DAC Advice Needed

[Sonnie]

My guess is you'd be hard-pressed to hear any audible difference in the two you have on your radar. I'd go with the one that has the right features you want and look the most cosmetically pleasing... if it's a toss-up, go with the least expensive.

 

[ddude003]

As a starting point I would head on over to Audio Science Review and have a look at the DACs that have been reviewed by Amir...

It would be helpful to have a better understanding of your full system before making any recommendations... Have you ever thought of filling out your My AV System in your profile?

Generally speaking, my preference is to have as clean as possible source (read DAC in this case) and small signal tubes in a proper line stage preamp...

 

[olpop]

Take a look at Schiit and you'll see a whole new world opening.
For a fraction of what others ask for, you get state-of-the-art products, designed by the father of DACs and made in USA.
Their entry level model Modi is just $100 and uses a AKM4490 converter. There is also a multibit version of it at $250, sporting an Analog Devices AD5547.
These are top of the tops for many big-dollar units. Not to mention their other DACs up the ladder, which are all upgradeable.
Plus you can learn a lot (I really mean A LOT) of healthy useful tech from their pages in a funny way, so you'll get a much better understanding of what's up in digital audio.
Btw, the new $5000 top-of-the-line surround processor from a highly regarded audio company (whose name begins with E), is proudly equipped with... AKM4490 DACs.

 

[olpop]

All their stuff is sold online directly from schiit.com, without distributors.
Amazon is the single authorized exception, but you pay its commission for that deal.
I'm not affiliated in any way to them, just a regular music enthusiast who owns few of their things and intend to get few others in the future.
Actually, I remember first heard about them when reading an Amazon comment... Thought then that name sounds like a new perhaps Finnish company which doesn't know so much of English
This is the way they built up their recognition in just 10 years. Word of mouth, no marketing at all, whatsoever.
But I'm also 100% up with their business philosophy, knowledge and unbelievable quality/price ratio.

 

[BenToronto]

I have a swell DAC with lots of inputs and outputs, Creative Sounds Blaster. The FR and distortion curves are as good or better than anything else in my system.

Actually, it was in the great long testing loop I was using for doing Real Time Analysis the other night on recordings and everything was in that great long loop (REW, old Behringer DSP, old MacBook, old wires, old me... note that there are DACs and ADCs and conversions along that path through the DSP, eh). Total of all that was great. Re-ran it just now, in case I was dreaming. Now if only I could build a great motional feedback sub woofer again.

See attached plots. Good enough for ya?

I found it at the Salvation Army thrift store in my neighbourhood, about 15 years ago, I'd guess. $4 (maybe the sticker is still on the bottom).

I recall paying

 

[ddude003]

That Gustard 16 DAC does look pretty clean... Wonder how it would sound in your system? You might be able to find an online dealer that would offer a 15 to 30 day return...

 

[dsnyder0cnn]

I have the Gustard X16. I've pared it with the Topping Pre90/Ext90 preamp in one system and the THX AAA 789 headphone amp in another. Can't say enough great things about sound and build quality.

 

[dsnyder0cnn]

Thanks for sharing, that is what I am looking for and I'll order one. What type of files/music do you listen to?

I'm using it with as a Roon endpoint. Network audio transport is a Raspberry Pi 4 running VitOS from Silent Angel. My local music library is composed of mostly CD and SACD rips, plus some HDTracks downloads. I use TIDAL for streaming, but if I was to start fresh, I might choose Qobuz instead due to lower cost and no MQA funny-business.

Oh, I upgraded the power cord to a Straight Wire Black Thunder II. A bit frivolous, but it looks gorgeous, so I don't even care if it's placebo effect, power of suggestion, or actual technology that makes the system sound better.

 

[ddude003]

The Gustard X16 DAC should go well with your Marantz AVR having their proprietary HDAM technology that brings the Marantz warm house sound...

 

[dsnyder0cnn]

The Gustard X16 DAC should go well with your Marantz AVR having their proprietary HDAM technology that brings the Marantz warm house sound...

I would think running the Gustard into the Marantz AVR would kind-of defeat the purpose…especially if the AVR has no way to bypass its internal ADC/DAC.

 

[dsnyder0cnn]

I plan on trying the analog connections from the dac into the marantz and experiment with the various listening modes.

Listening modes of the DAC or the AVR?

 

[ddude003]

I would think running the Gustard into the Marantz AVR would kind-of defeat the purpose…especially if the AVR has no way to bypass its internal ADC/DAC.

I noted before above about the lack of a proper line stage preamp... Given @doctor speakers current system (read signal chain), the AVR looks like the only "preamp" available to me... There should be a straight thru analogue in and pre out available... You would have to take a long look at gain structure to see if the Gustard directly to the Parasound would work well... There may be other issues with a direct DAC to Power Amp that need thought out...

 

[NBPK402]

I am looking at also getting an external DAC for my Marantz AV8805A. My plan is to use balanced outs from a DAc to the balanced inputs on the Marantz. That would bypass the internal DAC wouldn't it or do I need a HT bypass preamp?

 

[ddude003]

I am looking at also getting an external DAC for my Marantz AV8805A. My plan is to use balanced outs from a DAc to the balanced inputs on the Marantz. That would bypass the internal DAC wouldn't it or do I need a HT bypass preamp?

It is not clear to me from the User Manual what kind of processing is being done to the XLR Analogue In channels... I would hope that Marantz would not digitize the analogue in only to convert to analogue again for a pre out... I don't know what a HT bypass preamp would buy you... I never use HT bypass on my TubePreamp... And you may have to tweak with the gain structure... On my system I have a Network Streamer feeding an external DAC to channel 1 of my preamp... And my AVR Front Left and Front Right pre out + attenuators feeding channel 2 of my preamp... For two channel music I use my streamer and channel 1 of my preamp... For videos/movies AVR center and surrounds use the AVR app channels while the LR mains are driven thru channel 2 of tubed preamp...

 

[NBPK402]

I will find out when I come back from my trip to the US around the end of the month, as I just ordered a Denafrip Pontus II DAC.

 

[JStewart]

It is not clear to me from the User Manual what kind of processing is being done to the XLR Analogue In channels... I would hope that Marantz would not digitize the analogue in only to convert to analogue again for a pre out..

Thats interesting because in the manual it appears that digital and video processing are shut off with “Pure Direct Playback“ mode and there are many digital functions listed as turned off, but not bass management. If bass management stays on then there’s an ADC conversion to the external DACs analog signal, then another DAC. While it may sound fine, it somewhat defeats the purpose as the processors DAC is still in play.

I recall my Yamahas pure direct mode was a pure analog path. Still, things always sounded better with bass management and EQ to me.

@NBPK402 I hope it works out for you. That Denafrip Pontus II DAC looks to be a sweet bit of kit.