PhilippeC Posted April 10, 2013 Report Share Posted April 10, 2013 We have discussed a lot about how to enhance the recording (Flac files, high quality audio cards, external DAC, etc) but what about the MD deck listening itself ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluecrab Posted April 11, 2013 Report Share Posted April 11, 2013 Philippe, I am not quite sure what you are asking. Is it how to enhance the sound that is output from an MD deck? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilippeC Posted April 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2013 Some decks have an optical out. So what - if you connect this optical output to a modern DAC (24bit/96kHz or more) and the DAC to the ampli - compare to the classical analog RCA outputs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluecrab Posted April 11, 2013 Report Share Posted April 11, 2013 I get it now. I don't recall seeing much here about MD users who use an external DAC (other than connecting directly to an amp), though. I asked a similar question a while ago. Although I do not use an external DAC, I do use my MDS-JA333ES as a a DAC for one of my CD players. It makes a noticeable difference. I did try connecting an MDS-JB940 directly to the optical input of a Cambridge Audio receiver ( Azur 540R), but I didn't note much difference. I also connected the optical out of a MacBook Pro to the opt/in of the MDS-JA333ES, and that sounded good. I guess I'd really have to use a standalone DAC somewhere in the chain to actually have valid results for your question. I can't really say I am unhappy with the results using the RCA outs of any of my good MD decks (JA333ES, JA20ES, JB940). None of them, including the 333ES, sounds as good as my Sony CDP-XA20ES CD player, which is also connected via RCA out. I'm gonna go off on some kind of tangent here if I don't stop...maybe others will add their opinions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfbp Posted April 11, 2013 Report Share Posted April 11, 2013 Upsampling is good. Especially at LP data rates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Another MD fanatic Posted April 13, 2013 Report Share Posted April 13, 2013 I've always been under the impression that the DAC's built into MD decks are on the whole pretty damn good. I too have never heard of MD users using an external DAC but I know there are a lot of computer users that use an MD as an external DAC. So that should say somthing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilippeC Posted April 15, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2013 I use a JB980 deck as a DAC myself and yes the sound is already GOOD. But I did not got my answer yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfbp Posted April 15, 2013 Report Share Posted April 15, 2013 Philippe, isn't anyone that uses a deck with optical output therefore using the DAC in their receiver as "external DAC"? That's what I have done ever since getting my first amp with optical input capability. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azureal Posted April 15, 2013 Report Share Posted April 15, 2013 Philippe, isn't anyone that uses a deck with optical output therefore using the DAC in their receiver as "external DAC"? That's what I have done ever since getting my first amp with optical input capability. Stephen, That is absolutely correct. I have a very high end Marantz receiver with multiple single channel Burr Brown DAC parts which alone cost hundreds of dollars. The Digital to Analog conversion of my receiver is amazing. I have compared the sound of the analog output on my JA20ES to the digital output run through the Marantz and to be honest, the DAC chips in the Marantz sound better but for casual listening the onboard DAC in the Sony MD deck does a great job in producing great sound quality.* * Subjective opinion ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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