Sherbourn SR-120 internal DAC v. Airport Express DAC

[siggie]

All,

I just got an Airport Express to stream music from my computer to my stereo and to use Spotify Connect. Spotify streams at 320 kbps; most of my music on my computer is CD quality. The Airport Express can output a digital signal if I buy a mini-optical converter cord, or I can let the Airport Express do the decoding and use an RCA input on my receiver. I assume my receiver has a DAC to convert digital inputs, but it is not listed on the specs. Does anyone have an opinion on whether there would be a benefit to allowing the receiver to to the digital to analog conversion?

Thanks,

siggie

[AudioHTIT]

Mar 10, 2015 13:19:28 GMT -5 siggie said:

All,

I just got an Airport Express to stream music from my computer to my stereo and to use Spotify Connect. Spotify streams at 320 kbps; most of my music on my computer is CD quality. The Airport Express can output a digital signal if I buy a mini-optical converter cord, or I can let the Airport Express do the decoding and use an RCA input on my receiver. I assume my receiver has a DAC to convert digital inputs, but it is not listed on the specs. Does anyone have an opinion on whether there would be a benefit to allowing the receiver to to the digital to analog conversion?

Thanks,

siggie

I can't give a sonic opinion other than the Airport DAC works fine, but not as well as any of the Emo external DACs. However I would keep the signal digital as long as possible - using the optical connection - and let the Sherbourn's DAC do the work. A picture of the SR.-120 shows (3) TOSLink optical inputs.

[siggie]

Thanks, HTIT. Now, if only I could get the Airport Express set up.

siggie