bastianschaefer

Dear folks, could you please give me some advise on upgrading my stereo? This is what I have: Player: TEAC WAP-4500 (play MP3 from a USB harddisc, optical Toslink & RCA) Converter: Toslink to coaxial Active Speakers: JBL LSR 4326 + subwoofer JBL LSR 4312, both with coaxial inputs, ¼’’ analog, symmetrical XLR input and AES/EBU This is my problem: The DAC in the active speakers is not the best. There is a background noise, which I can clearly hear if the music is soft. The german JBL representative advised me to use XLR analog inputs instead of the coaxial digital in, because the noise will always be there with the digital inputs, due to the hardware they use. Alternatives, I am thinking about: 1. Buying an external DAC (e.g. CA DACMagic 2i Mk II, M-Audio SuperDAC, Cambridge Audio DACmagic, BEHRINGER ULTRAMATCH PRO SRC 2496) with XLR out. Unfortunately, I am unable to change capacitors and other stuff in the hardware. 2. Buying a DI-box for changing the unsymmetrical RCA-out from the WAP 4500 to a symmetrical XLR. 3. Getting the WAP 4500 upgraded with some better capacitors and XLR out. This can be done by a company in a closeby city. 4. Buying a new player (CD and USB as source) with XLR output (e.g American Audio UCD-100 Single CD & MP3-CD Player, CDMP-1400 CD Player 5. Buying a new player with USB input and RCA output (e.g NAD C 565BEE CD Player, Marantz CD6003 CD) and a DI box to get the symmetrical signal. 6. Waiting for new products to be released. Can you lease give me some advise?