Seperate DAC or not?

[Rob779]

For context, I am a complete DAC virgin as I have never had the need for one. I play only vinyl and CD's and do not stream anything. My digital chain is a 20 Year old NAD C521BEE cd player > Pure Sound A10 valve amp > Blue Room Minipod speakers. The NAD has a Burr Brown Sigma Delta 20bit DAC on board. I'd like to dip my toe in the water and I'm thinking of buying a SMSL SU-1. My concern is, would I be likely to gain any improvement on the sound quality?

 

[RandomEar]

Nope. It's unlikely that there would be a clear audible difference between your old and a new DAC anyway. But when using a tube amp, it's totally irrelevant. The noise and distortion of that amp are one to three orders of magnitude higher than any DAC and would drown all differences between them even if they existed.

Limiting factors in almost any modern HiFi system: Speakers and room. In your system: Speakers and room + amp.

 

[DanielT]

@Rob779 Why not see it as a whole and say:
This is my Hifi. What tips and advice can you give to improve the sound with a budget of X amount of $.

The acoustics of your listening room can also be considered as a factor.

 

[DanielT]

Nope. It's unlikely that there would be a clear audible difference between your old and a new DAC anyway. But when using a tube amp, it's totally irrelevant. The noise and distortion of that amp are one to three orders of magnitude higher than any DAC and would drown all differences between them even if they existed.

Limiting factors in almost any modern HiFi system: Speakers and room. In your system: Speakers and room + amp.

You're ahead of me, I see. We said pretty much the same thing.

 

[Mnyb]

The SMSL SU-1 would provide a slightly lower output voltage 2.0v compared to the NAD's 2.2 volt for full signal . If the CD player aint broken its probably a very nice one .

The SMSL would sound ever so slightly lower in volume you need to turn the volume knob a tad more .

I have no idea on the specs of the amp ? suitable input voltage noise thd etc ?

The SU-1 would provide an USB input for a computer ? That's all I think ?

 

[DanielT]

I have no idea on the specs of the amp ? suitable input voltage noise thd etc ?

It's a 10 watt tube amp.It won't be nightclub-high SPL. But TS must have noticed that and doesn't need it, otherwise he would have probably switched to a more powerful amp a long time ago.

A10 integrated valve amplifier From Pure Sound

The entry level design from Pure Sound, Paul Rigby reviews the A10 integrated amplifier If there’s one thing I’ve learned about valves and valve amplifiers especially is that there might be a host of products on the market but you can’t produce a top quality valve amp on the cheap. My previous...

theaudiophileman.com

 

[Rob779]

Thanks for your advice chaps. My vinyl front end and valve amp are my primary and preferred source of music. I just thought I ought to explore the modern world of the DAC. It sounds like (with my current set up) there's no point in investing in a seperate DAC.

 

[Mnyb]

Wonder mostly about input sensitivity if it can take 2 volt on its input ? some older or tube amps can be overdriven by "hot" sources , but OP has not noted anything strange about it so Ill guess its fine .

Was a case on another forum when some one had a manley preamp and needed attenuators before the line input .
The designs from the hifi fringes can sometimes has odd issues that you typically don't need to think about ?

 

[Mnyb]

Thanks for your advice chaps. My vinyl front end and valve amp are my primary and preferred source of music. I just thought I ought to explore the modern world of the DAC. It sounds like (with my current set up) there's no point in investing in a seperate DAC.

Yes wait until the CD player eventually breaks ( which it will do ) the lasers and mech gets old , and rethink your digital front end then and there