I need a DAC that will drive my revealing active speakers via RCA
Obviously I’m looking for best possible sound quality, not on the cold/clinical side.
I do need a volume control, so this means there must be no sound quality penalty when using it in “pre-amp” mode vs “pure DAC” mode.
Unfortunately, many DAC reviews do not do a A/B sound quality check in this way.
Maybe for some DACs the volume control implementation is digital not preamp, I don’t know
Clearly I don’t need a DAC with balanced outputs but it looks like the higher up the Sound Quality tree you go, they all come with XLR (not a complaint, just for me I don’t need the money to be spent on that facility).
As an example of one that is NOT suitable - from various reports the Topping E30 sound quality is definitely adversely affected in preamp mode
So far the SMSL SU9 looks as if it might fit the need.
Probably the RME Adi-2 but it’s quite expensive
Any other suggestions?
Thanks
Obviously I’m looking for best possible sound quality, not on the cold/clinical side.
I do need a volume control, so this means there must be no sound quality penalty when using it in “pre-amp” mode vs “pure DAC” mode.
Unfortunately, many DAC reviews do not do a A/B sound quality check in this way.
Maybe for some DACs the volume control implementation is digital not preamp, I don’t know
Clearly I don’t need a DAC with balanced outputs but it looks like the higher up the Sound Quality tree you go, they all come with XLR (not a complaint, just for me I don’t need the money to be spent on that facility).
As an example of one that is NOT suitable - from various reports the Topping E30 sound quality is definitely adversely affected in preamp mode
So far the SMSL SU9 looks as if it might fit the need.
Probably the RME Adi-2 but it’s quite expensive
Any other suggestions?
Thanks