueFox wrote: »
    ...satellite radio uses lossy compression for transmitting. If that is true then no DAC will improve it...

    I disagree with this. A lossy file going through an equally bad D/A conversion will still sound worse than a lossy file going through a high quality D/A conversion, so, while no DAC can IMPROVE the source material, a better DAC will at least not FURTHER DEGRADE the signal, resulting in a net improvement in sound. That has absolutely 100% been my experience playing mp3's in my main rig (when I HAVE to :wink:).

    ratster, how are you playing XM now? As BlueFox said, you'd have to be able to get a standard digital signal to the DAC.

    Also, as a note on XM as well as you CDP, you ARE using DAC's for both of those sources now, they are just internal. The only way a new DAC will sound better is if it's BETTER than the internal ones you're currently using. That Rotel is probably a decent CDP, so buying a cheapo DAC could potentially sound worse.
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • ratster
    ratster Posts: 324
    edited February 2013
    My xm is through the tuner,Cambridge Azur 650T. I was was thinking about Adcoms 700 for a Dac since it is capable of dong HDCD.Not sure if it is better or worse than the internal Dac though.
    Main
    Parasound P5
    Parasound A21
    CA music streamer
    marantz 6005
    Clear Day dbl.shotgun
    Morrow Xlr
    1.7 Maggies


    Bedroom
    adcom Gfp750
    Adcom 555
    Rotel 1072
    CA tuner
    LsiM703
    Clear day dbl shotgun
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited February 2013
    ratster wrote: »
    My xm is through the tuner,Cambridge Azur 650T. I was was thinking about Adcoms 700 for a Dac since it is capable of dong HDCD.Not sure if it is better or worse than the internal Dac though.

    Cambridge uses nice DACs in their gear. That 650t looks nice. I don't know if the 700 would be an improvement or not. Only one way to find out! If you can find a good deal on one, give it a whirl and then flip it if it doesn't work out.

    It would be worth it to get a sweet external DAC because it would improve both your tuner and your CDP.
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited February 2013
    It cleans up the sound some, makes bass better defined---but Sat radio is poor out of the gate, so it's hard to polish that ****. Shame too, sat radio has such good potential.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited February 2013
    I would assume from this thread that XM radio receivers DO have SPDIF outputs?
    Jake
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