How to get into high end digital? (Feeding a DAC)


I am looking primarily at the Schitt Yggdrasil or the Topping D90.
  • How does one feed those?
  • I am assuming any sort of CD transport would output the bit stream?
  • or… they get saved to file and played from some media player into the DACs.

Some example of what is commonly done would be great.

The system currently consists of:
  • TT —> Audio Research PH2
  • An old Nakamichi 5 disk CD player
  • TV
  • Audible Illusions line stage (New tunes on the way, but it still sound OK to me with the old tube in it)
  • Prima Luna (with GoldenLion and TS KT-120 one the way… and I might I’ll get the VTL mono blocks 100w/ch serviced)
  • Vandy 2C and Vandy sub

I also have a Home Theatre pre, which is Roon capable, on the way… So that maybe does some of this for me as well? 

But to be totally honest, the digital side is a bit of mystery to me.
I have always thought we plug in a CD player and the signal comes out. (Maybe with some nuance in DACs, clock jitter, and filtering to separate the higher end from the lower end products.)
128x128holmz
If your new "Home Theatre pre, which is Roon capable" means it's a Roon Ready endpoint device, then it can be your network streamer/player. Just connect it via ethernet cable to your network.
This.  

IMO you may be focusing too much on the DAC at this point.
Your "Home Theatre pre" may already have a decent embedded DAC chip.  Decent enough to get started, anyway. 

If it's "Roon Ready" then presumably it also has RJ45 ethernet input. So you might want to be asking how to get Roon working (because it's not quite as simple as just plugging in a cable).  For that, Google is your friend. Basically, you'll need to:
* subscribe to Roon (annual or lifetime fee)
* subscribe to a streaming service such as Tidal or Qobuz
* download and install Roon Core on a NUC, Mac mini, or other computer
* download and install at least one Roon Remote controller app onto an iPhone, iPad, laptop, or other wireless device
* follow online instructions to "enable" one or more endpoints and point your controller(s) to the Core

Once you set up Roon, you can put away your CDs and CD player if you like, because nearly all the world's music will be at your fingertips.  Chances are, Tidal/Qobuz can stream versions of all (or nearly all) your CDs , possibly at better-than-CD quality.  The Roon software includes digital signal processing functions, including upsampling.

Once you have Roon working, then you can think about upgrades to individual components (possibly including the DAC) if you think you need them.  For that, the Roon Community forum can be very helpful.

If you don't want to commit to Roon at this point, you might want to consider above suggestions to get a Bluesound device (Node or Vault). The Node (and I think the Vault too) can be a Roon-Ready endpoint, if you want to get into that later. Meanwhile, it also can support services like Tidal directly (without Roon). It has a built in DAC chip, volume control, and companion software app for a laptop/smartphone.  Your Roon-ready pre may even be able to support streaming services without Roon and without Bluesound (if not directly via the preamp, then via your TV).

An even simpler way to get at streaming content is to subscribe to a streaming service  (Tidal/Qobuz/AppleMusic etc), put the companion app on a smartphone, and plug in a high quality pair of headphones.  If you decide you like the streaming service, you later can use an iPhone as a Roon-Ready endpoint (using a lightning-to-USB interface to connect it to your AVR/preamp.) 

In sum: 
Get the streaming services working first, preferably using the gear you already have. If you decide you like the content and functionality (compared to CDs or vinyl) then you can start thinking about upgrades.


Audirvana is worth trying. With free trials, I’d compare it to Roon. Anyway, there are various ways to improve your digital front end in addition to a DAC or a transport/streamer.
The best sound you’re going to get out of the SCHIIT Yagg is USB from your computer , running Audirvana or Roon . I suppose using a streamer would be OK also. If it has good sounding output. I used optical also it sounded good but I also was re-clocking with M2tech  And I don’t think it’s worth the money with that $200 card. 
XLD works great on Mac. Flac and AIFF are both fine. WAV does too but you will lose metadata when ripping (which you can add back, but extra steps.

@donniewn why suggesting that the Yggy USB will sound best from a computer? IMHE, USB-optimized DACs like Gumby & Yggy sound better with USB from a good streamer/renderer.

Audirvana+ is a barely supported hobby, and updates when they happen can be a nightmare. After 4 years of coping, I bailed and couldn't be happier about doing. Roon works SO much better and brings a far better experience. Cheers,

Spencer
Have you heard the new usb card? I’ve read a lot of good reviews on it . I think it’s probably comparable. Whatever suits your ears is what’s best. Not everybody has a streamer. Why are you done with Audirvana ? I know it doesn’t stream DSD very well but I sure love the interface better than Roon . I am running Twonkie to stream the DSD. It’s working pretty good. No issues so far