Arcam DV78 to Arcam AVR250 - worth going via DacMagic?

[IntegraTypeR]

Hi all,

This is a purely academic thread but I'm interested to hear what those in the know think

My current setup looks like this

Arcam DV78 DVD/CD player (DVD no longer used) -> Analogue Phono -> Arcam AVR250 Amp
Dell Zino HD PC -> Analogue Phono -> Arcam AVR250 Amp
Arcam AVR250 Amp -> Monitor Audio Silver RS speakers

(+ video stuff that's not relevant to this thread)

In order to improve the quality of the audio from the Dell, I've ordered a Cambridge Audio DacMagic which should be with me in a day or so. To make use of the DAC I need to source a new set of phono interconnects as I don't have anything spare.

So, to the point of my thread...

I'm wondering if instead of purchasing yet another set of phono interconnects, I should route the DV78 into the DacMagic over digital coax (I have a spare QED one sitting about) and then use the phonos from the DV78 to connect the DacMagic into the Amp. This would leave both the CD + PC connected digitally into the DacMagic and the DacMagic connected over analogue into the Amp.

Of course I'll try plugging it all together in different ways to see which sounds the best as soon as I have the additional kit. In the meantime, I'm wondering if the general expectation would be for the CD player to sound better when direct connected over analogue to the amp or via the DAC? I guess it comes down to the quality of the DAC in the CD player vs the quality of the DacMagic (no doubt an over simplification!)

What do you think?

Cheers

Ian

[TEKNOPUG]

I think that it will come down to what you prefer the sound of. The DAC "improving" on the sound of the CD player (which I presume already has a 24bit dac) will be purely subjective I'd imagine.

Something that I'm contemplating doing similar only with Denon components. I reckon that I'll leave the CD seperate (althouth no harm in experimenting) as I really want to run my PC, XBOX and TV though the DacMagic as priorities.