Which DAC for following setup?

[hfvuser]

Dear Audiopeople

I, in my quest for my first dream music setup, have boiled down to 2 choices:
(Wharfes 10.1 + Marantz PM5004) OR (PSB B15 + NAD). I will probably prefer Wharfe setup because of the musicality and laid back-ness. I have few questions now:

1. Is PM5004 sufficient or should I consider 6004? I like to listen to music at lower volumes and I want super clarity and details at very low volumes. Will 6004 be a significant improvement there?

2. I need DAC because all my music is 320kbps played from laptop. I dont want to waste much money on DAC (<15k INR) but I want maximum resolution-extraction possible from 320kbps music. Obviously, since I dont have very high budget, I wont be going for DACs which are very costly and offer little improvement over DACs which cost moderately while still resolve great enough (If a 7k DAC does a good enough job, I wont be going for a 15k DAC for a little extra improvement). What are my choices?
PS: Is there such a thing as overkill in this chain? Like, can a 15k DAC might be overkill for Wharfe 10.1. I am thinking a good DAC might generate too much of an info for lowly Wharfe/PM5004 to process?
PPS: Is it that DAC1 sounds great with Wharfe while DAC2 sounds great with PSB? I mean is there a pairing concept with DACs like there is with Amps?

 

[adie]

Looking forward to replies form FM.

 

[Maxprocrj]

Hi there.....PM6004 is a very modest amp 45WPC with subtle details and dynamics . By keeping the eye on your future up gradation .I will suggest you to go for PM7004 70WPC. You can even run FS on this.

If you would like to put your hard money on 15k>DAC you CAN But at the same time you get any significance difference on your sound improvement.

For example I purchased a Creative USB DAC at 4.7k now its doesn't make any noticeable improvement on sound only one with very good pair of ear can catch it.

So my point is put your money for better speaker and amp...later go for Audiophile DACs Like VDAC,Benchmark, ArCAM, Audioquest etc

IMHO !! It will help you to justify your every single penny

Update- Get CA 651A amp 75wpc with integrated DAC and be happy

 

[Jams4znik03]

PM6004 is good @ 45W/channel. It plays good at low volumes. You may like to checkout a few FS speakers with higher sensitivity too. I have paradigm Mon 7 V6 and they are good at low volume. For DAC, try out the maveric audio Tubemagic D2 with GE tube. It is a good option at the budget you are looking for with very little compromises.

 

[Flash]

I need DAC because all my music is 320kbps played from laptop. I dont want to waste much money on DAC (<15k INR) but I want maximum resolution-extraction possible from 320kbps music. Obviously, since I dont have very high budget, I wont be going for DACs which are very costly and offer little improvement over DACs which cost moderately while still resolve great enough (If a 7k DAC does a good enough job, I wont be going for a 15k DAC for a little extra improvement). What are my choices?

JDS Labs Objective DAC

 

[aashish351]

NAD + PSB will also offer equally warm sound and with good details. There are decent options for DACs within 15K also. However, I don't know how much you will gain with 320 Kbps files beyond a certain point. You will probably gain more with lossless FLACs or ALACs rather. Nevertheless, within 15K, Arcam rPAC should be best for warm yet detailed sound. An HRT Music Streamer is another choice (needs to be imported).

 

[jagdish_p]

Hi there.....PM6004 is a very modest amp 45WPC with subtle details and dynamics . By keeping the eye on your future up gradation .I will suggest you to go for PM7004 70WPC. You can even run FS on this.

If you would like to put your hard money on 15k>DAC you CAN But at the same time you get any significance difference on your sound improvement.

For example I purchased a Creative USB DAC at 4.7k now its doesn't make any noticeable improvement on sound only one with very good pair of ear can catch it.

So my point is put your money for better speaker and amp...later go for Audiophile DACs Like VDAC,Benchmark, ArCAM, Audioquest etc

IMHO !! It will help you to justify your every single penny

+1 to the Amp suggestion.
However on the DAC - the very reason for no improvement in SQ with creative DAC could be due to the fact that it is low end and is no better then your inbuilt DAC on the Laptop or whatever component you are comparing with

 

[jagdish_p]

JDS Labs Objective DAC

Any one who did a comparison of Tubemagic D2 with GE tube and Objective DAC. Both have good reviews, I think the Objective is cheaper.

 

[koushik]

Have you tried Aviano 2 with Cambridge Audio amp? If not, listen to it before you take final decision.
Regarding DAC, it depends on your musical taste mostly. True that synergy in the system is important and would sound magical when paired properly but good DAC would always sound good in any system if not magical. Always try to buy the best you can regardless of the other components because no component is to stay forever and in future you will only have to upgrade fewer things if you buy the best you can for now.

Regarding any amp, try to buy the more muscular one unless it sounds bad. More power means lesser distortion at same volume level compared to lesser powered amp. Which means better details and dynamics at given volume.

Save some money for speaker wires and interconnects. Ideally 10% of the systems budget.

Finally, try to get rid of mp3s and get real things. Buy some cds and flacs. Tens of thousands of system for free pirated music? Think about it.

 

[koushik]

Finally, try to get rid of mp3s and get real things. Buy some cds and flacs. Tens of thousands of system for free pirated music? Think about it.

My apologies if you have bought those mp3s but still that doesn't worth it. mp3 is only good for portable music and for old hindi recordings, where you don't gain anything from original CDs (Thats sad but true)

 

[adie]

Just thoughts..................
Need is to have source with good DAC.
Good CDP will suffice music requirements when paired with equally matching Amp and Spkr.
But most (?) use digital files (mp3 320kbps / flac / alac / wav).
So req is music player( including lactop/palmtop/HTPC).
But a music player with good DAC is missing.
So pair music player (aka media player) with good DAC.

Is there anything called music player with good DAC and screen (for file browser) ?

 

[magma]

sir

i have owned the B15 and a NAD

you should consider a NOS dac with this
laid back would be the signature you are looking for
somethinglike the old peter daniels or the scott nixons
(not a nuforce or an Asus)

if you are doing the warfedale and marantz
your dac choice ispretty flexible

i have rarely heard 15k dacs
the only one i have liked is the vdac in this budget

due to the dac fenzy
most dacs have unreasonably high values for whats inside these days

i would advice looking at a preowned
newer dacs have failed to impress

look at regas , parasounds ,

in fact if you are using a laptop source i would really advice you consider the EMU dac
the old one
but it still sounds nice as compared to the newer junk

 

[Maxprocrj]

+1 to the Amp suggestion.
However on the DAC - the very reason for no improvement in SQ with creative DAC could be due to the fact that it is low end and is no better then your inbuilt DAC on the Laptop or whatever component you are comparing with

Yes! Thats why I got this!!

Music Fedality V DAC II