Which DACs are known to be sweet/rich/relaxed?
Problem
System is nicely transparant and detailed, but tends to get bright and harsh with certain (rock) recordings and at higher volume levels.
Objective
Nudge the system towards a sweeter, richer, more relaxed presentation.
Proposed solution / first step
Upgrade to a (tube based) DAC, budget $25-40k.
Current chain
On my radar
Lampizator Pacific (or Golden Gate 2 since I heard it's more "tube-like")
Aries Cerat Kassandra 2 Ref or Sig
— What other DACs should I consider?
— Do you think upgrading to another (tube based) DAC will achieve that sweeter, richer, more relaxed presentation?
Buying some high end server to stream Roon over Ethernet is a huge waste. If your DAC has a streamer built in, that already solves any problems a server may create. I agree 100% that room treatments is your next step in trial and error. If you have such a huge budget you ought to be able to do this quite attractively. Focal speakers are bright by nature. They may not be your cup of tea for rock. |
I would like to give you advice that is outside of the expensive solutions. I too have been chasing the perfection of music from a digital source and purchase an Uptone Audio EtherRegen switch lowered the noise floor but kept reading positive reports of almost eliminating digital noise by converting ethernet signals, that carry digital noise, to optical through a converter product like the Sonore Optical Module. It has been sold out for a while so the owner of Uptone Audio recommended the $20 TP-Link module. I took his recommendation and bought the module, 2 SPF units, and a fiber cable for $75. After installing it with a linear power supply, the noise floor is non existent and any digital harshness has disappeared making me wonder how much better the Sonore Optical Module would be with Finisar SPF modules. Pretty cheap experiment! |
@robert1976 If 95% of the recordings sound fine, you are seeking a solution for the 5% that don’t. A solution that makes those 5% sound fine may adversely affect your satisfaction with the other 95%. I reiterate my view that a software or hardware approach to reducing treble energy for specific albums is a safe approach. Acoustic treatments may help reduce the excess brightness and hash from those 5%, but they might unacceptably dampen the sound of the other 95%. Either try treatments that can be returned or consider hiring a capable acoustic engineer who knows how to treat a room. I would also consider some of the highly cost effective, simple suggestions made by others - get a better Ethernet switch; try different Ethernet cables. Those, in particular, can make a very audible difference, but again those solutions affect everything, not just the objectionable 5%. Good luck. |
