Stand alone DAC or Amp with built in DAC which is better

[gingerbeard]

Hi Everyone :wave:

It has been quite some time since I invested in any hifi kit (I know, shame on me!) and I am looking to get back into it and to future proof everything (within reason). Much of my music collection is a combnation of CD's (around 500+) and MP3's. I plan on ripping my CD collection and converting my MP3's to either FLAC or Apple Lossless and to store these on a NAS (Synology with around 8TB Reds), which will be used in conjunction with my MacBook Air and Apple TV3. My question is, should I opt for a standalone DAC (Arcam iR, Audiolab M-DAC etc. and a separate amp (Naim Nait 5si, Roskan Kandy K2 etc) or opt for an amp with a built in DAC? Perhaps the Cyrus 8 DAC.

Speaker wise I am looking at either the KEF LS50's, Dali Mentor Minuet, PMC DB1i (if you can still buy them). I am looking at a total spend of no more than 3k all in including DAC / AMP with DAC, Speakers, NAS and cables

I will be looking to trial some of this kit at one of our local dealers in the near future but wanted some advice first as I am a bit of a noob when it comes to this side of things!

Thanks in advance :rockout: 🙂

 

[Overdose]

My DAC is built into the speakers. If I were to use a different system, I'd maybe use a DAC/pre amp combo, but in any case, it would be into active speakers without any reservation.

I don't know if you need or want to use iTunes, but I'm not sure if you can use it with the Synology NAS, perhaps you can. I would also consider a Mac mini though, it would work just as well for the purposes you require.

Edit: With regards to your budget, using the most current models in my system would come in comfortably under £2K.

 

[jazzjenkins]

My DAC is built into the speakers. If I were to use a different system, I'd maybe use a DAC/pre amp combo, but in any case, it would be into active speakers without any reservation.

I don't know if you need or want to use iTunes, but I'm not sure if you can use it with the Synology NAS, perhaps you can. I would also consider a Mac mini though, it would work just as well for the purposes you require.

Edit: With regards to your budget, using the most current models in my system would come in comfortably under £2K.

Hi folks got to share this !! Ihave nad amp 375bee dac , been doin some messing about to try to get a flac lossless stream going.This is the way to do it.........ipad mini with qobuz subscription £19.99 per month ...get an apple lightening to usb camera adapter £25 ...plug a usb cable into that and then stick that into your dac ....done!!!!!! superb lossless sound that sounds BETTER than my MF A3,2 cd player.Plus my ruark talisman 111s have never sounded so good.Have also got the option to link the ipad to an arcam blink, also very good but just a touch less detail.Hope this convinces more of you to go for a lossless system itREALLY IS WORTH IT if you have a hi ish end set up.cheers

 

[Overdose]

Spotify Premium is half the price and to all intents and purposes, the same audible quality. Also, using an iTunes native format allows the use of Airplay over something like an Airport Express.

Tethering your iPad mini with a wired connection is taking a step back in my opinion.

 

[jazzjenkins]

yes spotify half the price ,also half the sound quality,I have both , just played two tracks side by side. you will have to be deaf or have very LOW FI system not to tell the difference between mp3 320 and flac. !!

 

[jazzjenkins]

As mentioned I can use the arcam bink for aptx bluetooth .Nice to sit on the sofa with glass of wine and packet of crisps not having to get up! but the reason I go wired is cos its just that bit better. Its a toss up between best sound or uninterupted crisp consuption' !

 

[Overdose]

Try compressing the FLAC to 320mbps and when comparing back to back, you are likely to find that the differences disappear.

You can use Foobar to AB the tracks to test yourself.

You might also like to know that the differences, if they exist, are mainly because the recordings are themselves different.

Something like Audacity could be used to compare the files to illustrate this point. Don't get sucked in by the 'high resolution is best', marketing BS.

 

[ReValveiT]

you will have to be deaf or have very LOW FI system not to tell the difference between mp3 320 and flac. !!

Nonsense.