AVS › AVS Forum › Audio › 2 Channel Audio › HRT music streamer II dac 24/96?? any thoughts on this DAC?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

HRT music streamer II dac 24/96?? any thoughts on this DAC?

post #1 of 10
2/7/13 at 5:07am
Thread Starter 
I MA looking to get a DAC to add to my system in my sig. Was thinkng about sticking with Emotiva and grabbing the XDA-2...but on there is one of these used for 100$ shipped.

Has anyone used this? and would i notice a big difference upgrading to the emo?

your help is appreciated as I am very green to DAC's

thanks
Reply
Reply

AVS Top Picks

post #2 of 10
2/7/13 at 6:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Fineberg View Post

I MA looking to get a DAC to add to my system in my sig. Was thinkng about sticking with Emotiva and grabbing the XDA-2...but on there is one of these used for 100$ shipped.

Has anyone used this? and would i notice a big difference upgrading to the emo?

your help is appreciated as I am very green to DAC's

thanks
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Fineberg View Post

I MA looking to get a DAC to add to my system in my sig. Was thinkng about sticking with Emotiva and grabbing the XDA-2...but on there is one of these used for 100$ shipped.

Has anyone used this? and would i notice a big difference upgrading to the emo?

your help is appreciated as I am very green to DAC's

First please read this:

http://people.xiph.org/~xiphmont/demo/neil-young.html

The main DAC in a ONKYO 809 avr is a TI PCM 1690

http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/pcm1690.pdf

which has these properties:

24-Bit Delta-Sigma DAC – 5 V for Analog and 3.3 V for Digital
8-Channel DAC: • Package: HTSSOP-48
High Performance: Differential, fS = 48 kHz • Operating Temperature Range:
THD+N: –94 dB – –40°C to +85°C
SNR: 113 dB
Dynamic Range: 113 dB
Sampling Rate: 8 kHz to 192 kHz

This device is probably overkill for inclusion in even the highest quality audio systems.

the DAC in the XDA2 is the AD1955

http://www.analog.com/static/imported-files/data_sheets/AD1955.pdf

with these properties:

120 dB SNR/DNR (not muted) at 48KHz Sample Rate (A-Weighted Stereo)
123 dB SNR/DNR (Mono)
-110 dB THD+N
110 dB Stopband Attenuation with ±0.0002dB Passband Ripple

Frankly, its a better part technically speaking, but since the PCM 1690 is already overkill...
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 10
2/7/13 at 6:06am
Thread Starter 
I appreciate the input but it is greek to me. What are you saying the 809 is sufficient enough and I wont see a difference getting an outboard DAC?


also is this DAC accessable through the USB or HDMI say through an aplle TV? or connecting the macbook to it?

thanks!
Edited by Brian Fineberg - 2/7/13 at 6:12am
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 10
2/7/13 at 6:11am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Fineberg View Post

I appreciate the input but it is greek to me. What are you saying the 809 is sufficient enough and I wont see a difference getting an outboard DAC?

thanks!

Yes.

See, it wasn't Greek to you! ;-)

You got it.
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 10
2/7/13 at 6:12am
Thread Starter 
haha thanks!
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 10
2/7/13 at 2:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by arnyk View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Fineberg View Post

I MA looking to get a DAC to add to my system in my sig. Was thinkng about sticking with Emotiva and grabbing the XDA-2...but on there is one of these used for 100$ shipped.

Has anyone used this? and would i notice a big difference upgrading to the emo?

your help is appreciated as I am very green to DAC's

thanks
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Fineberg View Post

I MA looking to get a DAC to add to my system in my sig. Was thinkng about sticking with Emotiva and grabbing the XDA-2...but on there is one of these used for 100$ shipped.

Has anyone used this? and would i notice a big difference upgrading to the emo?

your help is appreciated as I am very green to DAC's

First please read this:

http://people.xiph.org/~xiphmont/demo/neil-young.html

The main DAC in a ONKYO 809 avr is a TI PCM 1690

http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/pcm1690.pdf

which has these properties:

24-Bit Delta-Sigma DAC – 5 V for Analog and 3.3 V for Digital
8-Channel DAC: • Package: HTSSOP-48
High Performance: Differential, fS = 48 kHz • Operating Temperature Range:
THD+N: –94 dB – –40°C to +85°C
SNR: 113 dB
Dynamic Range: 113 dB
Sampling Rate: 8 kHz to 192 kHz

This device is probably overkill for inclusion in even the highest quality audio systems.

the DAC in the XDA2 is the AD1955

http://www.analog.com/static/imported-files/data_sheets/AD1955.pdf

with these properties:

120 dB SNR/DNR (not muted) at 48KHz Sample Rate (A-Weighted Stereo)
123 dB SNR/DNR (Mono)
-110 dB THD+N
110 dB Stopband Attenuation with ±0.0002dB Passband Ripple

Frankly, its a better part technically speaking, but since the PCM 1690 is already overkill...


I have a sound streemerll Dac & I also have an Emotiva on order.
I can tell you what I think in comparison to the Dacs in the new denon 1913 that I have,
an old cd player California audio labs tercett mkll. If that would be of any help?
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 10
2/7/13 at 3:35pm
The HRT music streamer II has a pretty good reputation.

I myself just recently started using an external DAC. Optical from my TV and USB from my computer to the DAC then RCA analog to my AVR. The computer side of things has definitely been an improvement and even TV through the DAC is a bit better. A more natural sound with less sibilance.

There is only one way to know for sure... try for yourself. Getting the HRT cheap would be a good way to dabble and try out an a external DAC.

Specifications aren't going to tell you how two different components will sound.
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 10
2/12/13 at 4:58am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by AVNut57 View Post

I have a sound streemerll Dac & I also have an Emotiva on order.
I can tell you what I think in comparison to the Dacs in the new denon 1913 that I have,
an old cd player California audio labs tercett mkll. If that would be of any help?

yes please do I am very interested. smile.gif
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 10
2/12/13 at 7:40am
I bought the SS2 to compare to my old but very $$$ Cal tercet, they are Equal! IMHO,
I cannot give either a better rating in any Category
The ss2 is on my laptop which is hooked up to realplayer jukebok &

to" live from daryl's house"

an absolute MUST for every Audiophile music lover to listen to.

It is a very revealing Live type show.A very good reason for a USB DAC for everyone.

The DAC s in my Denon 1913 are IMHO quite a bit better than the SS2 & my Cal.

Maybe the Audio from blue Ray is just that much better!? Seems to me
Hope this was helpfull.
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 10
2/12/13 at 8:34am
Thread Starter 
yes it is. I have heard lots of variations...but i feel the onkyo DAC is very good. not sure spending money on an external DAC will help me.

I am streaming from pandora 90% of the time anyhow.
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: 2 Channel Audio

AVS Top Picks

AVS › AVS Forum › Audio › 2 Channel Audio › HRT music streamer II dac 24/96?? any thoughts on this DAC?