Do I need a DAC, if so where do I put it in my system?

themib
valued member

Posts: 3

Do I need a DAC, if so where do I put it in my system? Jul 31, 2019 14:46:08 GMT

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Post by themib on Jul 31, 2019 14:46:08 GMT

Hello.
I have ordered a Project Polaris to go with my Sennheiser HD600's.
I plan to use the Polaris at home, as I don't use headphones so much at work for critical listening.

At work I am on a pc. If I were to use this then optical out from my soundcard to DAC, (which I do not yet have), would work with the Polaris as a solution?

At home its a little more complicated maybe?
I previously streamed DEEZER to my SONOS speakers, but I hardly use them. So will sell.

TV has optical out. So to use this solely to listen to TV I am guessing a DAC?

I have an OPPO BDP95 bluray player, this can output analogue straight to Polaris, no DAC.
Or optical or coax digital to a DAC. But is this worth it?

I also have a home cinema currently a Marantz 8801 processor.
This has no digital pass-through as far as I know, so I cant use it as a 'DIGITAL hub' for TV, OPPO and any streaming device to a separate DAC.
I can listen to all sources and output analogue to the Polaris.

I am new to using headphones, headphone amplifiers and DACS with these so sorry if its a basic solution or one that isnt required at all.

lobalwarming
quite active

Posts: 170

Do I need a DAC, if so where do I put it in my system? Aug 19, 2019 22:43:11 GMT

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Post by lobalwarming on Aug 19, 2019 22:43:11 GMT

No one has answered your question in over 2 weeks. Either because they're not sure which $20,000 DAC to suggest or we're lazy.

It's my experience that an external DAC will perform better than a PC onboard sound or the DAC in a bluray/DVD player or home cinema processor. That said, most TV sources, even bluray movies tend to have over-compressed and over-processed sound that by the time it gets into our systems 90% of the goodness has been smushed and sucked out. ;-)

However, for critical musical listening from non-compressed well recorded sources, then an external DAC can be a good addition to the chain.

In the under $100 range, the Schiit Modi 3 is a good option. Has coax, optical and USB inputs. There's many others in that price range, but I don't spend time there anymore. Not that I'm going to the $20K DAC party, but the sonic drinks in the R2R $500-$1200 pool are pretty tasty. ;-)

solderdude
Administrator

measureutternutter

Posts: 4,886

Do I need a DAC, if so where do I put it in my system? Aug 26, 2019 18:47:26 GMT

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Post by solderdude on Aug 26, 2019 18:47:26 GMT

Jul 31, 2019 14:46:08 GMT themib said:

Hello.
I have ordered a Project Polaris to go with my Sennheiser HD600's.
I plan to use the Polaris at home, as I don't use headphones so much at work for critical listening.

TV has optical out. So to use this solely to listen to TV I am guessing a DAC?

I have an OPPO BDP95 bluray player, this can output analogue straight to Polaris, no DAC.
Or optical or coax digital to a DAC. But is this worth it?

The DAC output of the Oppo is great.
There will be no benefit from an external DAC.

That said, when you want a DAC for the TV anyway buy one with USB, optic and SPDIF in.
You can connect it to the TV (optical) and bluray (SPDIF) and maybe a PC/laptop/tablet/phone using USB.

The device might not like all signals to be present at the same time (auto input select) unless you can actually switch inputs.

Jul 31, 2019 14:46:08 GMT themib said:

I also have a home cinema currently a Marantz 8801 processor.
This has no digital pass-through as far as I know, so I cant use it as a 'DIGITAL hub' for TV, OPPO and any streaming device to a separate DAC.
I can listen to all sources and output analogue to the Polaris.

I am new to using headphones, headphone amplifiers and DACS with these so sorry if its a basic solution or one that isnt required at all.

This is another way that will work just as well.

use your EARS to enjoy MUSIC .... NOT as an analyzer

laripilot
valued member

Posts: 1

Do I need a DAC, if so where do I put it in my system? Jan 31, 2020 17:58:07 GMT

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Post by laripilot on Jan 31, 2020 17:58:07 GMT

Hi...I looked up the Antipodes quickly, and it doesn't seem to have a DAC - seems to be digital output only. Do you have it plugged into the Oppo? Or is the digital converted to analog by your wireless speakers?

I think that if you gave a more detailed description of the signal flow in your system, you might get better answers. It looks like you have one DAC in your Oppo already and another in your speakers. Maybe you should send the digital output of the Oppo to the speakers without another conversion.

order pcb

Last Edit: Feb 11, 2020 21:51:50 GMT by laripilot

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Do I need a DAC, if so where do I put it in my system?

Post by themib on Jul 31, 2019 14:46:08 GMT

Post by lobalwarming on Aug 19, 2019 22:43:11 GMT

Post by solderdude on Aug 26, 2019 18:47:26 GMT

Post by laripilot on Jan 31, 2020 17:58:07 GMT

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