Burr-Brown Sigma-Delta 20 bit convertor

[shahrouz]

It may not matter depending on whether or not your receiver has a true analog bypass available. A lot of AV receivers, especially entry level models and models from a few years ago, convert ALL analog signals to digital regardless of whether or not the signal needs to get routed through the DSP section. If the receiver does this analog-to-digital-to-analog conversion with all incoming signals, then it doesn't matter whether your CD player has better DACs. You might want to contact h/k to see if your receiver converts all analog signals.

In general, the equipment I've heard with Burr-Brown DACs has sounded a cut above other models, however those comparisons had so many other variables that I can't tell you one way or another whether the Burr-Browns were the causal effect. I know that Burr-Brown DACs are generally a lot more expensive than other DACs and they got a good reputation, so take that for what it's worth.

I'm in a similar situation, decide to buy a NAD C521BEE and connect it to Yamaha RX-V1400 (speakers B&W 600's).

From brochure of RX-V1400, I think it has analog bypass

==Quote from RX-V1400 brochure=====

Direct Stereo causes the input stereo signal to bypass the DSP and YPAO circuitry so the pure signal is output without any processing or data loss whatsoever.

==============================

Now, is there any merit in buying this Burr-Brown DAC CD player and connect it to such AV-receiver. Or I have to purchase a power amplifier and connect it to receiver's pre-out to take advantage of Burr-Brown DAC?

Thanks a lot for your comments.

[topspeed]

No, just use the rca's as mentioned and you'll be utilizing the NAD's B-B dacs. If you used a coax or optical interconnect THEN you would be using the Yamaha's dacs.

Hope this helps.

[Woochifer]

I'm in a similar situation, decide to buy a NAD C521BEE and connect it to Yamaha RX-V1400 (speakers B&W 600's).

From brochure of RX-V1400, I think it has analog bypass

==Quote from RX-V1400 brochure=====

Direct Stereo causes the input stereo signal to bypass the DSP and YPAO circuitry so the pure signal is output without any processing or data loss whatsoever.

==============================

Now, is there any merit in buying this Burr-Brown DAC CD player and connect it to such AV-receiver. Or I have to purchase a power amplifier and connect it to receiver's pre-out to take advantage of Burr-Brown DAC?

Thanks a lot for your comments.

Yes, the 1400 does have an analog bypass available with that direct stereo mode when you use the analog output from the CD player. However, any time you have your main speakers set to "Small" and use the receiver's bass management to crossover the lows into a subwoofer output, then I believe that the signal gets converted to digital because Yamahas do the bass management in the digital domain and don't include a parallel analog crossover. If the direct stereo mode locks out the crossover on the receiver, then it retains the signal path in the analog domain.

Whether or not the Burr-Brown DAC CD player is an advantage is up to you. I sometimes listen to my CD player through an analog bypass, but that also bypasses the subwoofer. It's a bit of a tradeoff because I do like the sound on my CD player (an older Philips model that used one of the first bitstream processors) better than the DAC in my receiver -- overall a slightly smoother sound. However, crossing over the bass into the subwoofer and relieving both the amp and the speakers from having to handle the lows is a bigger benefit.

[shahrouz]

Yes, the 1400 does have an analog bypass available with that direct stereo mode when you use the analog output from the CD player. However, any time you have your main speakers set to "Small" and use the receiver's bass management to crossover the lows into a subwoofer output, then I believe that the signal gets converted to digital because Yamahas do the bass management in the digital domain and don't include a parallel analog crossover. If the direct stereo mode locks out the crossover on the receiver, then it retains the signal path in the analog domain.

Whether or not the Burr-Brown DAC CD player is an advantage is up to you. I sometimes listen to my CD player through an analog bypass, but that also bypasses the subwoofer. It's a bit of a tradeoff because I do like the sound on my CD player (an older Philips model that used one of the first bitstream processors) better than the DAC in my receiver -- overall a slightly smoother sound. However, crossing over the bass into the subwoofer and relieving both the amp and the speakers from having to handle the lows is a bigger benefit.

Thanks for your comments Woochifer