Question about onboard DAC vs external DAC
Comments
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Correct, I'm just saying the connector your cable box uses is called an F type of I'm not mistaken.
Bnc, 1.5m is the way!
Too bad more manufacturers didn't use BNC connectors. -
Preach it man, I would love to convert all of my connections to bnc, neutrik speak on and neutrik power con- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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One of the things I like about Chord and Lumin is BNC connections. Got a RAL Prophecy digital coax from Brad with BNC on both ends.Post edited by Dr_Wu on
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If you only have rca connections, I hear it better to get your cables with bnc connectors and use bnc to rca adapters than to go straight rca connectors.Amplifiers: Norma IPA 140, MasterSound Compact 845, Ayre v6xe, Consonance Cyber 800
Preamp: deHavilland Ultraverve 3
Dac: Sonnet Morpheus 2, Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkIII
Transport: Jay's Audio CDT2 mk2, Lumin U1 mini
Speakers: Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II
Speaker Cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Organic Audio Organic Reference 2
Interconnects: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Argento Organic Reference 2, Argento Organic 2
Power Cables: Argento Organic Reference, Synergistic Research Foundation 10 and 12 ga.
Digital cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2 bnc, Tellurium Q aes, Silnote Audio Poseidon Signature 2 bnc
Puritan PSM156 -
If you only have rca connections, I hear it better to get your cables with bnc connectors and use bnc to rca adapters than to go straight rca connectors.
That's correct, RCA can't be properly terminated to coax, but BNC can and the adapter does less harm than RCA directly terminated to coax. -
I saved $300 on a new coaxial spdif cable with bnc connectors because people were only buying the rca ones.Amplifiers: Norma IPA 140, MasterSound Compact 845, Ayre v6xe, Consonance Cyber 800
Preamp: deHavilland Ultraverve 3
Dac: Sonnet Morpheus 2, Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkIII
Transport: Jay's Audio CDT2 mk2, Lumin U1 mini
Speakers: Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II
Speaker Cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Organic Audio Organic Reference 2
Interconnects: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Argento Organic Reference 2, Argento Organic 2
Power Cables: Argento Organic Reference, Synergistic Research Foundation 10 and 12 ga.
Digital cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2 bnc, Tellurium Q aes, Silnote Audio Poseidon Signature 2 bnc
Puritan PSM156 -
I saved $300 on a new coaxial spdif cable with bnc connectors by switching my car insurance to Geico.
Fixed!
The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD
“When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson -
I would advise against optical (in this situation only). Other than that? Take Paul's advice. It's solid.
Tom
Curious what the situation is that Optical wouldn't be ideal?Dan
My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time. -
Between components.
Tom~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
Between components.
Tom
For digital why would optic not be ideal? I'm not doubting you. Just want to understand. -
Long story short?
Translation of signal.
Tom~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
I’m using optical (Toslink) from my CD player to my DAC with a DH Labs Glass Master cable. Toslink is my only option with my 30 year-old Sony ES CD player to bypass the internal DAC, but I have no complaints with it.
I understand that Toslink is generally considered less desirable vs. coax or AES. If and when I upgrade to a dedicated streamer with a coax or AES connection, I might notice a difference between it and the CD player, but for now as I said earlier the CD player/Toslink combo is on par with my MacBook/USB combo going through the same DAC. And both are outrunning my vinyl setup
Brian
One-owner Polk Audio RTA 15TL speakers refreshed w/ Sonicap, Vishay/Mills and Cardas components by "pitdogg2," "xschop" billet tweeter plates and BH5 | Stereo REL Acoustics T/5x subwoofers w/ Bassline Blue cables | Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III integrated tube amp | Technics SL-1210G turntable w/ Ortofon 2M Black LVB 250 MM cart | Sony CDP-508ESD CD player (as a transport) | LampizatOr Baltic 4 tube DAC | Nordost & DH Labs cables/interconnects | APC H15 Power Conditioner | GIK Acoustics room treatments | Degritter RCM -
If you only have rca connections, I hear it better to get your cables with bnc connectors and use bnc to rca adapters than to go straight rca connectors.
First off, you DO know I loves' ya' bro'. I do.
As life marches on and we learn things? I am sorry but I can NOT agree with this statement. Like you? I didn't think that they amounted to a hill of beans. It's just an adapter, right? Connection in and connection out? No worries....
That could not be further from the truth.
My recent experience has shown and proven (to me) that your statement is not as simple as it sounds....although it will work in certain applications.
Adapters bite donkey appendages. I didn't know it a short time ago. I damned sure do now.
Tom~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
I have a Chord Qutest DAC that only accepts BNC connectors. I used an AQ adapter (not cheap, and maybe not made any better than generic), and had no issues or humming that I could perceive. I did end up replacing the coax with its RCA connector with a RAL having BNCs on both ends. Just sayin' YMMV.
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As mentioned, they will work in certain applications. I have had that adapter in my rig for some time. When I got my Esoteric transport? I tried to hook the Mutec Master Clock up to it. I tried 4 different cables (All BNC/BNC with the adapter to RCA). I could never get the clock signal into the transport. Then a strange noise started in on the system (no matter the input on the pre) and the entire rig was down for a week.
All that was removed was that adapter.
The cable was replaced with the same exact cable, only this time with the proper terminations. Not only did the strange noise disappear? The sound improved as well, albeit slight, but it still improved.
Tom~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
Little update : I ended up running XLR out from Marantz udp7007 to Schitt Lokius (6 band eq that I love) then RCA AQ Columbia out to the Anthem tube pre then to the Krell amp. The Ifi dac is now only DAC'ing stream and Bluetooth. Kind of a waste I think. Later this week my new coax digital AQ cable should be here and I'll try the Ifi dac from the Marantz.
Oh and the ifi is RCA out to to the Lokius also. Then to the Anthem. I didn't this way so I could basically use the Lokius as a switch for steaming and CDP. Works great.
