DAC or no DAC

[JIELKADE]

a question from a newbee in digital audio:
I have a very old Marantz CD player that has an analog RCA and coaxial spdif output and a DAB radio that has an analog RCA and optical spdif output.
My old Pioneer receiver only has analog inputs.
Can I expect a significant improvement in sound by adding a DAC between the sources and my receiver?

 

[Overseas]

Experts say upgrade speakers first, if needed.
You can get the cheapest Topping DAC, used, to play with.

 

[amirm]

No, stay with what you have.

 

[Overseas]

Stay with what you have or change everything

 

[ThatM1key]

DAB is always sound horrible no matter how clean your DAC, similar how HD Radio is. I don't know what kind of pioneer receiver you have but depending on what model it is, a newer amp could be a better upgrade then a DAC. I'm sure that Marantz CD player+ has a good DAC inside and I wouldn't worry about it.

From my limited knowledge about early CD players, a good chunk of them were 14-bit. Depending how old your hearing is, you might not notice.

 

[Michael1977]

a question from a newbee in digital audio:
I have a very old Marantz CD player that has an analog RCA and coaxial spdif output and a DAB radio that has an analog RCA and optical spdif output.
My old Pioneer receiver only has analog inputs.
Can I expect a significant improvement in sound by adding a DAC between the sources and my receiver?

You haven't mentioned what speakers you are using. Those may be the weakest link. However, assuming you have decent speakers, I would target that receiver. Getting a newer digital-capable receiver should offer you a lower noise floor, thereby taking advantage of the clean digital S/PDIF outputs.
A receiver with an in-built DAC will have a shorter path for the analog signal to travel before amplification. A set of 3' analog patch cables will act like massive antennas for noise prior to amplification and that is something an external DAC has exactly zero ability to improve.