RPI4 USB transport vs DAC Hat

[Taki8888]

Hi,

I have setup the rpi4 with IQ Audio DAC Pro.

Do you think I would see huge sound upgrade if
I used the rpi4 as USB transport into a Topping D50
or Schiit AK4490 DAC?

Or these are small differences.

[suzywong]

The only person who could say one way or the other would be.....you!

The only opinion that anybody could add would be based upon their own experiences. For example, I have an IQAudio DAC Pro mounted on an RPI 3B. It is a very fine piece of kit. I’ve run it into my Naim active SBLs system; it is by no means disgraced in that company. However it is bettered by my Musical Fidelity VDAC2-VPSU.  And both are blown away by my nDAC-XPS.

But obviously, the above is in my not-so-humble opinion.

YMMV