DACs:Apple device vs receiver

[copernico]

I got a Yamaha RX-A710 receiver and I use the iPod touch (2nd gen) to stream radio to the receiver via an airport express unit. Right now the AE is connected to the receiver with a regular mini plug cable to one of the RCA audio inputs. I am considering using optical cable from the AE unit to a digital input in the receiver. As far as I understand, this would be better if the DAC in the receiver is better than the DAC in the airport express. I also have the option of plugging the iPod directly to the receiver, and in this case the iPod would be doing the D to A conversion. Are the apple devices generally good at DACing compared to the DACs built in a receiver?

cheers and thanks

[Jake]

I will leave the AE specific questions to those that know but I recall reading that many RXs now convert A to D before it is processed internally inside the RX. Then it is flipped back to A for output. In those cases it will always be better to feed the receiver D. But by using a digital stream you are avoiding artifacts from RF or EMI. What happens to 48KHz or 96KHz audio if you use A?

[57]

It's usually best to use the best possible connection from the device to the AVR. The only time this is not true is if the particular device is outstanding in its specs, say like the top line OPPO BD players and even then an HDMI connection might be the better way to go... (It would be doubtful that someone would spend $600-1000 for a BD player and connect it to a $300 AVR.) If the device costs less than the AVR, then send the best signal to the AVR.