so...do I need a DAC ?

ohbythebay

ohbythebay

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More important, will it add anything? I know I have asked this before but...THANKS

Premise - I use my Surface tablet, XBOX music and everything I stream, I actually download (for offline use)
Audio quality: 192-kbps WMA streaming; 256-kbps streaming for digital downloads

My Surface has a built in Wolfson DAC, pretty good quality.

Now normally, I use the 3.5mm jack out to my main rig (RCA in). For my CD player, which I don't use a lot, its mostly MP3's and probably lower bit rate. SO lets focus on the XBOX music.

Will I gain anything by have the Surface go out USB to a DAC to the system ? And I am only talking a $300 or less DAC...

Thanks
 
I would agree with that answer. Not likely to hear much of a difference with compressed res files through a $300 DAC. No way to be sure except to try though Rob :-) If you want to try it, order through one of the on-line retailers (Music Direct, Acoustic Sounds, etc...) who usually have a 30-day money back guarantee if you don't like it.
 
cmalak said:
I would agree with that answer. Not likely to hear much of a difference with compressed res files through a $300 DAC. No way to be sure except to try though Rob :-) If you want to try it, order through one of the on-line retailers (Music Direct, Acoustic Sounds, etc...) who usually have a 30-day money back guarantee if you don't like it.
Click to expand...

Well..they are not really compresses (maybe they are) ..they are .wav

I like the thought of try first...I know this guy Jeff...LOL
 
Rob...that's the way to do it. Jeff's a great guy as you know. Keep it in the family.
 
ohbythebay said:
Well..they are not really compresses (maybe they are) ..they are .wav
Click to expand...

I meant for the streaming downloads which are at 192 or 256 kbps. Yes .WAV files (offline use) of at least red-book resolution (16/44) and up should sound a bit better on some of these fantastic new DACs in the $300-$400 range. I am sure Jeff can make some useful siggestions. I would look at:

1) Meridian Explorer ($299)
2) Audioquest Dragonfly Mk II (TBD)
3) Micromega MyDAC ($369)
4) iFi Micro iDAC ($299) - designed by the same guys behind AMR
5) Schiit Bifrost ($349) plus you can tack on the Loki for DSD playback for an additional $149

I am sure many others.
 
Or the iFI DSD Dac to get the format versatility.

The Geek Dac for next year too.
 
Considering that your Monitor 70's cost about the same as what you're planning on investing in a DAC, I would have to agree with Jeff W. At some point, you can have a DCS Vivaldi, but your speakers just can't do the resolving needed to hear the difference. You might hear a slight difference, and it's might be just a tad bit better, but it's not going to knock your socks off.



ohbythebay said:
More important, will it add anything? I know I have asked this before but...THANKS

Premise - I use my Surface tablet, XBOX music and everything I stream, I actually download (for offline use)
Audio quality: 192-kbps WMA streaming; 256-kbps streaming for digital downloads

My Surface has a built in Wolfson DAC, pretty good quality.

Now normally, I use the 3.5mm jack out to my main rig (RCA in). For my CD player, which I don't use a lot, its mostly MP3's and probably lower bit rate. SO lets focus on the XBOX music.

Will I gain anything by have the Surface go out USB to a DAC to the system ? And I am only talking a $300 or less DAC...

Thanks
Click to expand...
 
radioactive said:
Considering that your Monitor 70's cost about the same as what you're planning on investing in a DAC, I would have to agree with Jeff W. At some point, you can have a DCS Vivaldi, but your speakers just can't do the resolving needed to hear the difference. You might hear a slight difference, and it's might be just a tad bit better, but it's not going to knock your socks off.
Click to expand...

radioactive...I understand the gist of what your point is but I am not sure it is fair comment purely based on the price point comparison. It could be that the Monitor 70s punch way above their price point for example. My point to Rob was if he was going to get the outboard DAC and play digital radio streams at 192kbps, than the outboard DAC with compressed, low-res files are unlikely to sound materially better but if he was planning to play CD-res or higher than the outboard DAC is likely going to make some difference.

Rob....what is it that's making you lean towards the Musical Fidelity DAC? Just curious.
 
