CD RCA outs vs. digital out

Bluto
Bluto Posts: 18
edited December 2009 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
I have a very pedestrian CD player listed below. I have it connected to my amp CD inputs with RCA cables & also digital outs to my DAC. Do I gain anything from running to the DAC then to the amp? I'm not sure I can hear a difference?

I know it is a dumb question but I'm just a local guy trying to work his way up.

Thanks
Fronts - RTi A5s
Sub - DSW Pro 600
Jolida 202A
NAD C515BBE
Audio gd DAC 19MK3 "B"
Monster Power HTS 5100 MKII
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,729
    edited December 2009
    If I'm following you....you'd want to run the output from the CDP to the DAC and then out from the DAC to your integrated amp.
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  • Bluto
    Bluto Posts: 18
    edited December 2009
    Yes, is there a difference???
    Fronts - RTi A5s
    Sub - DSW Pro 600
    Jolida 202A
    NAD C515BBE
    Audio gd DAC 19MK3 "B"
    Monster Power HTS 5100 MKII
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,729
    edited December 2009
    Between the DAC in your CDP and the external DAC or what?
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • Serendipity
    Serendipity Posts: 6,975
    edited December 2009
    It depends on the DAC(s). If you are running analog to your integrated amp, you are using the DAC in the CDP.

    An external DAC bypasses the DAC in the CDP.
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  • Bluto
    Bluto Posts: 18
    edited December 2009
    I have a Jolida 202A integrated amp. I have RCA out from the CDP going to CD in on the amp. I also have digital out from the CDP going to an Audio gd 19MK III "B" DAC and then analog out from the DAC to AUX in on the Jolida. Should using the outboard DAC be an improvement? I'm using digital coax or it looks like a single RCA cable from the CDP to the to the DAC. It is not the square TOSLINK optical deal.
    Fronts - RTi A5s
    Sub - DSW Pro 600
    Jolida 202A
    NAD C515BBE
    Audio gd DAC 19MK3 "B"
    Monster Power HTS 5100 MKII
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  • fbm211
    fbm211 Posts: 1,488
    edited December 2009
    What digital cable are you using.Is it a true 75 ohm digital cable?
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,186
    edited December 2009
    Just hook them up RCA and be done with it. I [personally] have yet to hear digital OP sound better. "Kinda like tubes" [said very loosely], you can change an IC and get more of what you want. With digital? You are stuck with what you have until you kink it.

    In other words, go RCA.
    ~ 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. ~
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  • Serendipity
    Serendipity Posts: 6,975
    edited December 2009
    treitz3 wrote: »
    Just hook them up RCA and be done with it. I [personally] have yet to hear digital OP sound better. "Kinda like tubes" [said very loosely], you can change an IC and get more of what you want. With digital? You are stuck with what you have until you kink it.

    In other words, go RCA.

    +1

    However, if the external DAC you are using is better than the DAC(s) in the player, then I would suggest using digital to the DAC.
    polkaudio RT35 Bookshelves
    polkaudio 255c-RT Inwalls
    polkaudio DSWPro550WI
    polkaudio XRT12 XM Tuner
    polkaudio RM6750 5.1

    Front projection, 2 channel, car audio... life is good!
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  • concealer404
    concealer404 Posts: 7,440
    edited December 2009
    loyalgeanneld wrote: »
    im not very good with Car audio so.....

    I just bought an amp and sub, and the red and white RCA input slots on the amp its a pioneer are missing.

    Radioshack has them for home audio systems, but I need the kind that screws in.

    Where can I get these?

    I can get a picture if your not sure what im talkin about.

    Thanks.

    I would suggest posting in the car audio section.... ;)
    I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.

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  • bigaudiofanatic
    bigaudiofanatic Posts: 4,415
    edited December 2009
    treitz3 wrote: »
    Just hook them up RCA and be done with it. I [personally] have yet to hear digital OP sound better. "Kinda like tubes" [said very loosely], you can change an IC and get more of what you want. With digital? You are stuck with what you have until you kink it.

    In other words, go RCA.

    I agree +2
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  • Bluto
    Bluto Posts: 18
    edited December 2009
    Thanks for all the replies! First off, I was unaware that digital out of the CDP bypassed the CDP DACs, so in my mind I was like double DACing if that would even do anything? DUH! I am using an Audio Quest VDM-3 digital cable from the CDP to the DAC and Audio Quest Sidewinder RCA interconnects from both the CDP to the integrated amp(CD in) & the DAC to the integrated amp(AUX in). I can play a track and listen to it both ways and let my ears tell me, & thus far I like using the outboard DAC. I have some Black Mamba II interconnects on the way and having started with Monoprice.com cables I can say there is a difference. They were even the premium ones Haha! Scary what you can spend on this stuff, not to mention always wanting more & better.
    Fronts - RTi A5s
    Sub - DSW Pro 600
    Jolida 202A
    NAD C515BBE
    Audio gd DAC 19MK3 "B"
    Monster Power HTS 5100 MKII
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  • ShinAce
    ShinAce Posts: 1,194
    edited December 2009
    RCA signals have different impedances on the player and receiver, so you use whatever cable sounds best to you.

    If you're using the digital output to a DAC, you'd want to get yourself a 75 ohm cable(often referred to as video cable). A cable TV cable with adapters would work, but try to avoid using any RCA cable. In theory, a single video RCA(yellow end) would be 75 ohm, but they're usually not the greatest build quality.

    Just as an FYI. If it sounds good already, write what you have installed before changing anything around.
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