How good is the internal DAC on the B&K Reference 50?

[ColoKurt]

I’m about to buy an Apple Mac Mini for use as a music server. I’ll use the optical connection from Airport Express to send the digital signal to my B&K Ref. 50. I was wondering if anybody has compared the internal DAC on the Ref.50 to a high quality external DAC like the Musical Fidelity X-DACV3?

With an external DAC you can use the two-channel analog direct mode on the Ref.50. My amp is a B&K 7250 and speakers are B&W 802N. All responses are appreciated.

Thanks.

[Hoopofficial]

I have not compared the DAC to the Musical Fidelity but I will tell you this, for two channel playback, I choose Analog direct for all my source component playback unless I want to manipulate bass/treble of the recording. Obviously you are getting a cleaner sound because the B&K is not manipulating and reconverting the signal. My old Adcom GCD 600 with a Burr/Brown DAC sounds great. So does my new Denon DVD-3910. I will omit, the difference is subtle but I definetly notice it and prefer direct mode. That being said, is it worth spending the extra $ on an external DAC. You will need to be the judge of that. Good luck

[ColoKurt]

Thanks HoopOfficial. I'll definitely try to borrow an external DAC from my dealer and listen for myself before buying.