Hey there folks.
So I'm looking to get a DAC for my system. It will go directly into a power amp, so no preamp involved. I have two digital sources and a turntable which has a line-level RCA output (built in phono stage) I am willing to use. The turntable is a Sony PS-HX500 if you have to ask.
For a while I thought I was limited to DACs such as the Matrix Audio Mini i (Pro) 3, which feature an unusual RCA input. I say "limited" because indeed this option is rarely present in DACs (it was on the discontinued Oppo Sonica for example). The price of the Matrix Audio Mini i Pro 3 (the non pro version is virtually impossible to get) is a bit steep for me, and I don't care for the streamer features (nor the wireless connectivity) so if it weren't for the RCA I would never go up to those prices.
There are cheaper DACs which however fit all my basic criteria except the RCA input, e.g. Gustard X16, Topping DX7 Pro. All these are lacking to fit my needs is the RCA in (and correspondingly the built in ADC).
Thus my question: what would you guys think (SQ wise) about buying a separate ADC (RCA to coaxial, for example) and using it to bridge between the turntable's line out and one of the digital inputs on the a DAC ? I've been looking around on the web and it seems that ADCs come in essentially two classes: on the one hand you have the little simple boxes selling for 10$ everywhere (here for example), and on the other hand you have stuff that seems much more professional / high grade, either rack-mounted stuff or things like the Parks Puffin (either way you pay much more money and you get features which I don't need / want: DSP in the rack mounted options and phono stage in the Puffin).
The quality of vinyl is what it is, so I'm thinking maybe the little 10$ converters are not gonna spoil the sound that much (I doubt that stuff like the Matrix Audio Mini i Pro 3 has a much better ADC anyway, I mean it is there just as a convenience I guess and is not the core product). On the other, it is scary to buy such cheap stuff and I would still make sure I am somewhat being respectful towards the turntable's output.
I guess I am waiting for people to enlighten me here. Do you guys think that routing the turntable's line out via a DAC by means of one of these little ADC boxes is an insult to any form of SQ and hence I should definitely go for something like the Puffin ? Maybe people have opinions on the quality of built-in ADCs in things like the Matrix Audio Mini i (Pro) 3 ? Would that at least be decent? SQ wise the obviously best option is to buy the Puffin (with the digital modification by the manufacturer), disable the turntable's built in phono stage (which is likely not the best in the world either) and plug the digital out of the Puffin in the cheapest DAC fitting my needs. But that is some money, because the Puffin is expensive (in a seemingly justified way though), and I guess what I'm struggling with is that I only turn to my turntable occasionally and I just want it to sound decent. I listen to it like once a week or two but it's not my main source, so I'm thinking that spending this money maybe does not make any sense for me.
Note that this is generally the approach I'll take, so if you think it is somehow ludicrous to digitalize a turntable's output before letting a DAC do the work, please refrain from commenting in the sense that such is not the discussion scope I would like to have here. I am also aware that there is little sense (SQ wise) in listening to vinyl for this and that reason, and in fact I basically agree but for me it is a matter of nostalgia. My father gave those discs when I was a teenager and I simply enjoy the little walk down memory lane when I physically pull out one of these from the collection and let it spin. Note that, while being aware that the SQ of vinyl is what it is, I still want to make the best of what my turntable outputs (or at least not totally trash it).
OK I don't know if anybody got my points. If so and if you got here, thanks for reading! And thanks for any input.
So I'm looking to get a DAC for my system. It will go directly into a power amp, so no preamp involved. I have two digital sources and a turntable which has a line-level RCA output (built in phono stage) I am willing to use. The turntable is a Sony PS-HX500 if you have to ask.
For a while I thought I was limited to DACs such as the Matrix Audio Mini i (Pro) 3, which feature an unusual RCA input. I say "limited" because indeed this option is rarely present in DACs (it was on the discontinued Oppo Sonica for example). The price of the Matrix Audio Mini i Pro 3 (the non pro version is virtually impossible to get) is a bit steep for me, and I don't care for the streamer features (nor the wireless connectivity) so if it weren't for the RCA I would never go up to those prices.
There are cheaper DACs which however fit all my basic criteria except the RCA input, e.g. Gustard X16, Topping DX7 Pro. All these are lacking to fit my needs is the RCA in (and correspondingly the built in ADC).
Thus my question: what would you guys think (SQ wise) about buying a separate ADC (RCA to coaxial, for example) and using it to bridge between the turntable's line out and one of the digital inputs on the a DAC ? I've been looking around on the web and it seems that ADCs come in essentially two classes: on the one hand you have the little simple boxes selling for 10$ everywhere (here for example), and on the other hand you have stuff that seems much more professional / high grade, either rack-mounted stuff or things like the Parks Puffin (either way you pay much more money and you get features which I don't need / want: DSP in the rack mounted options and phono stage in the Puffin).
The quality of vinyl is what it is, so I'm thinking maybe the little 10$ converters are not gonna spoil the sound that much (I doubt that stuff like the Matrix Audio Mini i Pro 3 has a much better ADC anyway, I mean it is there just as a convenience I guess and is not the core product). On the other, it is scary to buy such cheap stuff and I would still make sure I am somewhat being respectful towards the turntable's output.
I guess I am waiting for people to enlighten me here. Do you guys think that routing the turntable's line out via a DAC by means of one of these little ADC boxes is an insult to any form of SQ and hence I should definitely go for something like the Puffin ? Maybe people have opinions on the quality of built-in ADCs in things like the Matrix Audio Mini i (Pro) 3 ? Would that at least be decent? SQ wise the obviously best option is to buy the Puffin (with the digital modification by the manufacturer), disable the turntable's built in phono stage (which is likely not the best in the world either) and plug the digital out of the Puffin in the cheapest DAC fitting my needs. But that is some money, because the Puffin is expensive (in a seemingly justified way though), and I guess what I'm struggling with is that I only turn to my turntable occasionally and I just want it to sound decent. I listen to it like once a week or two but it's not my main source, so I'm thinking that spending this money maybe does not make any sense for me.
Note that this is generally the approach I'll take, so if you think it is somehow ludicrous to digitalize a turntable's output before letting a DAC do the work, please refrain from commenting in the sense that such is not the discussion scope I would like to have here. I am also aware that there is little sense (SQ wise) in listening to vinyl for this and that reason, and in fact I basically agree but for me it is a matter of nostalgia. My father gave those discs when I was a teenager and I simply enjoy the little walk down memory lane when I physically pull out one of these from the collection and let it spin. Note that, while being aware that the SQ of vinyl is what it is, I still want to make the best of what my turntable outputs (or at least not totally trash it).
OK I don't know if anybody got my points. If so and if you got here, thanks for reading! And thanks for any input.