Also consider Innuos Pulse. The UI (app) that controls and curate your stream / music is just as critical as choosing a right streamer.
DSD Remastering Software Experience
My Sony TA-ZH1ES DAC has a feature called DSD Remastering that works with any type of file you send it. The effect is it noticeably smooths out the music making it sound closer to analog. Last night I did a comparison with an actual SACD (Bob James-Feel Like Making Live) with DSD Remastering turned off and a streamed version of the same tracks from Tidal with DSD Remastering turned on. The differences were so minute I had to listen very carefully to tell the difference. The SACD was about 10% closer to sounding like a live performance in that you could notice the acoustics of the studio they used and the decay of piano notes, bass strings, cymbal brushes hung in the air just a tiny bit longer. I was using a Paradigm Link as a streamer in this comparison. With a different streamer the differences might even be closer to the actual SACD.
DSD sounds better than any other digital format I have listened to. Has anyone else used a DSD Remastering/upmixer and care to share their experience? I know both Marantz and Onkyo have their own proprietary products that do something similar.
I was not expecting the comparison to be this close and am a bit surprised that streaming can sound almost as good as an actual SACD (which are limited in availability and expensive).
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@soix Which Dac are you using that performs in both capacities? It seems I’ve read about this in the past but can’t seem to recall who builds it. |
@designsfx Im using a Musician Pegasus that is very similar to the Denafrips Pontus II that I assume would have the same capability. |
I already have a software I like, DTS Play-Fi. It has been upgraded where it is now pretty good. I have whole house audio linked to various brands (Klipsch in my office, Onkyo in the mancave, DefTech in the dining room, paradigm in the kitchen and home theater, etc). What I really like about the software is when you have it installed on a PC or windows tablet it will stream whatever you are playing on your computer to any system (s) you choose. No USB cables, no hassle it just works. The highest quality streamer in the Play-Fi ecosystem is the McIntosh MB50. Alternatively I can go with the Sony Signature player designed for this amp, the WM1AM2 with a docking station. The McIntosh matches the software ecosystem I already like and use, the Sony Signature DAP is designed to match my amp. They are both around the same price. Thoughts? |
“What I really like about the software is when you have it installed on a PC or windows tablet it will stream whatever you are playing on your computer to any system (s) you choose. No USB cables, no hassle it just works.“ I have a similar setup in my entire house except my ManCave. I have been using SONOS for last 15 years for causal listening + home theater. If you like being in DTS Play-Fi ecosystem then it’s perfectly ok to pursue a hardware that offers the best SQ within their ecosystem. I only brought up Aurender cause you were raving about DSD in your post which in my opinion requires a very high quality streamer or transport. When I think of high quality streaming or DSD playback, the Paradigm Link or MB50 is not what I think or consider to be in same realm as Aurender or Innuos and Lumin (no offense). The only way for you to access if it is worth pursuing Aurender or something similar is by comparing them in your system. You may end up liking MB50 more than Aurender cause MB50 simply gels better in your system, cost less and sound close enough to Aurender. PS: I didn’t build my system overnight, it took lots of trial and error over the last 5 years. |
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