Let's talk balanced vs. unbalanced Dacs

[JohnThomas]

As more and more folks get into music servers and dac/mac mini setups. Are most folks concerned or care if their dac is balanced, if you're running a true balanced (internally) amp and preamp? Or do we not care since you're using a mac mini, Olive,etc. and they aren't internally balanced. It seems a lot folks these days are buying inexpensive dacs to listen to their music even thought their amps and preamps are worth ten fold.

John

[joeinid]

Are you talking AES/EBU balanced digital inputs or Analog balanced XLR outputs? If you are using a Mac mini, you are using a USB input to the dac.

Joe

[JohnThomas]

Originally Posted by joeinid

Are you talking AES/EBU balanced digital inputs or Analog balanced XLR outputs? If you are using a Mac mini, you are using a USB input to the dac.

Joe

Both SPDIF and/or USB input. I'm trying to be educated if that's possible. Ha!

[howiebrou]

Originally Posted by JohnThomas

Both SPDIF and/or USB input. I'm trying to be educated if that possible. Ha!

Meridian uses cat 5 which is fully balanced.

Personally I don't care if it's balanced, the test is in the sound, not the configuration or design IMHO.

Howie

[psjl]

Originally Posted by howiebrou

Meridian uses cat 5 which is fully balanced.

Personally I don't care if it's balanced, the test is in the sound, not the configuration or design IMHO.

Howie

+1.....Totally agreed!

[bakerman]

I think the biggest reason for going with cheaper DAC's these days is because the technology is advancing at what seems like lightning speed. What was hot just two years ago will be a dinosaur tomorrow. Plus you really don't need to spend an arm and a leg to get a great sounding DAC with tons of features.

[ronenash]

I have used both SPDI/F and AES/EBU into my Lyngdorf and cannot hear much difference. I do hear a difference between different sets of digital cables.

Talking about the analog outputs, I think a good analog output stage in a DAC makes more of a difference than what can be achieved with different DAC chips assuming they are all modern devices with 24bit/192khz capability. Good sound can be achieved with NOS DACs that are limitted to 16bit/44.1khz but you will be limited to CD quality SW only.