TOPIC:

Your recommendations will be appreciated.

My setup is:

AirPlay, DLNA, USB (up to 24/96) going into Yamaha WXC-50 streamer/preamp ==> SHD (on its way to me) ==> analogue to poweramp and active SW.

Yamaha WXC-50 has optical out, but (despite official specs) it seems to downsample everything to 48KHz.

It also has analogue out using SABRE9006AS DAC, which seems to be quite a capable DAC.

Which do you think it more appropriate to feed SHD?

Thanks

@oshevtsov

Welcome to the community and thanks for your purchase of an SHD unit!
Hard to say what would be the best choice but maybe best to trial? You can always connect both the optical and Analog and easily toggle the source from the SHD..

Our analog input/output conversion stage has very good specs so I think that you'll be pleasantly surprised !

DevTeam

Just wondering why the WXC-50 is needed at all once you have the SHD?

I would like to integrate SHD into living room setup as seamlessly for other users as possible.

There are lots of Yamaha MusicCast devices throughout the house. Other family members already know how to stream AirPlay and DLNA to them. Intuitive/familiar controls from iPhones. In living room, WXC-50 turns on/off by itself when needed and also triggers poweramp.

So basically for convenience of everyone else.

Tried analog vs optical today (both inputs fed from from Yamaha WXC-50 ), pre-Dirac. Optical is better, Not dramatically, but the difference is quite audible. Seems that DAC in SHD in indeed a good one:)

More DA-AD conversions always decrease quality, better input digital.