Does it make sense to use an External DAC/AMP with an A/V Receiver?

[Supernova58]

I have a Fiio BTA30 DAC/AMP (bought mainly for my PC) but noticed that when I connect my TV's optical output to it and then from it to my A/V receiver, the sound quality improves noticeably compared to when my TV is directly connected to the A/V Receiver.
My question is whether it is worth spending on a good DAC/AMP to use externally between my TV and A/V receiver (which is an old Yamaha RX-477), or if I upgrade my A/V receiver to a much newer and better model, I would get the same quality and would not need any DAC/AMP in the middle? In other words, does a newer and better A/V receiver naturally provide better DAC/AMP that using an external one would be totally unnecessary?
Thanks in advance for sharing your opinion and advice.

 

[twsecrest]

I'm guessing the RX-477 did not come with fully discrete speaker amplifiers, so a higher end Yamaha should come with discrete amplifiers.
I believe is was the RX-6XX models were the cheapest Yamahas to come with discrete amplifiers.

 

[twsecrest]

YAMAHA RX-V6A 7.2-Ch x 100 Watts 8K A/V Receiver

Yamaha Factory Refurbished

www.accessories4less.com

 

[Beave]

I have a Fiio BTA30 DAC/AMP (bought mainly for my PC) but noticed that when I connect my TV's optical output to it and then from it to my A/V receiver, the sound quality improves noticeably compared to when my TV is directly connected to the A/V Receiver.
My question is whether it is worth spending on a good DAC/AMP to use externally between my TV and A/V receiver (which is an old Yamaha RX-477), or if I upgrade my A/V receiver to a much newer and better model, I would get the same quality and would not need any DAC/AMP in the middle? In other words, does a newer and better A/V receiver naturally provide better DAC/AMP that using an external one would be totally unnecessary?
Thanks in advance for sharing your opinion and advice.

When you say the sound quality improves noticeably, are you making sure you precisely matched levels? I can't see why there should be any other reasons for sound quality differences.

 

[Supernova58]

When you say the sound quality improves noticeably, are you making sure you precisely matched levels? I can't see why there should be any other reasons for sound quality differences.

Sure, the levels stayed the same, but I got a much clearer sound output.

 

[Supernova58]

I'm guessing the RX-477 did not come with fully discrete speaker amplifiers, so a higher end Yamaha should come with discrete amplifiers.
I believe is was the RX-6XX models were the cheapest Yamahas to come with discrete amplifiers.

Thanks for your response and also for the recommendations. I contacted Yamaha and they also said that "all our current AVRs have a discrete amplifier configuration". So perhaps if I just upgrade the receiver to a newer model, hopefully I get better sound quality and would not need an external amp -- assuming that RX-477's amplifier was the main issue here.

 

[DVDdoug]

The only logical reason for a difference would be different processing with the analog and digital inputs (EQ, room correction, tone controls, surround up-mixing, etc.).

but I got a much clearer sound output.

You think there's less distortion?

Distortion is almost never bad enough to be audible (in electronics) unless an amplifier (or something) is over-driven or broken.

Sometimes noise (hum, hiss, or whine in the background) is audible, but if that's what you are hearing you would have said so.

The only other thing it could be is frequency response variations, and frequency response (in electronics) is also almost always better than human hearing unless it's intentionally (or unknowingly) altered with EQ or tone controls.

Different speakers or headphones always sound different (better or worse). Speakers also sound different in different rooms. Most modern electronics sounds the same (in a proper level-matched blind listening test) or the differences are very-very-subtle.

See Audiophoolery and What is a blind ABX test?

 

[Beave]

Sure, the levels stayed the same, but I got a much clearer sound output.

How did you verify that the levels stayed the same?

 

[Beave]

Thanks for your response and also for the recommendations. I contacted Yamaha and they also said that "all our current AVRs have a discrete amplifier configuration". So perhaps if I just upgrade the receiver to a newer model, hopefully I get better sound quality and would not need an external amp -- assuming that RX-477's amplifier was the main issue here.

I don't think Yamaha has changed the amps in their AVRs in *decades.* So the amps in a newer Yamaha AVR would be just like the amps in your Yamaha AVR.

 

[raif71]

I too have an old Yahama receiver ie yamaha rx-477. It has an internal dac and I could connect my digital sources via optical or coax but I preferred usb connection so I got myself a Topping d10 (not the d10s or d10b), and had it connected to the receiver both via coax and via rca. I prefer the rca connection better compared via optical when switching between those two. I guess the dac in the d10 was "better" ? Anyways what was important is that I could connect my phone/DAP via topping d10 usb to the receiver.

 

[Chrispy]

No

 

[Roland68]

I'm guessing the RX-477 did not come with fully discrete speaker amplifiers, so a higher end Yamaha should come with discrete amplifiers.
I believe is was the RX-6XX models were the cheapest Yamahas to come with discrete amplifiers.

Thanks for your response and also for the recommendations. I contacted Yamaha and they also said that "all our current AVRs have a discrete amplifier configuration". So perhaps if I just upgrade the receiver to a newer model, hopefully I get better sound quality and would not need an external amp -- assuming that RX-477's amplifier was the main issue here.

The Yamaha RX-477 has completely discrete speaker amplifiers, so that can't be the problem.
Has Yamaha ever used anything else on AVRs?

Have you really checked that all other settings, e.g. surround etc., are exactly the same on both inputs of your AVR?

 

[voodooless]

Incidentally, that little DAC only has only a 93 SINAD, I really doubt the Yamaha will be much worse, if at all. My guess is settings an or level differences, as others already pointed out.

 

[twsecrest]

Thanks for your response and also for the recommendations. I contacted Yamaha and they also said that "all our current AVRs have a discrete amplifier configuration". So perhaps if I just upgrade the receiver to a newer model, hopefully I get better sound quality and would not need an external amp -- assuming that RX-477's amplifier was the main issue here.

I would be surprised if lower end Yamahas (under $400?) came with fully discrete speaker amplifiers, but have not followed speaker amplifiers tech for years.

 

[Svend P]

I would be surprised if lower end Yamahas (under $400?) came with fully discrete speaker amplifiers, but have not followed speaker amplifiers tech for years.

What difference would that make?