Question about DAC purchase

[Dr.Ames]

Hello together and greetings from Germany. Of course I have already followed some discussions here, also the longer ones about the (non)existing sound differences of different DACs.

Nevertheless, I would have liked to hear around the assessment of the more experienced forum members here. My first and only DAC is the Pre Box S2 Digital from Project, which I run via USB on my Windows 11 computer and listen there to many CDs that had ripped in FLAC format, plus quite a few Hi-Res recordings, some of which are also natively in DSD format. The DAC is connected via RCA to my Marantz integrated amplifier. Now to my question. Is it worthwhile to switch to a more current DAC such as the SMSL SU-9n (I do not need MQA). Or would I have to spend more money or is an upgrade only worthwhile if more functions are needed - which is not the case for me.

 

[Berwhale]

Welcome to ASR! Your DAC is 'OK', I don't think you'll hear any difference if you replace it with a better measuring unit. I would invest your time (and maybe a little money) in learning how to measure your setup and applying room correction.

DAC review here: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ct-pre-box-s2-dac-headphone-amp-review.10085/

 

[Dr.Ames]

Thank you for the assessment. In fact, I had only recently set the distortion compensation feature to "on", which is also recommended here in the review, and after reading the blog addictedtoaudio.com.au/blogs/how-to/how-to-pick-the-best-filter-setting-for-your-dac set the filter to "Fast Roll off" and since then at least some piano solo recordings seem to me to sound better less aggressive, with less distortion.

 

[voodooless]

Thank you for the assessment. In fact, I had only recently set the distortion compensation feature to "on", which is also recommended here in the review, and after reading the blog addictedtoaudio.com.au/blogs/how-to/how-to-pick-the-best-filter-setting-for-your-dac set the filter to "Fast Roll off" and since then at least some piano solo recordings seem to me to sound better less aggressive, with less distortion.

Actually this device is the perfect tool to try some more controlled listening tests. The different options don’t change the gain, making level matching a non-issue. See:

If you can’t reliable differentiate between distortion compensation on and off, you probably won’t hear the difference to another DAC either.

 

[DVDdoug]

I would invest your time (and maybe a little money) in learning how to measure your setup and applying room correction.

And that would be for measuring your speakers and acoustics, not to measure the DAC.

If there are any defects or weaknesses in a DAC it's usually noise. ...Hiss, hum, or whine in the background. And if you do have (audible) noise it's more-likely to be from the amplifier, or possibly from a ground loop problem than to be coming from the DAC.

The same goes for any other (analog) electronics. Noise is usually the only issue unless you over-drive your amplifier into clipping/distortion.

 

[Dr.Ames]

Your DAC is plenty capable, there would be no perceived change going to a newer DAC. The 9038 chip in the S2 is excellent.

Thanks to you too - that's reassuring news.

 

[Dr.Ames]

Thanks to all of you here - I was a little afraid that I would be verbally stoned with such a question as the first post. The tone here in the forum is really very good.

 

[notsodeadlizard]

Hello together and greetings from Germany. Of course I have already followed some discussions here, also the longer ones about the (non)existing sound differences of different DACs.

Nevertheless, I would have liked to hear around the assessment of the more experienced forum members here. My first and only DAC is the Pre Box S2 Digital from Project, which I run via USB on my Windows 11 computer and listen there to many CDs that had ripped in FLAC format, plus quite a few Hi-Res recordings, some of which are also natively in DSD format. The DAC is connected via RCA to my Marantz integrated amplifier. Now to my question. Is it worthwhile to switch to a more current DAC such as the SMSL SU-9n (I do not need MQA). Or would I have to spend more money or is an upgrade only worthwhile if more functions are needed - which is not the case for me.

You have a wonderful DAС, worthy of a bunch of respected awards, and an excellent amplifier.
And from what you wrote, it is completely incomprehensible why and for what you are asking for some advice from strangers.
And it is completely incomprehensible who gave rise to doubt in you that your DAC is worse than the handicrafts of some Chinese cooperative (it is very bad because it destroys the market and industry).

Everything can be done better, but each successive improvement becomes more and more expensive.
Don't listen to anyone, listen to music, you have a great system in its price range.

 

[Berwhale]

And that would be for measuring your speakers and acoustics, not to measure the DAC.

Of course! Here's the obligatory link to Julian Krause explaining how to measure and correct your speakers...

 

[Dr.Ames]

You have a wonderful DAС, worthy of a bunch of respected awards, and an excellent amplifier.
And from what you wrote, it is completely incomprehensible why and for what you are asking for some advice from strangers....

In fact, I really like the sound of the Project - and my thoughts about buying a new DAC are probably a throwback to my youth where I also kept buying new and more expensive CD players in the hope of getting a better sound. However, that only really worked once, when I bought a CD player with the first 1-bit converter from Technics, and it sounded really awful, and every one after that was (for me) much better.

 

[Dr.Ames]

Thank you to "Berwhale" and "voodooless" - I will have a look at it at my leisure.

 

[Berwhale]

In fact, I really like the sound of the Project - and my thoughts about buying a new DAC are probably a throwback to my youth where I also kept buying new and more expensive CD players in the hope of getting a better sound. However, that only really worked once, when I bought a CD player with the first 1-bit converter from Technics, and it sounded really awful, and every one after that was (for me) much better.

I advised my father regarding a hi-fi purchase in the late 80's. We bought a Technics M.A.S.H. CD player, Technics Receiver, an Ariston turntable and NAD speakers. He's still uses them every day (well not the turntable, it's virtually unused!)