How To Connect A CD Player To An External DAC
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- Опубліковано 19 тра 2022
- A quick video showing how to connect an external DAC to CD players, both modern and vintage, via digital and RCA outputs.
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I have an older blueray dvd player repurposed as a cd transport using toslink to an external DAC. Works like a charm, sounds great. Cheapest solution, but super sound which suits me as I am not rich, lol.
Awesome. Thank you for watching!
Great presentation, illustration and information. Short, direct and straight to the point!
Thank you!
Great video currently running a Marantz cd67se( i purchased bk in 1996/97, about £300 at the time; through optical out on the bk to a Lindy 70468 external DAC. £70 at the time. This goes through a Marantz PM7200 amp to Paradigm mini monitors spks. All old equipment; if you use good quality cables it makes a difference. most of this system was purchased around 97-2002. still sound epic to me. x Always use QED cables for RCA, optical and speaker cables.
Good Job Man finally a Video that goes into how to do the Job on how to connect a CD player into a DAC. I have seen Multiple videos on dac and cd players & amplifiers. But you're the first one who has explained it properly by giving a Visual look into the bk of all 3 Components 👌👍now can you give me some Advice what DAC to buy Not a cheep one & Not too Expensive one U Used urself or one U have Reviewed I'm just getting into it all. I have a Rotel CD player & Rotel Amp Thank you
Thank your for the kind words. I really like the Schiit Modi DAC I have. I’ve heard great things about iFi Zen as well. If I had $800-900 to spend I’d go with the Denafripes Aries!
Hi! Thanks for your handy tips on getting the most out of our "vintage" audio equipment.
Today I got me an used Sony DVP-S725D DVD/CD Player from a friend of mine, who surprised me by simply not asking me for any payment at all. This couldn't come in a better moment because I'm temporarily unemployed due to very necessary physical therapy, 5 days a week. So spending money on good but non-essential equipment should be avoided.
My amplifier (6.1 receiver) is a Yamaha RX-V450 and my speakers are some old B&W DM-303 at the left and right front, a Yamaha YST-SW005 subwoofer and a central Mission 73c speaker still made in England like the B&Ws. I no longer have surround speakers because my pair of Mission back left and right plastic cased ones had some unexpected encounters with the floor and suffered way too much damage for me to try and fix them myself. I rarely watch DVDs and if I want to check out a Blu-ray disc, I go to the living room where the home cinema is actually setup.
Could you please try to give me the requested info on the external DAC? I'd really appreciate it! Best regards.
Sorry for the report... But I'd like to ask you for a totally unbiased opinion on an external DAC like the one you use.
I couldn't find the brand nor model name, neither the price. Do you think it would really be worth the investment?
My previous CD-Player was a DVD-Recorder with DVD/HDD, a Sony RDR-HX780. Sound quality of the unit I brought today is impossible to be compared. Natural Bass on the B&W speakers (to the point of not using the subwoofer on many recordings) and some clean treble/high frequency sounds were totally non-existent while playing CDs on the DVD recorder.
I could only listen to a Cypress Hill album my friend forgot inside the DVD/CD-Player and the Trainspotting 1 Ost.
Now this was an upgrade that I would gladly have paid 50€ for.
The external DAC is a Schiit Modi plus!
Cheers mate😊.nice and simple.
So l have the Oppo BD105 BLU-RAY player and love it!! I use it with an external DAC, the Exogal Comet Plus via digital out/ BNC I also have an old school ARC LS15 tube preamp in another 2 channel system So to get streaming l bought the Audioengine B1
that also has a built-in DAC and connects to the LS 15 pre amp with RCA
But you can also connect an external DAC from the Audioengine B1
Excellent
Just get a analog to digital converter and connect to the back of analog cd player , and then connect to the DAC.i did , and it sounds great.
Thanks, very helpful.
Many AV receivers will have both analog RCA and digital (toslink & coax) per input as well. So no need for a third box if you have one of those.
Yep, that’s correct! Always fun to compare the DAC inside a receiver with an external DAC too.
That is really helpful thank you very much for taking the time to explain this. I have a Integra DBS-30.3 blue Ray DVD player and it has the digital audio input and also the digital audio coaxial input. which one is best for a DAC?
