Will an outboard dac be an improvment over my Anthem AVM20

[Kenr]

I have my SB2 hooked up into the coax digital input in my AVM20. The sound is fine but not nearly as good as my CAL Aria CD player. I was wondering if I would hear any improvement if I switch to an outboard dac. I like the sound of tubes so I have been thinking of buying a Scott Nixon dac. What do you think?

Thanks
Ken

[jhwilliams]

I have my SB2 hooked up into the coax digital input in my AVM20. The sound is fine but not nearly as good as my CAL Aria CD player. I was wondering if I would hear any improvement if I switch to an outboard dac. I like the sound of tubes so I have been thinking of buying a Scott Nixon dac. What do you think?

Thanks
Ken

What kind of music are you playing? FLAC/MP3/etc? Are you ripping using Exact Audio Copy (EAC)?

I don't particularly know those devices - what kind of sound are you looking for?

[Kenr]

What kind of music are you playing? FLAC/MP3/etc? Are you ripping using Exact Audio Copy (EAC)?

I don't particularly know those devices - what kind of sound are you looking for?

Flac and lossless wma. I mostly rip with windows media player.

[PhilNYC]

I have my SB2 hooked up into the coax digital input in my AVM20. The sound is fine but not nearly as good as my CAL Aria CD player. I was wondering if I would hear any improvement if I switch to an outboard dac. I like the sound of tubes so I have been thinking of buying a Scott Nixon dac. What do you think?

Thanks
Ken

What are you hearing that the CAL player is doing better than the SB2?

I just replaced the stock power supply with a relatively inexpensive linear power supply (for $20), and I found very good improvement in the sound (I'm using my SB2 via digital out to an outboard DAC). Prior to the upgrade, I found a little bit of sibilance in the sound, especially on female vocals. With the power supply upgrade, the sibilance is completely gone...

[Kenr]

What are you hearing that the CAL player is doing better than the SB2?

I just replaced the stock power supply with a relatively inexpensive linear power supply (for $20), and I found very good improvement in the sound (I'm using my SB2 via digital out to an outboard DAC). Prior to the upgrade, I found a little bit of sibilance in the sound, especially on female vocals. With the power supply upgrade, the sibilance is completely gone...

To me the SB2 is a litlle coarse sounding in the upper ranges, maybe sibilance is a good way to describe it. One the other hand the CAL gives silky presentation and is very involving.

What power supply did you buy?

[PhilNYC]

To me the SB2 is a litlle coarse sounding in the upper ranges, maybe sibilance is a good way to describe it. One the other hand the CAL gives silky presentation and is very involving.

What power supply did you buy?

I bought one by Elpac (5v, 1.5amp) off an electronics surplus website. Unfortunately, it appears they are out of stock on the one I bought. I'll dig around and see if I can come up with another one...there's a lot of discussion about what people are finding on audiocircle.com.

[Kenr]

I bought one by Elpac (5v, 1.5amp) off an electronics surplus website. Unfortunately, it appears they are out of stock on the one I bought. I'll dig around and see if I can come up with another one...there's a lot of discussion about what people are finding on audiocircle.com.

I ordered the Elpac and it came yesterday. I will let you know how it works out, now waiting for my SB3.

[jhwilliams]

Flac and lossless wma. I mostly rip with windows media player.

I'd try an experiment with Exact Audio Copy (ripping to FLAC) and see if that helps in regards to the comparison with your CD player.

It should produce a better bitstream compared to WMP. This might make a difference.

[mkozlows]

The CAL has tubes, right? If so, then it's clearly worse (in the measurable fidelity sense) than both the Anthem and the SB2; but if you like the tube thing, then get a tube DAC.

[Kenr]

I'd try an experiment with Exact Audio Copy (ripping to FLAC) and see if that helps in regards to the comparison with your CD player.

It should produce a better bitstream compared to WMP. This might make a difference.

I'm puzzled, isn't flac the same if I used Exac or converted WMA lossless to flac