Came across this DAC on Amazon. FiiO D03K Coaxial/Optical to R/L Audio convertor: Amazon.in: Electronics
Any one using it? It may not compare to the other more acclaimed brands or models, nevertheless, is it worth getting a feel of using a DAC?
It would be connected either to Coaxial or Optical out of my DVD player and will feed into my receiver. Suggestions/Views are welcome. Advice on alternate models in this price range are also welcome.
MaSh
I have a basic Philips 2180 BD Player. It bitstreams content to my Marantz 1504. Currently its connected via HDMI. I am thinking of running a Coaxial from the player to the receiver via a DAC and this would be for Music only. So it would be switching sources at the receiver level from HDMI to Analog. Do you think this effort would yield better results?
MaSh
For those on a budget, Raspberry Pi with a HiFiBerry DAC would be a good solution. However, for a little bit more you can get the entry level Schiit DAC which makes for a truly VFM product. The AQ DragonFly (at US prices) is also a good buy.
Hi,
You can test the analog out from philips 2180 BD if it has one.
I am using Pioneer BDP-160. Initially connected to AVR via HDMI for Movies/Music.
Later connected the analog out of BDP-160 to AVR analog in. I found this made Music more smooth and warmer. I have switched back and forth between HDMI and AnalogIn in AVR playing same track and there is a difference. Now for music I prefer the BDP Analog out - AVR connection ( Using the Inbuilt DAC in BDP ).
I think your plan of adding an external DAC should give much more better results.
Huh!! Philips omitted an entire circuit.
MaSh, what AVR and L/R speakers do have?
Will send you a PM with my mobile number. If you are up to it, make a trip to south side of town this weekend. Lug your BD player and you can experiment at my place. I have the Schiit M2U.
Cheers,
Raghu
Yup they did.
I am using a Marantz 1504 with Polk Tsi200 speakers as front. Oh Sure, that would be great.
My speakers are KEF R300 or BW DM303.
The DACs in my chain (that can be tested on the set of speakers):
Schiit M2U (external)
Marantz NR1605 (built in) - should be similar to the one on 1504 (if not the same)
Onkyo DV-SP500 (built in)
Pana TV (built in)
ASUS MP (built in)
Sorry, got tied up this weekend. However, I was able to listen to FiiO D03K dac at a FMs place living close by. Came home and ordered ithyeah:.
I received the DAC today late after noon and after spending close to an hour figuring out the working of Assignable Inputs from the Bluray to the receiver I was able to listen to a few songs. The sound is much smoother and seems to have more detail. I will be able to listen to it properly only tomorrow when all alone at home.
MaSh
Nice!! Enjoy the new dac in the chain.
Cheers,
Raghu
Yeh will know tomorrow. For now, it sounds a bit flat compared to the sound coming from HDMI. Will listen more tomorrow.
With a new DAC you may hear new sounds (unlikely, unless the AVR's DAC is broken) but some instruments will sound detailed or weak/muffled.
This is simply because you are used to hearing the song set in a particular way (ear-brain mapping).
Introduce a new element (higher up in the chain), such as a new DAC, and things may seem a bit clinical at first. Get used to the new sound and then do some serious A/B testing.
As long as instruments don't sound dismembered from the music set, the brain will accept and be more receptive.
My ear-brain mapping said this when comparing DAC in CD player vs external DAC.
CD player's DAC has a much wider sound stage but seemed a bit "in the face"; not in a bad way though.
Ext DAC definitely has a smaller sound stage (not small enough to locate the speakers), but I seem to perceive some depth to instrumentation.
The ext DAC trumps the CD player in centering vocals.
Psycho-acoustics!! It is a very tricky, but real phenomenon.
Cheers,
Raghu
Guys my DAC modi2 uber arrived and i hooked to my existing system macmini USB->modi2uber->rca out to denon rca in->tannoy speakers.
Definitely like the sound signature via this route, before i used to listen in stereo mode, but i can't listen for long time due to ear fatigue.But one thing i have noticed, the volume level is low when listening via DAC in pure direct mode compared to stereo mode.
Guys my DAC modi2 uber arrived and i hooked to my existing system macmini USB->modi2uber->rca out to denon rca in->tannoy speakers.
Definitely like the sound signature via this route, before i used to listen in stereo mode, but i can't listen for long time due to ear fatigue.But one thing i have noticed, the volume level is low when listening via DAC in pure direct mode compared to stereo mode.