DAC on an iMac desktop to improve sound. Worthwhile?

[Bonefish Blues]

I'm listening to a lot of my music via our desktop these days (since I'm sat at it c40 hrs a week...), using wired connection via the headphone out to HK Soundsticks and Sub and I've been impressed since I upgraded to the HKs.

Any significant benefit to an offboard DAC like a Dragonfly/similar in terms of improving the sound?

[Bonefish Blues]

I picked up something to try from another forum for cheap just as a test to see the effect, so let's see.

[Bonefish Blues]

This is what I bought s/h:

https://www.audiophile-heaven.com/2023/01/fosi-aud...

I've hooked it up today and am exploring, but it's a definite step forward

[Bonefish Blues]

Agreed re headphones, but it's my work desk station and I'm on and off Teams calls all day so just not convenient.

TBH I've been much more impressed with the Harman Kardon set up than I expected to me - it's really quite revealing. The onboard speakers on the Mac are a step backwards over the first gen's fatter-chassis ones, so it was a big 'wow' when I started using them, but as always with hi-fi, you get greedy for just a bit more, and the DAC, albeit really quite an ordinary one, is definitely more revealing.