DAC Streamer Recommendation for ATC Scm20s

[blackiridium]

Hi everyone, I’m in the system building stage at this point. I have a pair of new ATC SCM 20s on order.
I will most likely be pairing these with a stereo Nilai or a new dual mono Purifi 9040 amp.
I’m looking for a dac with volume control to feed directly to my amp. It would need to have an HDMI eARC connection to connect to my TV. Also balanced outputs are must. Ideally, it would also have a sub out as I might add a sub in the future. I’d like a 12v trigger to trigger the amps on and off as well. Are there any pieces of equipment I should be looking at?

 

[staticV3]

The WiiM Ultra has ARC input, Sub out, and 12V trigger.

You can use custom RCA->XLR cables to make the built-in RCA Line outs balanced (just like native XLR), or get an external DAC with XLR out and connect it to the Ultra via SPDIF.

I'd choose the custom cables.

One big "gotcha" is that the current Ultra does not support AirPlay, and it cannot be added via firmware update.

It's possible that sometime in the future there'll be a hardware revision with AirPlay support, but that's not guaranteed.

 

[blackiridium]

Any other options? I think I prefer having a more high end dac with volume control and separating out the streamer.

 

[blackiridium]

Would the smsl do100 and topping e70 fit into the picture here?

 

[staticV3]

Any other options? I think I prefer having a more high end dac with volume control and separating out the streamer.

The WiiM Ultra is a high end DAC with volume control.

Would the smsl do100 and topping e70 fit into the picture here?

No ARC input and no options for subwoofer integration.

In contrast, the Ultra has Sub level, phase, delay, crossover (LPF Sub out & HPF Line out), 10-band PEQ and automatic room correction.

 

[blackiridium]

The smsl do100 pro has hdmi arc. Probably missing the sub out but that’s not an absolutely critical thing for me

 

[Palladium]

Rant: It's a travesty TVs still don't support native volume control over SPDIF, unlike PCs that could since forever. We wouldn't really need HDMI ARC otherwise.

 

[blackiridium]

Would using an HDMI extractor be a better option in this instance? I would really like balanced outputs so the Wiim wouldn't work unfortunately.

 

[staticV3]

Would using an HDMI extractor be a better option in this instance? I would really like balanced outputs so the Wiim wouldn't work unfortunately.

A native HDMI ARC input has the capability (though not guaranteed) of supporting CEC, meaning that you can control the DAC's volume using the TV remote.

If your TV lacks SPDIF out, making ARC the only digital audio output, but you want to use a DAC without ARC, then you can use an HDMI ARC Audio Extractor to do TV->HDMI ARC->ARC Extractor->SPDIF->DAC.

Doing it this way guarantees that you cannot use the TV remote to control volume.

Instead, you'd have to use the TV remote to control the TV and the DAC remote to control volume.

 

[blackiridium]

My TV has both spdif out and eArc it's an LG G1

 

[staticV3]

My TV has both spdif out and eArc it's an LG G1

Then an ARC Extractor would serve no purpose.

 

[blackiridium]

Then an ARC Extractor would serve no purpose.

I was thinking that it would broaden the DAC options to ones that only have spdif.

 

[staticV3]

I was thinking that it would broaden the DAC options to ones that only have spdif.

DACs that only have SPDIF can be plugged straight into your TV's SPDIF output.

Going via the ARC output would have no advantage in that case.

 

[blackiridium]

Agreed. So if we broaden the options to DACs withour ARC but with spdif, what would be the top contenders?
I really appreciate your help. I've been reading your other comments in a few other threads. You're quite knowledgeable.

 

[staticV3]

Agreed. So if we broaden the options to DACs withour ARC but with spdif, what would be the top contenders?
I really appreciate your help. I've been reading your other comments in a few other threads. You're quite knowledgeable.

I would also consider the miniDSP Flex Balanced, or Flex HTx.

 

[blackiridium]

Thanks I had looked into those and didn't recognize the back plugs as balanced outputs. I'm assuming it has a trigger as well? How would I connect a streamer to the DAC if the spdif input is taken by the TV?
The HTx seems to be overkill with 8ch but it does get me the additional 3rd channel for a sub in the future.

 

[staticV3]

Thanks I had looked into those and didn't recognize the back plugs as balanced outputs.

They are 1/4" TRS Balanced Line outputs.
Functionally identical to XLR, just more space-efficient.

I'm assuming it has a trigger as well?

The Flex HT and HTx have Trigger out and eARC in.

The Flex Balanced has neither.

How would I connect a streamer to the DAC if the spdif input is taken by the TV?

All Flex versions have two SPDIF inputs, so you could use one for the TV and one for the streamer.

 

[blackiridium]

Ahh so these also include eARC that's amazing?
You're saying the miniDSP Flex Balanced removes the eARC?

 

[blackiridium]

And would this pair nicely with a Nilai or Purifi 9040 amp? I've heard talk of low gain from the minidsp

 

[JustJones]

Minidsp FlexHT, You're probably going to want subwoofers at some point as the ATC 20 is -6db at 55hz

Edit: something like the NAD C399 would be another option.