External dac worth it?

[Fergus]

All my digital music consists of downloads from iTunes. Since I’m playing back through my iPhone/iPad would I get any benefit from an external dac if hooked up to a decent hifi?

 

[abacus]

If your downloads are lossless than yes, however try a few out before purchase as not everybody can hear a difference.

Bill

 

[twinkletoes]

All my digital music consists of downloads from iTunes. Since I’m playing back through my iPhone/iPad would I get any benefit from an external dac if hooked up to a decent hifi?

For me, it was worth it (chord qutest) but it largely depends on what you feel you're missing from your system.
And contrary to belief, even playing a humble 320kps file through a "better" DAC can bring about a better hifi experience. It's not really about the chip inside, it's more about the output stages on/in that said DAC.

You don't have to spend a lot to better an internal DAC just being out of the amp and in a separate box will bring about a better experience, it's a noisy old existence in an integrated amp.

Something from topping or ifi will do great as long as those said DACs carry the connectivity and features you need.

Heck, I use a Dragonfly in an office system from a phone/computer directly into the amp and in all honesty and if you do not need any more connectivity it sounds fantastic.

Obversely these are just examples and you can choose anything you like that suits your pocket and needs

 

[davidf]

You’ll likely find the biggest perceivable improvements can be with compressed or (seemingly) less well produced music.

 

[Audioisnobiggie]

When you say 'hooked up to your hifi', do you mean a receiver with a dac inside? If so, then no, because your dac won't be able to connect to your phone. Your receiver could, via bluetooth, but it's dac will be included on it as a feature. A standalone dac can cost more than your receiver did, and sound unbelievable, but you would need a way to send music to it via spdif or usb.

 

[record_spot]

Worth it for me.

I bought a Cambridge 200M DAC and use that direct into my AVI actives. Flac files direct from my phone via USB-C to USB-B input on the DAC. I use the USB Audio Pro app as the interface. All works and sounds a treat.

The other hifi gear is currently unused.

 

[Noddy]

All my digital music consists of downloads from iTunes. Since I’m playing back through my iPhone/iPad would I get any benefit from an external dac if hooked up to a decent hifi?

Does the decent hifi have a digital input with a decent internal DAC? If so, you could get a streamer that supports Airplay.

As said, don’t bother unless your downloads are decent quality.

Otherwise, the £10 Apple DAC dongle is actually surprisingly good. I had a Chord Mojo (£400), and frankly using decent headphones I could not hear a difference, and I have CD quality files on my phone. The only advantage was greater power output for more volume with a hard to drive headphone. Your stereo will not be hard to drive. I recently found an only review of the Apple DAC dongle and measurements confirm my subjective findings.

There is a lot of variation in DACs, price is not a good guide to quality. IMO the Chord Mojo is massively overpriced, unreliable (it has an internal non user replaceable battery that wears out) and with an awful UI. I imagine a decent HIFI shop would let you audition a short list. But remember to try the Apple DAC dongle too despite the scorn from the shop assistant.

 

[DistortedVision]

Never understood why Chord make their products look so wacky. Always put me off.

 

[nads]

It all depends on many things. Like how you are actually connecting the playback devices.

 

[Fergus]

When you say 'hooked up to your hifi', do you mean a receiver with a dac inside? If so, then no, because your dac won't be able to connect to your phone. Your receiver could, via bluetooth, but it's dac will be included on it as a feature. A standalone dac can cost more than your receiver did, and sound unbelievable, but you would need a way to send music to it via spdif or usb.

Using 3.5 socket and cable to aux input

 

[plastic penguin]

Using 3.5 socket and cable to aux input

What's your current set-up?

 

[nads]

Using 3.5 socket and cable to aux input

So currently no possibility to add a DAC.

 

[Fergus]

So currently no possibility to add a DAC.

I could use the lightning connector instead with a dac

 

[nopiano]

When you say 'hooked up to your hifi', do you mean a receiver with a dac inside? If so, then no, because your dac won't be able to connect to your phone. Your receiver could, via bluetooth, but it's dac will be included on it as a feature. A standalone dac can cost more than your receiver did, and sound unbelievable, but you would need a way to send music to it via spdif or usb.

He could use a Audioquest Dragonfly DAC with the appropriate wiring from his phone. Nobody mentioned a receiver, and definitely not Bluetooth.

A Dragonfly can cost under £100 and most amplifiers cost way more than that. I’m afraid for your first post, I don’t find your contribution very helpful at all.

 

[Fergus]

He could use a Audioquest Dragonfly DAC with the appropriate wiring from his phone. Nobody mentioned a receiver, and definitely not Bluetooth.

A Dragonfly can cost under £100 and most amplifiers cost way more than that. I’m afraid for your first post, I don’t find your contribution very helpful at all.

Ok let me explain
all my music is from iTunes therefore as downloads they are not top quality. The iPad obviously has a dac which I currently use to play back through my (good quality) stereo using a wired Headphone connection to an aux input on the amp
if I bypass that by using the lightning connector and a dac will I get better quality or is it a waste of time?

 

[nopiano]

Ok let me explain
all my music is from iTunes therefore as downloads they are not top quality. The iPad obviously has a dac which I currently use to play back through my (good quality) stereo using a wired Headphone connection to an aux input on the amp
if I bypass that by using the lightning connector and a dac will I get better quality or is it a waste of time?

Yes, that’s what I understood. I suspect it’ll give little of benefit, but you should be able to find a retailer - or specialist like Futureshop - who’ll let you buy or return if you don’t like.

AudioQuest DragonFly Red USB Stick DAC

The new DragonFly models also incorporate improved 32-bit ESS Sabre DAC chips the 9010 in Black and the higher-performance 9016 in Red both of which employ minimum-phase filtering for naturally detailed, more authentic sound.

www.futureshop.co.uk

Check returns as they only say cables so ring first!

Maybe safer to try a shop, and they have the cheaper Black,

AudioQuest DragonFly Black (Black)

Shop for AudioQuest Dragonfly Black USB DAC & Headphone Amp with Richer Sounds for expert advice and Lowest Prices Guaranteed

www.richersounds.com

 

[Noddy]

He could use a Audioquest Dragonfly DAC with the appropriate wiring from his phone. Nobody mentioned a receiver, and definitely not Bluetooth.

A Dragonfly can cost under £100 and most amplifiers cost way more than that. I’m afraid for your first post, I don’t find your contribution very helpful at all.

I‘m not convinced the Dragonfly is better than the £10 Apple dongle DAC, the latter is surprisingly good as demonstrated by measurements. Make sure you test them both, and apparently there is better than the Dragonfly at the price. This might be useful:

Review and Measurements of DACPort HD and Dragonfly Red

This is a review and detailed measurements/comparison of AudioQuest Dragonfly Red and CEntrance DACPort HD portable, "thumb drive" sized DAC and headphone amplifiers. Both are kind loan from members. The Dragonfly Red retails for USD $200 from Amazon and DACPort HD for $179. Physically the...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Never understood why Chord make their products look so wacky. Always put me off.

Chefs say that you eat with your eyes first. I suspect that an awful lot of audiophile gear is designed to look flash, with expensive looking CNC casing, to give the impression that high technology lurks under the hood, when in reality it is the audiophile equivalent of LIDL.