Digital Out on a CD Player

[Bobby]

Hello my lovelies,

I have a Marantz CD player and amplifier. I am currently using phono cables to connect the two. I think I have the option of connecting them using a Digital Output cable instead (either coaxial or optical).

Does anyone know whether it's worth connecting the two using the Digital Output instead of the phono cables? Will I notice a difference in the sound quality? If so, should I connect using the coaxial or optical option?

Your advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[iMark]

My guess is that the DAC in your CD player is better than the one in your amplifier. You don't list the model numbers of your CD player and your amp so it is very hard to give any advice.

Rule of thumb: if you're happy with the sound, don't change anything.

 

[Bobby]

Thanks so much for your advice, iMark.

I have a Marantz CD6005 and a PM6005.

 

[Thompsonuxb]

Your amp does not have digital in so you will require an external DAC.

That said chances are any 'improvement' will not justify the outlay for an external DAC.

If the sound you are getting is acceptable just stick with it.

 

[Thompsonuxb]

Your amp does not have digital in so you will require an external DAC.

That said chances are any 'improvement' will not justify the outlay for an external DAC.

If the sound you are getting is acceptable just stick with it.

 

[gowiththeflow]

Your amp does not have digital in so you will require an external DAC.

Wrong.

The PM6005 has an on-board DAC complete with Coax and optical inputs.

 

[Thompsonuxb]

Your amp does not have digital in so you will require an external DAC.

Wrong.

The PM6005 has an on-board DAC complete with Coax and optical inputs.

Oh, ok I stand corrected.

In that case take a single leg from your analog interconnect and try it.

The differences may be subtle though.

 

[Thompsonuxb]

Your amp does not have digital in so you will require an external DAC.

Wrong.

The PM6005 has an on-board DAC complete with Coax and optical inputs.

Oh, ok I stand corrected.

In that case take a single leg from your analog interconnect and try it.

The differences may be subtle though. In my experience coax sounds better than optical from my CD player. But I only have a freebie optical lead that came with the Xbox360.

 

[iMark]

Thanks so much for your advice, iMark. ?

I have a Marantz CD6005 and a PM6005. 

I don't know the specs of the DAC in the CD or PM. I wouldn't be surprised that they are exactly the same. I don't know if you have any other components that could use a digital input. The PM 6005 has got an optical and a coaxial in. Not using one of the inputs for your CD player keeps both inputs free for other components.

Difference between the different inputs should be almost impossible to hear. If there are audible differences, Marantz have made engineering errors. 🙂

 

[BigH]

I remember reading they are the same Dac so the differences will be minor. Best to try it out blind if you can.

 

[manicm]

You could possibly attain better sound quality through an external DAC, but remember the transport is also very important in any disc player - and in budget to mid-range spinners these are ar built to a price. So you'll get diminishing returns. If your primary source is disc, and you want more, then buying a disc player next up in the range would be the logical step.

 

[Laurens_B]

You could possibly attain better sound quality through an external DAC, but remember the transport is also very important in any disc player - and in budget to mid-range spinners these are ar built to a price. So you'll get diminishing returns. If your primary source is disc, and you want more, then buying a disc player next up in the range would be the logical step.

What do expensive transports do better than cheap ones?

 

[manicm]

You could possibly attain better sound quality through an external DAC, but remember the transport is also very important in any disc player - and in budget to mid-range spinners these are ar built to a price. So you'll get diminishing returns. If your primary source is disc, and you want more, then buying a disc player next up in the range would be the logical step.

What do expensive transports do better than cheap ones?

Better stability, motors, laser tracking, remember when Cyrus started using in-house designed cd mechanisms several years ago? And many top-end players have separate transports and dacs.