DAC intergration

[AudioFanMan]

Im reasonably new to the DAC scene, excuse this most basic hook up question...

On the DAC Im about to replace, I have multiple inputs connected.
It has as inputs, USB | Optical | S/PDIF

From my blue ray player and my TV - I have digital optical going to a stand alone manual optical switch, and then on to the DAC.
From my Picore player / streamer I have S/PDIF on the DAC input.
The DAC RCA out now goes to an RCA selector before preamp, monoblocks, speakers....

Is the setup above pretty much the most elegant way of controlling what goes to my preamp ?

 

[Keith_W]

Can you answer these questions for us?

1. Does it work?
2. Is it convenient?

If the answer to both questions is "yes", then there is no question to answer.

 

[Apesbrain]

You could connect your RPi to the DAC via USB and use the DAC's coax input for your blu-ray player if it has coax out. That way, you'd avoid the "optical switch". Shouldn't make any difference in "sound quality", though.

Why do you have an "RCA selector" before pre-amp?

 

[DVDdoug]

On the DAC Im about to replace,

What else are you looking for?

Is the setup above pretty much the most elegant way of controlling what goes to my preamp ?

The most common and most elegant solution is usually an AVR which will have multiple digital and analog inputs and a DAC built-in. Some preamps have also have a DAC and more than one digital input. (But you'll probably pay more for a preamp with less features than an AVR.)

AVRs can also decode all of the DVD & Blu-Ray formats whereas most stand-alone DACs and "digital preamps" only support PCM.

Some AVRs have preamp outputs if you want to use a separate amplifier.

 

[AudioFanMan]

You could connect your RPi to the DAC via USB and use the DAC's coax input for your blu-ray player if it has coax out. That way, you'd avoid the "optical switch". Shouldn't make any difference in "sound quality", though.

Why do you have an "RCA selector" before pre-amp?

My current DAC doesnt do USB so well, so the RPi connection had to be the S/PDIF ...
I have a MC phono preamp (no volume control ), so needed a way to switch between the RPi out and phono preamp before the preamp with volume control..
My main amps for now are both monoblocks... (KT120 or ACA 1.8)

 

[AudioFanMan]

What else are you looking for?
The most common and most elegant solution is usually an AVR ...

I kind of like the SMSL DL200, see it has a recommended review

'SMSL DL200 DAC & Headphone Amp Review'

Apr 15, 2025

ASR has a dedicated thread for this combination DAC & headphone amp from SMSL. Interestingly the OP of the thread titled it "SMSL DL200 the best ever value DAC/AMP?" On paper---in regard to pure, technical performance---I couldn't agree more. And couldn't resist buying and testing it. As of April 2025, it retails at $190.

Although it was measured by some members (e.g., by @nick_l44.1) and presented in multiple posts of the thread, I thought a collection of measurements in familiar forms presented in one place would be informative. In...

• jkim
• es9039q2m smsl dl200
• Replies: 43
• Forum: Combination Audio DAC and Headphone Amplifiers

• 

and does the Bluetooth, something else I can remove from my RCA selector switch (Forgot about that in my OP)..

Will look into AVR..
While I dont mind hitting the buttons and switches, Im trying to see if I can simplify it enough for the Mrs. to use...

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