Enhancing source audio from stb

[tomonpublic]

I recently purchased the below for my second room.

1. Tata Sky hd box ( 3 outputs - rca, tos and coax)
2. Wharfedale 220 BS
3. Norge 2060

Connected tata sky and norge with rca cable. However i feel like there are so much distortion in the source itself.

Need your suggestions to enhance the audio.

If dac is the only option, let me know which dac suits my need. I am looking a budget one.

Also suggest if there is any dac which can convert non-pcm to pcm audio.

 

[elangoas]

If dac is the only option, let me know which dac suits my need. I am looking a budget one.

What is your budget?.. There are some DAC (with optical, co-ax and PC USB input) on aliexpress from FX audio & SMSL worth considering..

 

[rpanand25]

I recently purchased the below for my second room.

1. Tata Sky hd box ( 3 outputs - rca, tos and coax)
2. Wharfedale 220 BS
3. Norge 2060

Connected tata sky and norge with rca cable. However i feel like there are so much distortion in the source itself.

.

I have connected TATA Sky through both RCA and Optical to my TA 100 amplifier. Both give very clear output. Output through optical is a little sharper with more clarity . Maybe due to inbuilt DAC of TA 100. RCA output has more rounded sound. But there is no problem with RCA output of STB either in quality or volume. Pl get your STB RCA sockets/output checked by technician or change your RCA cable or try with a different RCA input in Norge to identify the reason.

 

[tomonpublic]

I have connected TATA Sky through both RCA and Optical to my TA 100 amplifier. Both give very clear output. Output through optical is a little sharper with more clarity . Maybe due to inbuilt DAC of TA 100. RCA output has more rounded sound. But there is no problem with RCA output of STB either in quality or volume. Pl get your STB RCA sockets/output checked by technician or change your RCA cable or try with a different RCA input in Norge to identify the reason.

This is what i observed today. When i choose dolby audio in stb, the RCA output becomes muddy and distorted. But with PCM selected, RCA output was clear and dynamic. So the distortion issue is resolved now.

Will a external dac improves the SQ? If so what you suggest considering my budget is 10k?

 

[tomonpublic]

What is your budget?.. There are some DAC (with optical, co-ax and PC USB input) on aliexpress from FX audio & SMSL worth considering..

Will dac less than 10k improves the SQ? If no significant change when compared with RCA out, I will stick to the current setup

 

[elangoas]

For how much did you buy the Norge 2060 ?..

Will dac less than 10k improves the SQ? If no significant change when compared with RCA out, I will stick to the current setup

A standalone DAC should be better than the onboard DAC of STB..

Here is a link for the least inexpensive DAC (3K)- https://www.amazon.in/FiiO-D03K-Opt...&ie=UTF8&qid=1532099458&sr=1-25&keywords=FIIO

If you will use it only with STB, then you can leave the switch on the DAC set to the input permanently (tos / co-ax)..

Here are some more to consider for your budget under 10K..

FX Audio DAC X6 - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/FX-...60cd-4962-89be-c6baa46ec05d&priceBeautifyAB=0

SMSL M3 - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/SMS...3760-4b10-802f-b2ac3567037c&priceBeautifyAB=0

SMSL Sanskrit 6th Mini - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/SMS...3760-4b10-802f-b2ac3567037c&priceBeautifyAB=0

There are some members who own SMSL DAC on this forum, you may check with them too before your purchase..