Adding a DAC
Printed From: Graham Slee Hifi System Components
Category: Digital Audio
Forum Name: CD, DVD Audio, DACs, ADCs and Digitizing
Forum Description: The existing (and obsolete?) digital formats
URL: https://www.hifisystemcomponents.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2937
Printed Date: 27 Mar 2026 at 12:15am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Adding a DAC
Posted By: Fuzzy
Subject: Adding a DAC
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2016 at 8:03pm
|
I hope this question does not reveal too much my being a nitwit, but I was wondering in what ways a DAC would change/enhance the 'sound' that comes from my Pioneer BDP-LX58 Blu-ray/CD player. Or if that is even possible or necessary. Until now, I've been listening with headphones directly from the receiver. I recently acquired a Solo SRGII (with PSU1), which I will connect to my receiver (Pioneer SC-LX78) as well as my CD-player. I hope that someone might be able and willing to provide me with an answer. Thanks :-) ------------- Jan ***** Majestic DAC Proprius Gram Amp 2 SE Solo SRGII Solo ULDE |
Replies:
Posted By: Fatmangolf
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2016 at 8:24pm
|
It will replace the stereo DAC built into your BDP which will be okay but designed to a relatively low budget in an AV device. By connecting the digital output from your BDP to the new DAC's digital input so it does the conversion, connect from its audio/analogue output to your amplifier. You may already be using the AVR's DAC in which case comparing the BDP and AVR audio outputs into your Solo SRG II may show what is possible. ------------- Jon Open mind and ears whilst owning GSP Genera, Accession M, Accession MC, Elevator EXP, Solo ULDE, Proprius amps, Cusat50 cables, Lautus digital cable, Spatia cables and links, and a Majestic DAC. |
Posted By: Fuzzy
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2016 at 12:04am
|
Thank you for that. I understand the (possible) connections a lot better now. I guess it will ultimately just be a matter of making the choice between different DACs. ------------- Jan ***** Majestic DAC Proprius Gram Amp 2 SE Solo SRGII Solo ULDE |
Posted By: Aussie Mick
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2016 at 7:20am
|
You've come to the right place... ------------- Rega RP8 - Apheta 2 - Accession MC Enigma PS -Solo ULDE (Focal Utopia) - PS Audio M700 - Fical Kanta No2 |
Posted By: Fuzzy
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2016 at 1:15pm
Yes, and now I start wondering what the gain would be of a Majestic over a Bitzie (considering my setup, and listening via Monitor Audio RS6 floorstanding speakers or listening via Beyerdynamic DT880 or Grado SR325e headphones, both 32 Ohm)  ------------- Jan ***** Majestic DAC Proprius Gram Amp 2 SE Solo SRGII Solo ULDE |
Posted By: morris_minor
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2016 at 6:26pm
|
If I've got this right, Jan, you're considering a DAC to take the output from a Blu-ray player . . The Bitzie only has a USB input - and it's primarily aimed at taking audio from computers and mobile devices. Your BDP will have digital out from S/PDIF as either coax or optical (or indeed, both). Either connection can go into the Majestic. The fixed output from the Majestic could feed one input on the Solo, with the other coming from your receiver. By cutting out the receiver from your CD path you'll get better quality sound by taking the feed direct from the Majestic DAC . . . ------------- Bob Majestic DAC/pre-amp Accession MC/Enigma, Accession MM, Reflex M, Elevator EXP, Era Gold V Solo ULDE, Novo, Lautus USB and digital, Libran balanced, CuSat50 2 x Proprius + Spatia/Spatia Links |
Posted By: Fuzzy
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2016 at 8:32pm
Yes, that is correct. And thank you for the info  ------------- Jan ***** Majestic DAC Proprius Gram Amp 2 SE Solo SRGII Solo ULDE |
Posted By: msphil
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2016 at 12:25pm
|
What Bob didn't say is that the Majestic DAC is one of the best sounding DAC's on the market. They are so good that I got 2, one for my headphones system in the bedroom, and one for the speaker system in the lounge. They make an incredible difference to the sound! Borrow one to try before buying anything else! You won't be disappointed! ------------- 'You are, through your soul not your body, a human being.' |
Posted By: morris_minor
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2016 at 12:32pm
|
+1 ------------- Bob Majestic DAC/pre-amp Accession MC/Enigma, Accession MM, Reflex M, Elevator EXP, Era Gold V Solo ULDE, Novo, Lautus USB and digital, Libran balanced, CuSat50 2 x Proprius + Spatia/Spatia Links |
Posted By: Aussie Mick
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2016 at 1:15pm
|
I'm in agreement. Differences between digital replay through the Majestic (MacBook/JRiver) and analogue (RP8/2M Bronze and Black/Reflex M) are mostly about mastering. Having the flexibility of the Majestic as DAC and preamp has been terrific. For example, I prefer the LP of Blue Trane over the 24/192 digital, but the 24/96 Kubelik Mahler remaster trounces my original LP box set in most ways. Yes, when masterings are on a par I definitely prefer LP, but the Majestic is the only DAC I've used at home that closes the gap to the point of it not really mattering. Considering the price of the Majestic vs RP8/Reflex M, well, it's a bargain. Mick. ------------- Rega RP8 - Apheta 2 - Accession MC Enigma PS -Solo ULDE (Focal Utopia) - PS Audio M700 - Fical Kanta No2 |
Posted By: Fuzzy
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2016 at 2:37pm
|
Very enlightening. Thanks. Still, I have doubts about my setup not being high-end enough to make purchase of a Majestic worth my while. But I could be wrong. Also, since Stereolab.no will be discontinuing as a dealer for GSPaudio, I won't be able to try one on loan. I think I would not want to buy some other DAC without ever having tested a Majestic. ------------- Jan ***** Majestic DAC Proprius Gram Amp 2 SE Solo SRGII Solo ULDE |
Posted By: Richardl60
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2016 at 2:46pm
|
I am neither in need of DAC or have majestic but if you can afford a majestic, try one on loan and it suits your needs faciities and sound cannot see whatever perceived quality of the rest of your gear is. You could later build anything else around it. |
Posted By: morris_minor
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2016 at 3:17pm
------------- Bob Majestic DAC/pre-amp Accession MC/Enigma, Accession MM, Reflex M, Elevator EXP, Era Gold V Solo ULDE, Novo, Lautus USB and digital, Libran balanced, CuSat50 2 x Proprius + Spatia/Spatia Links |
Fuzzy wrote:Posted By: Fuzzy
Date Posted: 21 Jun 2016 at 11:30pm
|
Well, just thought, why not invest in (the future of) my music enjoyment and buy a Majestic DAC. And so I did. I have been listening to it via a connected Solo SRGII and Grado SR325e headphones. Listening - at the moment, out of necessity because not at home for a few weeks - via iPod, connected to the Majestic via 3.5 to 2RCA interconnect (not of Graham Slee build). The experience has been an interesting one until now. It is complicated. At least, I find it so. Maybe more of a search and an adventure. A quest for the most beautiful, 'living' sound. It is obviously a matter of the right kind of equipment connected with the right kind of cables, using the right kind of sources and headphones. When I am home again in a few weeks, I'll connect the Majestic to my BDP/CDP and - via lautus USB - to a laptop or other USB source. Maybe going to connect the Gram Amp 2 SE to the Majestic and hear what that might bring. Maybe a possibility to just connect the Majestic to my AVR (if it is at all possible to circumvent the AVR's DAC?) ------------- Jan ***** Majestic DAC Proprius Gram Amp 2 SE Solo SRGII Solo ULDE |
Posted By: Aussie Mick
Date Posted: 22 Jun 2016 at 12:48am
|
