Should I buy a new DAC? Recommendations?

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fe31nz

1228 posts

Uber Geek

#303269 28-Jan-2023 22:36

My Cambridge Audio Azur 840c CD/DAC has broken down - static on both channels now. For some time the static went away if I put it into standby and out again after leaving it to warm up, but it has gradually gotten worse until it does not go away ever. It is likely some sort of power supply problem, but there is no-one here in PN who fixes things like this any more, so I would likely have to send it to Hamilton where Tisco are supposed to be an official repairer. I think I only got it in 2017 or 2018, but it may not be worth repairing - apparently CA designs very complicated power supply circuits so it may take some effort to fix. So I thought I would see if it might be better to get a new DAC - I do not really need the CD player bit.

My current setup is:

MythTV PC (Ubuntu 20.04) => Toslink optical =>

840c CD/DAC => RCA => Parasound P/SP-1000 preamp => RCA =>

QED MB45 Headphone Amplifier => Sennheiser HD600 headphones

The MB45 also has a bypass output that goes to my power amplifier:

Plinius SA50 (class A) => Acoustic Energy AE1 speakers (1989? vintage)

With the 840c unusable, I am currently reduced to using the DAC on my PC's motherboard, and while the sound is OK for TV, I am just not able to listen to music that way. The motherboard is a Asus M5A97EVO from 2012. Modern motherboards may have better DACs now - I certainly hope so!

I have enjoyed the sound of the 840c, so I would not want anything of lesser quality, but I do want to avoid a horrendous price. So can anyone recommend something good for say <= $2000? Or do I really need something more expensive?

And technology seems to have moved on since 2017 - there are now lots of portable DACs and I quite like the idea of something that will connect to my mobile, tablet and laptop and provide a good headphone amp as well, so that I can have good music away from home. If I could get one that did both jobs, that would be ideal. So far, without much searching, I ran across the FiiO Q7, which looks like it may be good enough and would do both jobs:

https://www.fiio.com/q7

https://addictedtoaudio.co.nz/products/fiio-q7-portable-dac-headphone-amplifier

It is brand new (released just at the end of last year) and the reviews so far seem good. But are there any others that are as good (or better)? Has anyone here actually listened to a Q7 yet?

Radiotron

179 posts

Master Geek

#3033704 8-Feb-2023 20:34

Price vs performance, suggest to have a look at Topping, E30, or E50 if you want balanced output too.

Insanely good for the $$, very happy with an E30 fed from JRiver MC via ASIO and and USB, also impressive with coax SPDIF from Blu-ray, and optical from TV. Feeds into passive attenuators and different amps depending on what I want to play that day - the vacuum tubes like it, as does the Neurochrome Modulus-86. Speaks are Klipch Heresy horns, if there is something bad, you'll hear it.

Lots of tech info and analysis over at Audio Science Review if you want to read more.

Item

1717 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#3033728 8-Feb-2023 20:58

They have detractors and their remotes are rubbish, but I have been a Topping fan for a few years now and have been impressed with the performance and price point of all the gear I have had from them. Never had any issues with them either.

Current devices in my home are the D70s DAC in my main hifi and the EX5 in the bedroom/headphone rig.

ARIKIP

233 posts

Master Geek

#3033847 9-Feb-2023 10:19

Im currently using a Topping D90 MQA as my first foray into a Hifi DAC and its a fantastic unit. I use an Audioengine D1 DAC on my PC and that upped the ante on the sound my PC produces. The Topping though definitely breathes new life into my old CD Player. I also use it to stream Apple Music via an IPAD connected via USB and it sounds superb. Even Spotify which isnt lossless sounds pretty decent.

Sony 77" A80J OLED, Integra 60.7, Panasonic UB820, Toshiba HD-XE1, Apple TV 4K, JBL L100T,JBL 18Ti, JBL L20T, Velodyne HGS15

fe31nz

1228 posts

Uber Geek

#3034265 10-Feb-2023 00:29

I did order a FiiO Q7 and it has arrived from Melbourne. So far it sounds great with my HD600 headphones, but I do really need it on mains power so I can use it on the ultrahigh gain option - it seems HD600s are a bit hard to drive. When I tried using my SA50 amp and AE1 speakers, there was something bad going on on the left channel, so I have to work that out before I can see if the Q7 really is good enough.

So far, I find I do not like the on device controls for switching the output modes. I have to do this to change the 3.5 mm headphone output into a line out for the amp, and it is annoyingly difficult. It would likely be easy for them to add all the onboard only controls to the Android app, but they have not bothered. I would also like them available via a documented API so I can automate switching from headphones to amp and back again.

SATTV

1648 posts

Uber Geek

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#3034288 10-Feb-2023 07:50

Nice Amp, I have not hear about Plinius for years.

It sounds like the electrolytic caps in the PSU have failed, it should be a reasonably easy fix, it may cost a few hundred dollars to repair but if you like the DAC then repair it otherwise you will be comparing what you thought something sounded like with the new one for the better or worse.

I am not an Audiofile, but I have met a few over the years.

I know enough to be dangerous

networkn

Networkn
32349 posts

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#3034322 10-Feb-2023 09:13

I'll speak up for Topping as well. My A90 is incredible.