jackstrawphilly

I'm reluctant to buy and return items to test so I'd love to know if I could benefit from new components. Currently, all my music is on my iMac and goes wifi to Apple TV 2. From there is goes Apple TV HDMI into my Pioneer Elite VSX 21THX receiver and into KEF Reference 5.1 I loves hirez sound from my sacd's and the sound of 24 bit tracks. To play 24 bit recordings I download on my iPhone using VLC app then play into my receiver via USB port on front of receiver. Here are my questions: 1. Will an external DAC improve my sound quality significantly? I believe the digital - analog conversion is taking place in my Pioneer which uses Wolfson WM8728 192 kHz / 24-bit DAC. 2. Would using a Pono player connected to my receiver be a clear improvement over my iPhone VLC to receiver's DAC? Thanks!

Thanks, I'll hook one up tonight and listen. Any thoughts about wifi vs. wired ethernet?

Hi I have been using my ATV2 for a while, mainly for audio. It sounds good till I put the original CD into my Sony bdp 550 and compare. Too big a difference in SQ and I can't figure out why! I am using ALAC on my iMac, streaming it wirelessly via Airport Extreme to my Apple TV which is connected by HDMI to my Pioneer Elite VSX 21. I've turned off 'sound check' on iMac/Itunes, as well as my Apple TV. The sound is audibly inferior to the actual disc. Q --Is it the WIFI streaming that is negatively impacting the SQ? (running an ethernet is a bit of a pain but will do if it is the culprit) Q2 - I believe both CDs and Apple TV are both using the same DAC in my receiver. Should I expect the the sound to be equal or is this just the way it should be? Thanks.