Congratulations on the purchase! If you're going to run a laptop into the Majestic, can I suggest you invest in a USB/coax converter? That way you can run all the way to 24/192 on coax. I have two, the Firestone Audio Blue Key and the M2Tech HiFace Two. Firestone is cheaper and I found it much better than the USB option, and the M2Tech costs twice as much (at least in Australia) but is VERY MUCH superior to the Firestone. The Majestic DAC set up this way (with Lautus digital cable) is excellent. Very, very closely matched to my RP8/2M Black into Relflex M. I no longer have a huge gap between digital and analogue rigs. I should add I've had some very pricey DAC's in my system during the search, and the much cheaper Majestic hit the spot. More money for records and hi-res downloads! Mick. http://www.m2tech.biz/en/hiface2.html http://www.firestone-audio.eu/shop/products/allproductslisted/bluekey.php ------------- Rega RP8 - Apheta 2 - Accession MC Enigma PS -Solo ULDE (Focal Utopia) - PS Audio M700 - Fical Kanta No2 |
Posted By: lfc jon
Date Posted: 14 Aug 2022 at 7:14pm
|
As I couldn't find where I posted about wanting a DAC or CD player with a warmer sound I've put this post here. First of all my saving for a new turntable as been going well so now I'm thinking about the future and my CD playing, I now think I've found the solution all be it with two CD players in mind and not a DAC. I went to see a mate and as he had to go and collect his new speakers I took the opportunity to ask the shop about it. They said they have had a lot of people in asking the same question, after giving them my budget they said have you thought about the Rega apollo we have sold a lot of them to people wanting a warmer sound, they also went on to say it seems just like you they have got back into playing vinyl and are now finding CDs sound cold and clinical. I left the shop thinking that's the way to go but my mate went and put a spanner in the works as he had just got a new CD player a pro-j**t Box DS to replace his AudioLab which is the same as I have so we went and compared the two, so now after listening to the DS3 I now have two CD players in mind.
------------- Reflex M, Solo (both with PSU-1) CuSat50, Lautus, Spatia & Spatia links cables. Ortofon Bronze. |
Posted By: Fatmangolf
Date Posted: 14 Aug 2022 at 7:49pm
|
You'll know a lot of the cd sound is from the DAC inside. Yes a lot do sound dry and clinical compared to records. Please try the Majestic if only as a benchmark. ------------- Jon Open mind and ears whilst owning GSP Genera, Accession M, Accession MC, Elevator EXP, Solo ULDE, Proprius amps, Cusat50 cables, Lautus digital cable, Spatia cables and links, and a Majestic DAC. |
Posted By: lfc jon
Date Posted: 14 Aug 2022 at 8:27pm
This is what I was thinking but I thought if I liked it, I would then want it and that would put me in a dilemma, go for it and then I'd have to put the TT on hold which is someting I don't want to do as I have been saving a long time for it and still am or not get the Majestic and then be thinking I've made a mistake in my choice of CD player. With both the Majestic and turntable that is really pushing me over what I can afford. I did say on here after my last upgrade that would be the last for a very long time, well that's gone out of the window. It's a dilemma and I don't like it. I suppose I could sod the CD player and turntable and get a pair of GS speaker cables instead.  ------------- Reflex M, Solo (both with PSU-1) CuSat50, Lautus, Spatia & Spatia links cables. Ortofon Bronze. |
Posted By: lfc jon
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2022 at 4:38pm
|
My priorities have changed. I have been listening to a lot of CD music of late and after listening to the Pr*-J**tCD Box DS3 I have put an order in for one, It did sound warm which is what I was looking for and to my ears it sounded better than my AudioLab 8300CD player, I will be keeping this player as I'm STILL thinking of getting into computer audio and I can use the DAC for this. The new CD player is a CD only no SACD or other formats, so I can't use the DAC for computer audio. It's my birthday today so the new CD player is my birthday gift to me, I have spend my birthday money on new vinyl records which should come tomorrow, a nice Blondie box set. The new turntable will have to wait that bit longer but this doesn't bother me, as I said my priorities have changed. ------------- Reflex M, Solo (both with PSU-1) CuSat50, Lautus, Spatia & Spatia links cables. Ortofon Bronze. |