I don’t think you’ll notice much difference between the two. Thanks for watching!
Very helpful video
Thank you!
Thanks a lot for this.
Thank you for watching!
Very helpful, thank you. 👍🙏
Thank you!
Will the DAC actually improve the sound of your Cambridge CD player? I have a newer Yamaha CD-S300 Cd player running through my older Marantz 1060 Amplifier. I don’t have any complaints on the sound but if it would improve I may consider buying the DAC. Now I also have an older Onkyo TX-8511 receiver that I have never really been happy with the way it sounds even with my JBL Studio 230 speakers. Would a DAC connected to the Yamaha CD-S300 CD player improve the sound of the Onkyo TX-8511 receiver? Modestly price DAC? I am almost sure there is no coaxial jack on the Onkyo receiver. I believe it was purchased in the late 90’s or early 2000’s. Thanks for your time and expertise.
If the Amp has digital outputs too, running to a seperate DAC and Transport, would the signal be transmitted with the aux line out selected still? 😊
Thanks for your great channel and reviews.
What kind of good budget dac you recommend to connect it to my Fosi V3 ?
Kind regard and best wishes
The SMSL SU-1 is incredible for less than $100!
@@ForeverAnalog
Thanks a lot
Can I use the port stating Digital Audio IN or does it have to state OUT? Because that's the only digital port I see on the player
very helpful review -- Q: is it possible to have your modi dac connect to multiple audio sources? for example, could you have it simultaneously connected to both a CD player *and* a laptop? thanks
That's a good question and something I haven't tried out yet!
yes if you can deliver the laptop's sound to the micro usb input in the modi, or to the optical input.
I have a question is there a noticeable difference in sound quality using an external deck hooked to a CD player also what is that single-cable called that runs to the dac to cd player thanks for the videos you got a new subscriber
The external DAC adds more detail, allowing me to notice things I'm not used to hearing in CDs I've played many times over the years. Honestly, it didn't blow me away at first, but the more I listened and heard new things, the more I fell it love using it. The cable is either optical or spdif based on the outputs available on the DAC. Thanks for watching!
the cable is either an optical cable or a co-axial digital cable. Both are digital. Optical uses light to transmit data through the cable. coaxial digital uses electricity to transmit audio. optical is more common.
Best way to hook that Denon up is to a Schiit Loki or Lokius eq to greatly improve the sound.
Yeah I’d love to try out their EQs!
@@ForeverAnalog I have the 6 band Lokius and it is really good.
Is it true, that cambridge cd player front is plastik?Which brand interconnect and coaxial cable,is it in the picture?
If your using an integrated amplifier, could you connect a blu-ray player's digital output directly to the amplifier and use its DAC. Is there a need at all to get an external DAC in that circumstance?
Yes, you can use the DAC on your amp! An external DAC still may have a different sound signature but you’d only know via trial and error. Thanks for watching!
Good instructional video for sure. My question is does the modi external dac actually improve the sound in any way? I know this question was already asked but would it be possible for you to find out and let us viewers know?
Thank you. Because the Cambridge CD player in this video is a modern player, there isn't a huge sound difference using the Modi. It took a few days of listening and A/B'ing the sound, but I did start to notice a larger soundstage and better detail when using the external DAC and still have it plugged in as I miss those improvements when I no longer use the DAC. Where I noticed the most improvement immediately was using the Modi hooked up to my old Sony blu ray player or any vintage CD player I've run through it. Again, it's the detail and soundstage that is greatly improved to my ears when using the Modi DAC.
Thank you for the comment. I agree it can be a rabbit hole!
@@joanfrederick9176 I totally agree on people learning for themselves!
@@joanfrederick9176 You make a lot of sense. "To chase the sound that you will never find" is the truth.
my modi is no better than the DACs in my AVR and CD player.
Do you know that you have the “wbc” directional rca cables installed backwards? The arrows show how they should be connected, grounded on source not destination.
Yeah I didn’t bother with direction on a tutorial video as it’s too hard to show while holding the camera at the same time lol. I plug them in correctly when in use. Thanks for watching!
Thank you
A ni9vice question for you. I have a Pioneer vintage SX-780 receiver and want to add cd and dvd thru it. On a previous video you mentioned a Sony dvd player. Would I need a DAC to go along with this? Thanks for taking the time to answer.
If the DVD player has RCA output, you don't need an external DAC. If it has only digital output, like COAX, you will need an external DAC. A lot of players have both RCA and COAX, at which point you can use RCA or buy an external DAC to pair with the COAX output for enhanced sound.
Thanks....That helps a lot! @@ForeverAnalog
Do you feel that the music sounds better when using the outboard DAC vs the one built into the CD player?
For me it’s a matter of sound differences. DACs highlight music in different ways so it’s hard to say if one is better as that’s subjective to the end user. I’ve also found a good outboard DAC can help with digital sheen if a cd player is too bright.
New to this. Is this essentially turning your Cambridge CD player into a CD transport or is that something else entirely? Thanks
Yes, the Cambridge internal DAC is bypassed using the player now as a transport only and all DAC duties are being handled by the Schiit Modi!
@@ForeverAnalog would you consider doing a comparison with a cd transport and cd player (as a transport). I feel like I'm not getting the best out of my internal amp DAC with all the hype over a transport. Just don't want to part with £400 to be disappointed. Cheers
I’m hoping to buy a transport only someday!
So with that setup, do I use the volume knob on the dac listening to Cd, if so what is the volume knob set at on my amp?
Hmmm. Good question. My DACs don’t have volume knobs so I use the one on my preamp/amp
what about connecting my arcam cd23 cd player i use digital output to bel canto dac / pre then rca or xlr out of my dac to my roksan caspain integrated mk 1 ???? it has pre amp in and out so i assume this allows me to utilise the pre amp in my dac and not my amplifier ??? can you help
what is best to use optical or co-axial. iv heard coaxial has a better bandwidth for sound?? i alwayd use good quality leads using a qed performance 0.5m optical lead atm. have both outputs on the cd player.
I have yet to A/B the sound between the two but I've found coax to be the more common connection on my gear, so I just haven't had the need to try optical.
ok ta, here in the uk anyway, it appears optical is the more common@@ForeverAnalog
Great easy way. How about a recivier how that hook up ?
Sorry, which component do you want to connect to the receiver, the CD player or the external DAC?
Thanks for your videos! I follow your instructions to buy a sony cheap blu ray and use it as transport, how do i make sure that im no using the dac in the blu ray, and i using the external dac (cambridge dacmagic 100). Many many thanks, best regards
If you connect to DAC it will automatically bypass the internal DAC in the player. I
@@ForeverAnalog thanks a lot mate! im bulding my project all thanks to your information.!
Best of luck! I’m here to answer any questions!
@@ForeverAnalog HI again, just want to tell you that my project its a success!!!!
1) Cambridge AXR85 receiver
2) Cambridge DACMagic 100
3) Cheap used BluRay Sony (only 60 bucks)
4) Monitor audio Bronze 100
Many thanks for your help!!!! great channel!
If you use the coaxial output on the cd player, then there is no output on the RCA analog outputs? If that’s the case, that kinda sucks. I was thinking of doing some instantaneous
A/B testing between the internal DAC and an external DAC that I was thinking of purchasing to facilitate the process of evaluating it, so I could return it relatively quick if necessary🤔
My assumption is the signal can only be output one way, either coax or RCA but I've never tried your suggestion so can't say for sure.
There is a way to do that if you use an av receiver. Plug the cd player's rca outputs to one of the rca inputs on the receiver. Then take the cd player's optical or coaxial output and plug it into the DAC, and then connect the DAC to the receiver via rca input. Play the cd and switch between inputs on your receiver to hear the difference.
@@ForeverAnalog
I checked into this myself after commenting to you. My CD player has the signal at the RCA outputs and the coaxial out both, so with an external DAC, you can use 2 line inputs and switch between them. Edit: Napoleon’s method works also. It just doesn’t have to be an AV receiver. Any quality device with 2 switchable line inputs available to feed your amp and speaker combo will do.
I know I'm late here, but what input on the back of an AVR would you put the RCA cables from the DAC to bypass DAC chip in AVR? Using a Marantz SR7015. Thanks.
You could connect the RCAs to the CD input. Really any of those RCA inputs I’m that section there (dvd, blu ray, etc)
Thanks for the quick response. I was under the impression that If I plugged into the cd or dvd input, the AVR DAC would be used.
If you have external DAC between CD Player and AVR it will use that DAC. Go digital out from cd player into external DAC digital input then RCA out on DAC into RCA on AVR
Nice video. I have an older discman with a single 3.5 line out Is this a digital line out? Analog? Please help explain....Thanks!!
That would be an analog connection using a 3.5mm to RCA adaptor cable.
Thanks for the reply....ok so not a digital line out, correct?
Correct, sorry. You want to look for an optical output. If you look through my channel I have a video on what to look for when buying a used cd player that may be of some assistance.
Thank you for your help and I'll watch that other video now. Much appreciated
A Discman with optical out will have the words Optical Out or Line Out (Optical) near the socket. If it just says Line Out, that is not optical out.
What the difference between a coax digital out cable and a regular rca cable?
coaxial is 75Ohm and normal rca is 50ohm. You have to use a digital co-axial cable to a dac , not a normal rca. It will work but not to its full potential.
Do you prefer semi modern (20 yr old) AVR or vintage 2 channel receivers from the 70's for music only?
These days, I'm a fan of two channel systems more than AVRs!
@@ForeverAnalog I asked cause I have a Marantz 2230 from the mid 70's put away in my closet and are using a Yamaha AVR from the 90's instead and I am not sure if I'd be better off with the old 2230?
That’s awesome. I would probably prefer the 2230 but that’s just me!
Use the Vintage gear my friend! Lose the AVR for surround and movies! For stereo two channel the MARANTZ is the way to go! 👍
the Marantz cd6007 I posess has changed the DAC chip to an AKM 4490 (the CD6006 used a Cirrus CS4398), allowing the CD6007 to process high-resolution files. So things are good anyhow.
I’ve heard lots of great things about that player and hope to pick one up soon
Wonder what they did when the AKM factory burned. I have it as well -- no idea what DAC chip is in mine. Have a good external DAC too, but haven't tried using it with the CD player.
I have a modi and it is no better than the DACs in both my budget AVR receiver and CD player.
What about the PS Audio Gain Cell Dac which has analog RCA inputs?
You would not use analog inputs, only digital inputs, which this DAC has on the left side of rear unit. A DAC has to be supplied a digital signal to convert to analog, so all DACs have digital inputs.
What’s powering it now
Would this Onkyo DX-C390 6 Disc Carousel CD Changer Player be able to hook up to a newer dac?
Yes as it has two digital outputs 🙌🏻
@@ForeverAnalog I’m thinking about adding this to my vintage onkyo system . More music choices with 6 disc instead of just one. I must be getting lazy in my old age 😆
I bet it will work great. The vintage carousels are annoying due to dried up/non functioning belts but I bet this one will last for long time!
Does having that external DAC turn your cd player into a transport?
Yes, that is correct. Once you bypass the internal DAC, the CD player is only acting as a transport. This comes in handy mostly when buying vintage CD players that have outdated DACs inside, or even an old Blu Ray player. I just posted a video about that subject this week if you want to check it out!
@@ForeverAnalog thank you.
Does the dac sound better?
I thought so, yes.
Hey so what just bought the same Dac and I’m not getting any sound. I have a JVC XL M401 cd player and a Sony STR-VX200 receiver. Any help?
Hmmm. What input on the receiver are you using?
Also. Make sure the little switch on the far right of the DAC is in the correct position. If not it won’t play. Happens to me a lot lol!
I’m using cd/aux for the input! And yes I had it on the correct position on the Dac
@@mannny829 that's very strange! I wonder if the digital output on that CD player is still operating properly
Ahh that could be a possibility. It’s almost 40 years old
i know im doing a very naive and silly question .... but appoligise me form my ignorance .... whats a DAC and whats its use ?!!!!
sorry for this silly questions ... but
greetings from Portugal
Rui
Hi, thank you for watching. A DAC is a digital to analog converter...basically it takes the 1s and 0s from digital information stored on a CD or as streaming and converts to an analog signal for our ears to hear. Most all electronics (computers, phones, receivers, etc) have DACs inside, but they are often inexpensive due to size restraints. So buying a standalone DAC can enhance the sound being played back kind of like a standalone phono preamp can do for vinyl.
