Mac Book Pro need a DAC or not ?

[admin_exported]

Hello, simply question. Do i need a DAC to run the best sound quality or the integrated Cirrus Logic DAC of my mac book pro it's ok ?

thank you

 

[stevebrock]

How are you listening to it?

 

[Anonymous]

simply with the jack output from the Mac

 

[stevebrock]

I meant speakers/amp

 

[Anonymous]

Actually i will run B&W's 685 in a couple of days i think, but i don't want to buy an amp if it's possible, because all my music collection is mac-based so i don't have any cd's, only wav files with best quality

 

[stevebrock]

Probably best with some active speakers and definitely a DAC.......probably the HRT II streamer, that will be a considerable upgrade from the internal DAC on your MacBook pro.....make sure your rip in lossless too!

 

[Anonymous]

Ok so, if i take the B&W's, with the HRT dac it will be enough ? And the sound quality would be much better than with the macbook dac ? and do you think there's a HUGE difference between flac and 320 kbps MP3 ?

Thank you for the answers

 

[stevebrock]

The B&W speakers are passive so you need an amp!

Flac is significantly better than 320 kbps

What budget do you have for upgrading?

 

[Anonymous]

It will be 500 euros, 600 MAX (actually i'm a student don't have a lot of budget)

 

[paradiziac]

I just tried the headphone jack out of my Mac Book Pro...it's not too bad--better than the Macmini or any PC I've used and not too far behind a budget DAC.

You definitely need an amp unless you're plugging it into active speakers (where the amps are inside the speakers) so I would say that's your first priority...

 

[paradiziac]

? and do you think there's a HUGE difference between flac and 320 kbps MP3 ?

Can't hear ANY difference myself...

 

[stevebrock]

for active speakers look at Focal XS (£300) and HRT II Streamer DAC (£160)

 

[stevebrock]

flac v 320kbps starts to make a difference when you start usin better amps, dacs & speakers

 

[Anonymous]

I've had the Focal XS, but i think the B&W's it's very very better no ?

 

[stevebrock]

well maybe but you need an amp

 

[Anonymous]

Just "maybe" ?? Do you thin the Focal XS can be at the level of Bower&Wilkins ones ?

 

[stevebrock]

You need to listen to them really, will the speakers be on dedicated stands or a desktop?

A dedicated amp/speaker combo will mostly sound better than actives on a desk.

It really depends what space you have

 

[Anonymous]

No i want a desktop solution if it's possible, but is doesn't matter to me to buy a DAC and a bunch of better speakers did you have any suggestions ? I listen ta all genres, mostly electronic bu i go for classical and rock very often too ..

 

[AL13N]

The ADAM ARTist 3 fall within your maximum budget of 600 Euro. They are desktop speakers (with their own dedicated desktop stands) and feature a built-in DAC with USB input. They also have a volume knob on each speaker - you can set them up so the control on one controls the volume of both speakers. There are plenty of reviews in the "Downloads" section of the website.

Website: http://www.adam-audio.com/en/multimedia/products/artist-3/description

Speakers: http://www.thomann.de/gb/adam_artist_3_hochglanz_schwarz.htm
Speakers B-stock: http://www.thomann.de/gb/adam_artist_3_glossy_black_b_stock.htm
Stands: http://www.thomann.de/gb/adam_a3_stands_bk.htm

 

[Anonymous]

Really really like it !!!! Can you tell me more about them did you have a pair ?

Thank you very much they sound amazing !

 

[Anonymous]

How about the bass ?

 

[Overdose]

Just "maybe" ?? Do you thin the Focal XS can be at the level of Bower&Wilkins ones ?

You would need to hear for yourself, but it depends on your tastes.

Best value for money in your position would be second hand DAC/Preamp, probably a Roland UA-25EX and if you can find a pair of used BM5A monitors, go for these. Without hesistation, I would say that this setup outshone my last passive system which was A MF A3 and B&W 602 speakers.

You should be able to find these within your budget if you are patient.

 

[Anonymous]

and also two final questions : what's the difference between B-stock or not in thomann ?

Would you prefer a pair of artist 3 with a sub or a pair of artist 5 without sub ?

 

[Overdose]

B-Stock will be returns or ex demonstration. They will be in excellent physical condition, they may even be new, but open box.

 

[DavieCee]

You already have a decent set of speakers.

How have you been powering them in the past?

Anyway, if you don't have an amp, I would recommend a Beresford DAC and a Cambridge Audio amp (or similar manufacturers). That should come within budget and give a very nice sound.

You can either use USB out or the earphone jack which is a digital out as well as analogue. I went with USB as apparently the Midi controller in the Macbook Pro allows for a wider range of frequencies this way. I think......but it sounds nice. :dance: