Are Specifications Listed On Equipment DAC Dependant

BrentMcGhee

Whn you are looking at all of the different specifications for cd players like (total harmonic distortion, frequency response, signal to noise ratio, dynamic range, etc, etc) do these specification only apply when you use the dac's in the player (i.e. sending the signal to your amp using analog cables) and not when you use the dac in your receiver (i.e. digital cable from cd player to receiver)

Because i have several different cd players and some have significantly better specs than others but i did not know if that did not really matter unless i was using each players perspective dac's. Will i get the exact same audio quality from all the players if they are all connected up digitally to my receiver and they all use the dac's in my receiver?

side note: all the players have the exact same laser speifications
a semiconductor laser at 780nm outputting 44.6uW


So are all of those specification listed about cd players derived from the dac in the player or am i completely wrong about this?

BrentMcGhee

o yeah my receiver is a sony STR-DA5ES.... if that helps you out

bknauss

The DAC can definitely hurt or help the specs, but its not just that. Its the overall design of the product.

steveinaz

Your "new" specifications would come from the external DAC's analog output stage, ie, Freq response, S/N, THD, etc.

BrentMcGhee

Originally posted by steveinaz
Your "new" specifications would come from the external DAC's analog output stage, ie, Freq response, S/N, THD, etc.

so does that mean that as long as any two particular players have the exact same specs on the laser (type, power) they will sound exactly the same if you use the dac in the receiver(connected with a digital cable). And All of the specs listed on the player like (freq response, thd, s/n, etc) only come into effect if you use that players dac (connected with analog cables)????

steveinaz

That depends on what you believe. Some say different transports sound differently. I don't know, I've only used 1 transport with my external DAC, so I have nothing to compare it with.

I would imagine that things like isolation, construction, quality of the laser servo, etc might have an influence.

BrentMcGhee

i guess there cant be a definate answer to this question then.... to many unknown's about the particulars inside a cd player????

steveinaz

Best thing to do is give it a try and see if you hear any difference between different transports.

When my CDP finally bites the dust, I'm going to go back to a caraousel player (probably Rotel or Marantz) with my DAC. I figure its the best of both worlds; convenience and sound quality.

BrentMcGhee

yeah i have a 400 disc changer right now but i know that they do not use the best chips in there just some basic entry level ones. so that is why i was hoping that it dot matter as loing as i used the chips in my receiver becasue i know that my receiver is pretty decent.

I have always though about getting an outboard dac, wich one do u have and do you like it. I know a little about them but any guidance on them would be very appreciated, like wich ones are better than others and what to look for in them.