A one-box Streamer/DAC/Preamp that is Roon friendly, and DOES sound good is the Naim NSC222. Quite glorious actually. If you like it, Naim has an upgrade path, which is an external power supply that replaces the 222 internal supplies. However, the NSC222 on it's own is very good.
The Streamer-Dac-Preamp Chain
I'm building a second system, and I'd love your thoughts. My starting point is Roon / digital library / Qobuz. My ending point is a Moon 761 power amplifier which then goes on to speakers. I need to insert a streamer, a DAC, and a preamp between the starting point and the ending point. Now, I know I can get a Moon 791 for around 15K, which looks and sounds lovely with the Moon 761.
Question: can you suggest a streamer, a DAC, and a preamp (for the same approx total) that spans this particular chain (e.g., no phono needed) and does better than the Moon 791?
[I do have an Auralic Vega G2.1 left over from my first system which connects all the dots above. But I don't like its preamp stage --- I've already replaced the volume control module. And the Moon 791 easily outperforms it. However, if you want to incorporate its DAC into your suggestions, I am happy to listen...]
---------------
That ends my question, but you might be interested in hearing what ChatGPT had to say. Pretty confident character, our Chat :-)
This is a great problem. Here’s a stack that should significantly outperform the Moon 791 in terms of DAC resolution, preamp transparency, and streamer flexibility:
1. Streamer: Auralic Aries G2.2 (~$5,500)
• Tesla G3 processor is far superior to the Moon 791’s built-in MiND 2 module.
• Femto clocks + isolated dual processors mean exceptionally low jitter.
• USB, AES/EBU, and I²S outputs (versatile for DAC pairing).
• Dedicated power supply for streaming means cleaner signal delivery.
2. DAC: Holo Audio May KTE (~$5,500)
• R2R discrete ladder DAC (no delta-sigma conversion, ultra-natural sound).
• Fully balanced dual-mono design.
• Separate power supplies for analog/digital stages.
• One of the most analog-like DACs available. Unlike ESS-based DACs (like in Moon 791), the Holo May avoids digital glare.
3. Preamp: Benchmark LA4 (~$3,000)
• Absolutely neutral, ultra-transparent preamp. The Moon 791 preamp section is good but not at LA4’s level.
• No capacitors in the signal path, no coloration.
• Near-zero distortion and noise floor.
- ...
- 32 posts total
@coffee-jerk thanks! Yes I’m familiar with the NSC222 and it sounds great, but a Moon 791 is something I can always do and for me (especially paired with the Moon 761 and which I already have), that takes out the Naim. In any case like many of my fellow-denizens here on this forum I’m going to go down a crazy rabbit hole or two and try out the optical rendu into an auralic vega g2.1 that I have lying around, and take it from there. |
Reporting back in case it’s helpful to others. On the streamer front: I used a Netgear unmanaged switch (GS108X) to start a fiber moat (I used Finisar FTLF8519P3BNL transceivers), ended it with a Sonore Optical Module and then ran a small ethernet patch to an Auralic Vega G2.1, then on to the Moon 761 power amp. It sounds beautiful. I wouldn’t say that it is a dramatic improvement on the setup I had already (Vega without the fiber moat) but it is a perceptible change in terms of clarity. I am not sure that I can push any more gains at the margin, but I am very pleased so far. Still debating whether to add a separate preamp, but I’m lazy and like the Roon volume control, which I will then lose. PS. I did try going "full fiber" with an Optical Rendu as per @yyzsantabarbara's helpful suggestions, but that didn't do anything for me, most likely because the Vega's USB input isn't that great. |
@debrajray Interesting that you could not hear any improvement with the fibre. In my tests with direct Ethernet into a DAC via RJ45 or a USB into the DAC from a computer were not performing at the same level as fibre. There was less clarity on top and other grunge. The computer use case was the worst if you were using a noisy computer like I have in my current setup (but with fibre). I also use my RAAL SR1a headphones and those are like a surgical device with respect to letting you hear everything. A dirty source was dirty sound out on those phones. I sold an excellent preamp last week, the Holo Audio Serene and now have only 2 preamps left. The Benchmark HPA4 (same as the LA4) and the Schitt Mjolnir v3. The Schitt is good and the HPA4 is incredible. I put the HPA4 where the Serene used to be (in my best system) and I feel like I got a cleaner sound. Just love this preamp. |
@yyzsantabarbara I am using fiber --- but up to an Optical Module and then heading back via very short ethernet into the (Vega) streamer, and it sounds distinctly better. What I am not doing is using an oRendu and bypassing the Vega streamer. But the lack of difference here can't be pinned down to a single factor, as I don't think the USB input on the Vega is that good. But please don't sell me on the Benchmark LA4 :-), even though my original post does mention it. I do not want to control volume with an infrared remote and I don't think there is an alternative. (Short of digitally cutting back from the streamer.) Right? |
- 32 posts total