Radioactive First of all on the Monitor 70's...they do play WAYYYY above their price point. I have spent ALOT on other parts not to mention countless labor hours (you can't imagine the work I did on my Velleman) to get the finest detail, the optimal sound. if I thought that my Monitor 70's were holding me back, they would have been replaced long ago. What I have spent on carts I have BROKEN could easily but me 2 pairs of Monitor Audio RX 8's (not even funny). Now I am sure (110% sure) there are better speakers but like my preamp, I really have no need to change it. I would have to spend ALOT of money to get a tangible difference. Just because their price is cheap now does not make them cheap. 3 years ago, they were over 800 a pair. before that even more. Now you can get a pair for under 400 (brand new). Polk has warehouses of them...
Monitor 70 - Floorstanding | Polk Audio®

CMALAK - Thank you ...sort of what I wanted to know...Pretty much the only digital files I play are via the xbox streaming - even the ones downloaded are 256kb I believe ..so beyond the onboard wolfsen DAC, I may not hear MORE. In some areas I can say pro but when it comes to the digital music files, granny newbie..lol

I am curious though that I read that the downloaded 256 WMA files from xbox were a better resolving format than others (not all 256kb are built the same..lol) Is that true?

The music fidelity only from some research of my own summation...I looked at a tube dac (dac magic pro? ) and read that it didn't have quite the detail...blah blah..so I do read up but as we know, all the AUDIO reviews in the world mean nothing compared with real life use ...

Anyway, thanks for the help guys...I don't really need the DAC...I get the sound I want (just always have an itch..lol) and maybe one day I will change the Polks for some RX8's ...but if I like the Polks better I am coming after radioactive...LOL...Teasing
 
Rob, Cyril,

I guess I could have been clearer in my post. My intent was to state that you might get better sound from investing in speakers (a la upgrading your current one's) than from investing in a $300 DAC.

Bryan


ohbythebay said:
Radioactive First of all on the Monitor 70's...they do play WAYYYY above their price point. I have spent ALOT on other parts not to mention countless labor hours (you can't imagine the work I did on my Velleman) to get the finest detail, the optimal sound. if I thought that my Monitor 70's were holding me back, they would have been replaced long ago. What I have spent on carts I have BROKEN could easily but me 2 pairs of Monitor Audio RX 8's (not even funny). Now I am sure (110% sure) there are better speakers but like my preamp, I really have no need to change it. I would have to spend ALOT of money to get a tangible difference. Just because their price is cheap now does not make them cheap. 3 years ago, they were over 800 a pair. before that even more. Now you can get a pair for under 400 (brand new). Polk has warehouses of them...
Monitor 70 - Floorstanding | Polk Audio®

CMALAK - Thank you ...sort of what I wanted to know...Pretty much the only digital files I play are via the xbox streaming - even the ones downloaded are 256kb I believe ..so beyond the onboard wolfsen DAC, I may not hear MORE. In some areas I can say pro but when it comes to the digital music files, granny newbie..lol

I am curious though that I read that the downloaded 256 WMA files from xbox were a better resolving format than others (not all 256kb are built the same..lol) Is that true?

The music fidelity only from some research of my own summation...I looked at a tube dac (dac magic pro? ) and read that it didn't have quite the detail...blah blah..so I do read up but as we know, all the AUDIO reviews in the world mean nothing compared with real life use ...

Anyway, thanks for the help guys...I don't really need the DAC...I get the sound I want (just always have an itch..lol) and maybe one day I will change the Polks for some RX8's ...but if I like the Polks better I am coming after radioactive...LOL...Teasing
Click to expand...
 
radioactive said:
Rob, Cyril,

I guess I could have been clearer in my post. My intent was to state that you might get better sound from investing in speakers (a la upgrading your current one's) than from investing in a $300 DAC.

Bryan
Click to expand...

Ahh..that makes sense...well..I am doing neither right now..LOL

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to my system and the streaming music yesterday...funny..something I thought I would only experience with vinyl. There are a few (one or two) albums that were not of the same quality. So rather than it being the surface, it must be the original master to digital.

All in all, it was quite enjoyable.

what I really wish was it would be easier to "try before buying" on speakers. Not exactly like a preamp or phono stage where I could order and return in a small box...LOL
 
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