How To Connect A CD Player To An External DAC

A quick video showing how to connect an external DAC to CD players, both modern and vintage, via digital and RCA outputs.

[RWROW]

Most useful for those of us who are just dipping our toe into the use of external DACs. Thanks.

[RyzomeRyan]

You explained better in the first two minutes of this video than the fifteen minutes I just spent watching elsewhere. Thank you!

[manjacovus]

Clear simple explanation taught me more in a few minutes than years of reading hifi blogs!
Keep up the good work!

[olee_]

Wow because of this I finally understand DACs. I was always wondering why people plugged cd audio out in another converter but this just made it clear. Thank you

[zrwng]

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.

[gerydblackmore]

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.

[zenos.]

Perfect, straight to the point no dumb music in the background exceptional thank you!!!

[sweetness_]

Great presentation, illustration and information. Short, direct and straight to the point!

[mafcarvalho]

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.

[edwardmorehouse]

Thanks Aaron for the succinct explanations.

[jmcprotech]

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

[judih.]

Wow Aaron, super simple explanation. Thanks!

[christopherleecowan]

Yep, digital output from the CD player to the external DAC. That way you're not using the internal deck of the CD player. Absolutely correct. Now you have a CD transport.

[doublet]

I had to comment after I saw your cd player with the pitch control on it. I haven't come across anyone else with that player. I have a similar old cd player from Denon. A DCD-815.

[richardrangel]

Thank you straight to the point great info!

[nineteen]

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.

[dalepatrap]

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.

[Jack]

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

[danielel]

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?

[reviewlaunch]

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.