@@ForeverAnalog ohhh ok !!! thank you for the info !!!!
i didnt had a clue !!! thanks
But the dac in Cambridge Audio CD players are really good ,even the budget ones. Do you really hear a difference in the sound , very imperceptible I take it.
I agree the Cambridge DACs are great. I was just using this gear to show how to install an external DAC after having friends ask me how to do it.
what brand rca and coaxial cables?
There are most likely budget ones I picked up from Crutchfield to use in my videos.
@@ForeverAnalog they look pretty decent
Thank you. I’m not a fan of cheap cables but don’t have a budget for expensive ones either. So I try to find a happy medium when possible! Thanks for watching
Hi why do you need an external dac when there is one in the CD player sorry for my ignorance I’m new to this game
Great question - technically you don't NEED an external DAC, just as you mention, but let's say you have a 5-10 year old CD player and feel like the DAC inside could be upgraded, you could simply add on an external DAC that might improve sound - think about it like the stylus (needle) on your turntable - the factory needle might be a budget one and your records will sound better if you buy a better produced cartridge/stylus. Again, this video isn't trying to say you HAVE to upgrade to an external DAC, just showing you how in the event you would like to experiment with the sound of the player. Thanks for watching!
@@ForeverAnalog Some of the old cd players (circa 1995) may have two DAC inside instead of only one. One DAC per each channel gives better separation. What you get with two DAC is a better central image. Some may consider this before adding a "only one" chips exterior DAC that maybe will give you more resolution upscaling 16 bits to 24 but at the lost of "musicality" and precise image
@@francoisrochette3808 great point, thank you for sharing!
A Japanese made denon CD player wow! What DAC does it have and what did it cost used v
PCM61P - I picked this up in a trade so don't have an exact price!
How much does the sound improve when using the dac with a cd player?
Depends on the DAC and cd player but mine provided more detail and allowed me to hear things on CDs that I’d never heard before using a DAC
What for sacd?
SACD requires a HDMI connection and I don’t have that connection ability at the moment, sorry.
I just picked up a thrift store CD player it has an input and it doesn't work but if I plug it right in the amp it does
I don't know what a DAC is or why you need one.
A DAC is most commonly a chip inside an electronic device that coverts the digital 1 and 0's to analog so our ears can hear sound. They are included in computers, phones, TVs, etc. I tell people to think about a standalone DAC like buying a more expensive cartridge or stylus for your turntable. It's not required, but upgrading can often reveal more detail and larger soundstages.
Hmmm. you say you are connecting the digital cable from the CD player to the DAC digital OUTPUT connection. There is NO digital coaxial OUTPUT connection on your DAC, just a digital coaxial INPUT connection? Did you miss-speak ?
Addition: Yeah, just looked at the manual for your DAC. The coaxial/optical are INPUT connections not OUTPUT. Can be confusing.
True. A blooper :-)
i am currently using an optical output to the optical input on the dac, this then has rca output to the amp. is there any difference in sound between an optical cable to a coaxial cable.
I just tried this. Got no sound from the cd player
Does your DAC have various outputs? You may need to select the right one which is a mistake I first made with the Schiit one in this video
@@ForeverAnalog It’s exactly like the DAC you show here, in the back. Only one digital coaxial and one set of rca’s in the back. I connected everything just like you show here
@@ForeverAnalogI believe it’s because the digital connection on the back of my DAC is an Out, not an In
@thomaslytle5519 what DAC?
iFi Zen Blue V2
Wouldn’t the dac in cd player bra much better then that shift
This video isn't to compare DACs, just to show how you can connect one to a CD player should you choose to do so. Thanks for watching!
👍👍👍💿💿💿🔌🔌🔌😀😀😀
What's a sh*t modey dack? You say it within first few seconds of the video, here.
It is a DAC made by the company called Schiit.
Whay for? Modern DACs sounds so lame
Hi. Thanks for watching. I have friends who also prefer vintage DACs. I think it’s just a matter of preference for each individual!