General DAC quality question

[basicsystem]

I just finished setting up a couple of Squeezebox Duets. After doing that I wondered if I should use the DAC in the duets or the general purpose DACs in each of my systems (currently I am using the Duet DACs).

I am on the waiting list for the XDA-1, so this will be a mute point for my main system when I get that in December. But I was wondering if I should use my current general purpose DACs on my second system and my main system (until I get the XDA-1). Right now I don't have any digital cables so I can't do any A/B tests.

In my main system I have a UMC-1. In my second system (BR) I have a NAD T744 receiver. None of my manuals (or internet searches) tell me anything about the design or quality of those DACs.

Should I rush order some cables and make the switch?

[basicsystem]

Oct 27, 2010 13:28:27 GMT -5 srb said:

I doubt that the DAC in the Duet would be any better than the UMC-1 or T744. A digital coax cable is a 75ohm cable, and if you have any spare composite video or component video cables, they will work. I have also used a plain (not 75ohm) analog cable as a digital cable, and while certainly not optimal, it will transmit the S/PDIF signal and perhaps give you a sense of the sound differences.

When you do get your XDA-1, hopefully it will be a moot point and not a mute point!

Steve

I wondered if old video cables would work. Thanks.

Yes, that turned out to be a funny mistake (moot).

[basicsystem]

I hooked up a video cable to the NAD T744 input and immediately noticed an improvement. My cable was too short to connect the other system (I ordered cables).

It's interesting how there is so much chatter on the internet about how great the Duet DACs are. I guess it depends on your point of reference (quality of your other components).

[gman1234]

I have 3 duets, and have found the use of an outboard dac essential. My Duets have been connected with 3 different A/V receivers as well as a PS Audio Dig Link 3, and finally a Sunfire, B&K and Emotiva (UMC-1) pre-pro. I have found (IMHO) a sense of presence, and detail not found using the Duets internal dac. It must be noted that the diiference actually is a function of the dac's analog output stage, and not necessarily the dac itself. The weak link in the Duet is the analog output stage which is somewhat a function of it low analog output and unsubstantial "wall wort" power supply. The rate of data compression via downloading or importing cd's is probably more significant to the final sound, I have used lossless decoding with success. Please understand these comments should be regarded from the standpoint I am 100 percent pleased with my Duets, and don't feel the need to use cd's anymore and just enjoy my Duet's digital output feeding my equipment. As a self proclaimed audiophile (obsessed at that), that's saying something about the Duets and their performance. Of course my vinyl is great but I'm too lazy to go that route most of the time.

[strindl]

Oct 27, 2010 17:22:52 GMT -5 @basicsystem said:

I hooked up a video cable to the NAD T744 input and immediately noticed an improvement. My cable was too short to connect the other system (I ordered cables).

It's interesting how there is so much chatter on the internet about how great the Duet DACs are. I guess it depends on your point of reference (quality of your other components).

I've had three Duets since jan 2009. The internal dacs in the duet receivers are decent, but not great . I use the duet receiver's digital outs into the dacs in my pre amp processors for all three and they sound noticeably better.

The digital out though, actually sounds better to me going into the same dac as a high end CD transport.

[gman1234]

I actually had both digital outputs of the Duet hooked up at once... The coaxial to my PS audio da converter feeding my analog section of my usp-1 preamp and the optical output to my umc-1 and they both output digital at once. Quite impressive. The convenience of the Duet gets me listening to a lot of my collection, pretty neat.
As to sound of digital out of a transport not sounding as good, I believe it. Music servers outputting digital and sounding so good has a lot of audiophiles "scratching their heads" on how good they sound. I also have a wadia itransport that oututs digital to my dac. It sounded no better than the Duet so I took it out of my system. It's got a cheesy remote and did not output display info to my monitor.

[merlinwerks]

If your interested in upgrading I believe the general consensus is that both the analog and digital outputs of the Squeezebox Touch are better than the Duet, some say they are not that far behind the venerable Transporter.

[cawgijoe]

I'm using a Duet with an Entech 205.2 DAC and the quality of sound is a definite improvement over the Duet's internal DAC. I'm on the wating list for the XDA-1 and hoping that will be an even better improvement. The Entech will be retired to the closet or sold.