Any point in buying high spec dac to input into AVR?

[Mattknz]

I'm currently using a pi with a Boss 1.2 hat dac and sending the output into a Denon avrx3300w in order to use Audyssey room correction.
Is there any gain to be had by using a high sinad dac before the avr when the avr is going to perform analogue to digital conversion and then output a signal with a sinad of probably 80ish db?

 

[GalZohar]

As far as I know your understanding is correct and there is no point in a super high quality DAC as that would just get converted back to digital by the AVR. Of course, a poor DAC may still make the sound worse. Best to just use digital inputs unless you are using pure direct, which disables room correction or bass management. Rven if you don't normally use those, the benefits of a high quality external dac are quite questionable.

 

[Chrispy]

Can't see any advantage to doubling up on the dac....just use digital inputs to the avr and enjoy.

 

[Steve Dallas]

If you are using room correction, any analog input will go through AD conversion before the DSP, then go through DA conversion. There is no benefit to DAC -> ADC -> DSP -> DAC, when you can inject digital into the AVR and skip the DAC -> ADC stages.

Looks like there are several hats out available to output Toslink digital.

 

[Mattknz]

Cool, confirmed my thoughts a nd saved me some money!
Thanks all.

 

[euge_lee]

Cool, confirmed my thoughts a nd saved me some money!
Thanks all.

Technically... if you use your own DAC, and your AVR has "multi-channel line in"... you can use those inputs and bypass your AVR or Pre/Pro onboard DACs.

 

[antcollinet]

Technically... if you use your own DAC, and your AVR has "multi-channel line in"... you can use those inputs and bypass your AVR or Pre/Pro onboard DACs.

But not if you want to use the AVR's DSP room correction

 

[euge_lee]

But not if you want to use the AVR's DSP

Sure, my "assumption" was that the OP wanted to use his fancy DAC and just use the AVR as an amp.

 

[amirm]

Beyond DSP, you are also limited by the amplifier noise and distortion. So I would not bother with external DAC either.

 

[antcollinet]

Sure, my "assumption" was that the OP wanted to use his fancy DAC and just use the AVR as an amp.

So you missed in the OP:

in order to use Audyssey room correction

 

[euge_lee]

So you missed in the OP:

Seems that I did. Well yeah then the external DAC seems pointless. Unless he wants to unfold some MQA or upsample in the DAC to DSD512 then output to analog to have that then re-digitized by the AVR. LOL.

 

[Mnyb]

Yes a Pi-hat with digital output is the way to go imho it's good enough for any pre-pro or AVR .

 

[hmt]

I'm currently using a pi with a Boss 1.2 hat dac and sending the output into a Denon avrx3300w in order to use Audyssey room correction.
Is there any gain to be had by using a high sinad dac before the avr when the avr is going to perform analogue to digital conversion and then output a signal with a sinad of probably 80ish db?

No.

 

[NewbieAudiophileExpert]

Use the digital inputs where possible..

 

[phoenixdogfan]

//////I'm currently using a pi with a Boss 1.2 hat dac and sending the output into a Denon avrx3300w in order to use Audyssey room correction.
Is there any gain to be had by using a high sinad dac before the avr when the avr is going to perform analogue to digital conversion and then output a signal with a sinad of probably 80ish db?

Of course one day you may decide to ditch the Denon for something with a Sinad that matches your DAC, and you can use Camilla Dsp on the Pi.

RPi + CamillaDSP Tutorial

As of May 22, 2024, this tutorial has been migrated to GitHub to allow for better revision management and a more universal location, please see link below. https://github.com/mdsimon2/RPi-CamillaDSP In general the GitHub tutorial is the same as previous ASR tutorial but now covers the RPi5...

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