Hey guys looking for suggestions om dac

[Kombatan]

I know this gets asked alot. Looking for a dac I can use, I hear alot about topping and small but not sure which models I need. I mainly listen to Amazon prime or some other source. Not opposed to throwing on a cd occasionally. My pre amp is an older Vac cla1 mk3 tube preamp going into a vtv purifi stero amp. I can except xrl inputs on the pre along with rca. So looking for a dac that won't inject distortion or noise into the system. I.e more amplified.
Thanks
Dan

 

[Chrispy]

Look at what connectivity/features you need and look at the reviews here on the site....

 

[Brian Hall]

I know this gets asked alot. Looking for a dac I can use, I hear alot about topping and small but not sure which models I need. I mainly listen to Amazon prime or some other source. Not opposed to throwing on a cd occasionally. My pre amp is an older Vac cla1 mk3 tube preamp going into a vtv purifi stero amp. I can except xrl inputs on the pre along with rca. So looking for a dac that won't inject distortion or noise into the system. I.e more amplified.
Thanks
Dan

What is the source device? What are you streaming Amazon from?

 

[raindance]

What's an "om dac"?

 

[Brian Hall]

What's an "om dac"?

I figured it was a typo. Probably meant on dac.

 

[raindance]

I figured it was a typo. Probably meant on dac.

I know, just having some fun.

 

[JSmith]

So looking for a dac that won't inject distortion or noise into the system.

It's more likely to come from that preamp you have and not a decent DAC.

You can probably get rid of the preamp and just use a DAC preamp function.


JSmith

 

[AnalogSteph]

You can probably get rid of the preamp and just use a DAC preamp function.

Indeed. Preamp-grade DACs with a volume control tend to cost more than basic ones without but are by no means outrageously expensive in this day and age. You can get one with balanced output for sub-$200 (e.g. SMSL DL100) if need be, a Topping D50 III is not a ton more expensive either. There should be a lot of choice up to the $500ish price point.

(I presume the VTV has balanced inputs, they generally seem to. Requisite cabling would be either standard XLR cables or TRS to XLR male depending on what kind of output jacks the DAC happens to sport. The larger XLR is more rugged but electrically they're quite equivalent.)

 

[staticV3]

Not opposed to throwing on a cd occasionally.

Definitely not the best value, but if you've got the budget, an SMSL PL200 could be a great way to streamline your setup.

It could replace the external CD Player and Preamp.