Parasound P5 DAC upgrade, zdac oppo 105

[ematthews]

Currently own the Parasound P5 preamp. As we all know the DAC in it is OK. The Zdac is of much higher quality. This is according to reviews and Parasound. I am purchasing an Oppo bdp 105 in the future. My question is this.
Would the DAC in the Oppo 105 be better than the Zdac? I was going to pick up the Zdac for a good price but will wait a little while if the Oppo is a better dac.

 

[slipperybidness]

I know you've seen this before, and I'm sure you will see it again on AH.

This day and age, DACs (the chips, not the component) are a commodity. There isn't gonna be much if any measurable difference amongst DACs, let alone much if any audible differences. All these reviews with subjective opinions are best taken with a large grain of salt. Did you have any DAC measurements that you can share about the P5? Or solely based off subjective reviews?

Granted, if the DAC isn't implemented in the circuit correctly, then there may be detriments to the sound. But, I have certainly never had any problems that I could absolutely contribute to poor DAC circuitry.

Do you really think that you could pick out DAC#1 vs. DAC#2 in a blind test 10/10 times?

 

[PENG]

I do have issue with such DACs. I understand puchase decision should not be made solely base on chips and specs but for literally a few dollars more they could have used top of the line TI, Woffson or ESS Sabre. So after spending so much effort in the design and implemenation for the best possible results, they won't go the extra mile to use the best available DAC chip is just puzzling. Among my media players that are based on different DACs I do have my preference though I must admit in a blind test I highly doubt I could tell them (including the DACs in my Denon, Marantz and Cambridge Audio) apart. The problem is, regardless of any audible difference or not, I do feel good about the 105 because I know it has the best ESS chip in it, same for my X5 that is based on the TI's top model PCM1792.

So not surpisingly, I would go with the Oppo for the better components and specs, but I would also bet the Parasound will sound just as good or better.

 

[ematthews]

I know you've seen this before, and I'm sure you will see it again on AH.

This day and age, DACs (the chips, not the component) are a commodity. There isn't gonna be much if any measurable difference amongst DACs, let alone much if any audible differences. All these reviews with subjective opinions are best taken with a large grain of salt. Did you have any DAC measurements that you can share about the P5? Or solely based off subjective reviews?

Granted, if the DAC isn't implemented in the circuit correctly, then there may be detriments to the sound. But, I have certainly never had any problems that I could absolutely contribute to poor DAC circuitry.

Do you really think that you could pick out DAC#1 vs. DAC#2 in a blind test 10/10 times?

Just based off of the reviews I have read. Was wondering since this is kind of a new area for me. I can tell you one thing I tried and I am not sure if this is even related. I tried using my Marantz CD6004 as a transport. Digital out to my Emotiva XDA-2 in to the USP-1. The sound was not as good as using the RCA out to my USP-1 at that time.

 

[j_garcia]

The sound was not as good as using the RCA out to my USP-1 at that time.

Here's one of the keys to me. I do feel DACs sound different, though not so different that one should stress over the decision. That said, just because one DAC has better specs on paper doesn't necessarily mean that a lesser DAC won't produce a sound that is just as good if not even preferable for its "flaws" because it produces a type of sound that the listener likes. Just like speakers have their minor differences and different people prefer different sounds, DACs will do that to some extent too, to me, but when you get to the level of the 105 and similar quality, the differences are going to be tough to discern. What I can say for sure, the 105 is the best sounding source I've used so far.

 

[TheHills44060]

I'm surprised to hear the dac in the P5 in not up to par and that the Zdac bests it. I really like the P5 but i haven't heard the digital section so I'll take your word for it. I suppose the Oppo "should" sound better but hell you're going to have to let your ears make that decision. I think you may be splitting hairs at that level.

 

[Irvrobinson]

As we discussed in a previous thread, if you add an external DAC you're adding an additional analog unity gain stage, which is probably worse than the difference in digital performance.

 

[cpp]

As we discussed in a previous thread, if you add an external DAC you're adding an additional analog unity gain stage, which is probably worse than the difference in digital performance.

Not if you use a DAC with pre-amp capabilities directly connected to your amp. PC or mac -> DAC -> AMP and it depends on what DAC you choose.



DAC's do sound different, but I really don't think it's all about the chip, but the design and engineering within the unit that makes or breaks the sound, a good chips and sorry engineering well equals crap in my opinion. My OPPO 105 compared to my Chord external DAC, I take the Chord HD as it just sounds better to me. Heck the little Teac ud501 sounds better than the OPPO 105. But for a swiss army knife of sorts the OPPO wins out for the use by the family.

 

[Irvrobinson]

The P5 is a preamp with a DAC in it, so I'm missing your point.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I would definitely not waste a dime on any external DAC.

 

[ematthews]

The P5 is a preamp with a DAC in it, so I'm missing your point.

Correct. I must educate myself a bit more on DAC's. If most sound the same, I wonder why they range from 99 dollars to 2000+... Even Parasound themselves told me the Zdac would have a better sound then the built in DAC on the P5..

 

[cpp]

The P5 is a preamp with a DAC in it, so I'm missing your point.

I know was suggesting the op use his Dac as a pre I guess I didn't get that out clearly

 

[ematthews]

UPDATE********* I have to believe in my ears yet everyones feedback here makes me feel like I am crazy. Case and point.
Imac out using Toslink into the P5. Using I tunes as the source material. VS same cd burned from I tunes playing it on my Marantz CD6004 into the P5..

Verdict. The Marantz CD playback is not only more clear but the soundstage sounds bigger too... WTH?
Am I crazy.. All here say do not buy another DAC. I am not very confident in my Mac playback sound. I did check the settings and also the quality of the downloads and it all seems correct.

 

[ematthews]

I still didn't make a purchase yet. But the sound from the mac to P5 can not match cd playback SQ.

 

[j_garcia]

Buy something or stick with what you have now, but the main thing is enjoy the music. Don't overthink it.

 

[ematthews]

I am sticking with CD playback 98% of the time. I just haven't found my solution yet for my computer playback. I need too since I have a lot of music on itunes.

 

[slipperybidness]

I am sticking with CD playback 98% of the time. I just haven't found my solution yet for my computer playback. I need too since I have a lot of music on itunes.

Is your iTunes music lossless or MP3?

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I gotta say, I did buy an external toslink DAC for the pc and there was ONLY ONE reason - too much RF interference from internal PC components. Jinjuku went a different route with DC psu and pro-level sound card. Ether approach works - the key is to remove RF interference.

I also felt like I will benefit from headphone amp in same unit and went with AE D1. It's not cheapest but far from most expensive dac out there

 

[slipperybidness]

I gotta say, I did buy an external toslink DAC for the pc and there was ONLY ONE reason - too much RF interference from internal PC components. Jinjuku went a different route with DC psu and pro-level sound card. Ether approach works - the key is to remove RF interference.

I also felt like I will benefit from headphone amp in same unit and went with AE D1. It's not cheapest but far from most expensive dac out there

You nailed it! That's the biggest advantage of the external DAC. Otherwise a S/C with adequate shielding is absolutely needed (Asus Xonar). The next big advantage to the external DAC for the PC audio is the power supply. PC power supplies are typically SMPS and not very robust. For audio, I prefer the old-school linear supplies.

Why are PC supplies SMPS? Because it is cheaper to manufacture.

 

[ematthews]

Is your iTunes music lossless or MP3?

Lossless. I know FLAC is better but we know itunes doesn't offer it.