Help choosing a Dac max 1k euros.

[raffo333]

Hello, and happy new year!

My currently setup is
Wiim Ultra >> usb cable >> Internal Dac of McIntosh MA5300 >> Sonus Faber Grand Piano Domus.

I am thinking of upgrading the DAC.
But while i was almost ready to pull the trigger for a Harmony uDac things got blurry while reading and watching, reviews, articles etc.

I realized that i might get what i want and need with half the price... So i started looking at Fiio, Topping, Smsl... And every time i though i was ready to choose something else pop's out, chip specs, chip technology, nos, noise, linear or no linear power supply, etc...

I am really fully confused now ! ‍

Till now, i know is silly, but i have a fresh purchased usb b cable that i am not ready to put aside, i dont have any other prerequisites. (Well i could put it aside if there is no other option)

I am also waiting for a Nobsound Mini XMOS XU208 USB Digital Interface.

Any help is much appreciated!
Raf

 

[TheKoC]

Can you name the reasons for "upgrading" the DAC? I am not familiar with the internal Macintosh DAC, but somehow doubt it is flawed in a serious way, what improvement are you aiming for?

 

[Power Pop 23]

Hello, and happy new year!

My currently setup is
Wiim Ultra >> usb cable >> Internal Dac of McIntosh MA5300 >> Sonus Faber Grand Piano Domus.

I am thinking of upgrading the DAC.
But while i was almost ready to pull the trigger for a Harmony uDac things got blurry while reading and watching, reviews, articles etc.

I realized that i might get what i want and need with half the price... So i started looking at Fiio, Topping, Smsl... And every time i though i was ready to choose something else pop's out, chip specs, chip technology, nos, noise, linear or no linear power supply, etc...

I am really fully confused now ! ‍

Till now, i know is silly, but i have a fresh purchased usb b cable that i am not ready to put aside, i dont have any other prerequisites. (Well i could put it aside if there is no other option)

I am also waiting for a Nobsound Mini XMOS XU208 USB Digital Interface.

Any help is much appreciated!
Raf

Welcome to ASR !

Consider a DAC with return privileges as you may not perceive a difference over the DAC in your McIntosh MA5300

SMSL SU-1 Stereo DAC Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the SMSL SU-1 stereo USB DAC. It was arranged to be sent to me by shenzhenaudio from the company and costs US $79.99. Despite its simplicity, the SU-1 manages to look elegant with nice fonts and LED indicators for different inputs. Back panel has...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[raffo333]

Can you name the reasons for "upgrading" the DAC? I am not familiar with the internal Macintosh DAC, but somehow doubt it is flawed in a serious way, what improvement are you aiming for?

Hello, sound now is good, very good as I've just upgraded my amp.
But somehow i feel that i can get even better.
At first i was thinking to change the streamer but then i though that it can even better if i get a dedicated Dac.

I know that the McIntosh internal dac is a little bit a outdated.

 

[TheKoC]

Hello, sound now is good, very good as I've just upgraded my amp.
But somehow i feel that i can get even better.
At first i was thinking to change the streamer but then i though that it can even better if i get a dedicated Dac.

I know that the McIntosh internal dac is a little bit a outdated.

It is not the newest chip (it has the ESS 9016 I believe?), but of all the things that can influence the sound, a newer DAC-chip is probably one of the least important. I could not suggest any DAC that will actually improve the sound in honesty.

 

[JustJones]

Use the WiiM Ultra DAC and connect analog to the McIntosh whose digital input is an add on module so i assume the analog inputs aren't routed through the processing which let's you use WiiM’s DSP.

 

[VintageFlanker]

My currently setup is
Wiim Ultra >> usb cable >> Internal Dac of McIntosh MA5300 >> Sonus Faber Grand Piano Domus.

I am thinking of upgrading the DAC.

The WiiM Ultra DAC is already as transparent as anyone would wish for. Just use its Digital in, and then its analog output to your McIntosh.

 

[Jiraya369]

The Wiim Ultra is basically a perfect DAC if you just use the digital input. You can get 1000 different dacs and they'll only sound different if something has gone wrong.

Even if there is noise, at the point you're at, it's essentially inaudible.

 

[Svend P]

Some good reading on the subject.

How can DAC's have a SOUND SIGNATURE if they measure as transparent?

I know there are people out there that think cables affect sound, which is much worse, but there really is no response to something like that, but just to smile and nod. But what about people who talk about DACS as if they were headphone drivers or speakers, and talk about the SOUNDSTAGE...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[raffo333]

What do you guys mean by digital in of the Wiim? If i want to use another source as a cd player?

 

[JustJones]

What do you guys mean by digital in of the Wiim? If i want to use another source as a cd player?

Connect the CD player digital in to the WiiM. Route everything through the WiiM if you can so you can use it's PEQ which will be more of an upgrade than a new DAC.

 

[Svend P]

If you really want better sound, sell the McIntosh and buy something with Dirac, and sell the Sonus Fabers and get something that measures great.

 

[simon-b]

@raffo333 I have a LAiV uDAC a Chord Qutest and a Topping D90SE. The uDAC presents the sound far more in your face but is very easy to listen to. My choice for every day listening. The D90SE is a more detailed and has a much better lower bass detail. It's not so in your face as the uDAC. Not a lot in to be honest. Moving the speakers for each to suit the sound stage. The all measure dead flat within 0.1 db. So it must be a phase thing the way the presentation is different. I listen to the uDAC mainly has it so nice to listen to. Hope this helps.

 

[Svend P]

Hope this helps

It really doesn't. You have to test blind and level matched for your impressions to have any meaning. When people do that, they can't tell DACs apart.

 

[simon-b]

It really doesn't. You have to test blind and level matched for your impressions to have any meaning. When people do that, they can't tell DACs apart.

It does in this case. With the correct track one sounds like headphones and one sounds like the stage is further back. For me that's quite a difference. Even if I did blind listening tests when I played that track again I would not like the presentation through one of the DAC's.

 

[Svend P]

It does in this case. With the correct track one sounds like headphones and one sounds like the stage is further back. For me that's quite a difference. Even if I did blind listening tests when I played that track again I would not like the presentation through one of the DAC's.

Message to golden-eared audiophiles posting at ASR for the first time...

Hello friend. Hey, listen...we know how it is. Believe me, most of us have been there too. You've spent years toiling in the muck of audiophilia. You read ALL the reviews. You watched ALL the youtube videos. You visited ALL the other forums where everything always makes a difference. You...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[raffo333]

Well ive changed settings, now i am using wiim's dac... To be honest i like it... I also see that wiim have alot of dac settings presets... And i dont have a clue

 

[Power Pop 23]

Well ive changed settings, now i am using wiim's dac... To be honest i like it... I also see that wiim have alot of dac settings presets... And i dont have a clue

Yes,

A lot of settings courtesy of the design of the DAC used.

It can be difficult to discern a difference between them.

Go with either recommended option.

 

[TheKoC]

Well ive changed settings, now i am using wiim's dac... To be honest i like it... I also see that wiim have alot of dac settings presets... And i dont have a clue

Keep the standard sharp rolloff filter. Those "flowery" descriptions of some of the filters are rather questionable.
If you want to change the frequency response, do so with actual DSP / parametric EQ, that's not the filters job.

 

[raffo333]

I am using the default setting