Computer Audio..Stream or download?

Fsmithjack, I just committed to a Aurender N100H. I should have in-house by end of next week. I thought it would be good start. I will post feedback by end of August.

Tbg, like yourself I am hanging on to my SACD's and CD's. I realize CD players are a dying breed, but some Hi-end manufacturer still continue to churn out CD player that cost thousands of dollars....I guess some purist still buying those players. I am quite content with my Krell Cipher SACD/CD player.

Cheers!

If you are going to do a lot od DSD playback or use HQP to upconvert all to DSD, i would strongly recommend looking at Lampizator. Used, as DSD only L4 Lampi will run you about $2,500.

I think the DHT versions will give you even more and a Lite 7 is the cheapest entry point there. Lampi uses "chipless" DSD and its unlike anything else in digital to me. Lots of guys with deep pockets and SoTA setups are jumping for the top model, the Golden Gate, but its quite pricey at $18K approx. They are also pairing that with the new Lampi server, the DSD Komputer which is a maxxed out CAPs style server for about $7K or so.

I myself have a Big7 and am delighted by it.

Lalitk - Great Choice !!! Those are sweet and you are going to love it.

Congrats!!!!

I love those! I am enjoying playing around with my Aries and improving it but I have my eye on either an Aurender or Antipodes and I am sure one of those will be on my short chase down and tackle list soon enough.

Awesome choice. I know for sure their sound is excellent and one of the best but they are hands down the best looking, best build and slickest units out there. Very cool...

Wisnon makes a good point about the Lampi's in that used price range for their DSD but I really like the DAC you were leaning toward already the Modwright Elyse DAC.

I like the Modwright stuff and I think it will be a fantastic match to your great transport choice!!!

I love the build concept of the Elyse and his approach to his power supply design. A power supply that uses the natural sounding tube rectification but ties it up tight with dual-discrete solid state voltage regulation. That is a nice approach to combo both strengths into one power fine supply. I like it.

Then he adds in the sweet Lundahl tranny coupled inputs which will tether up your transport the right way and then he doubles down with the Lundahl tranny coupled outputs so no preamp will be needed with his pure Class A / zero feedback implementation of the 6922 in the output stage. This tube which let you tailor your sound better than any other tube I know IMO. Love the 6922 who needs the super tube anyhow. Now you just need to get yourself a pair of Upscale / Platinum / Cryoed / Pitched Waist Amperex PQ's and a Mullard Blackburn Factory built circa mid 60's GZ34 rectifier Tube (get the Hammond organ labeled ones and save some scratch for exact same tube) and you are good to go. You will be first rate all the way!!! Congrats again and great choices ...

Fsmithjack,

I am really looking forward to Elyse DAC. I just installed a pair of KWA150 SE, they are powering up my 800D's in bridged mono configuration. Hands down, one of the best amps I have heard in a while. They outclassed my Classe M600, actually smoked them!

I thought about Auralic Aries a lot but the build and SQ quality out weighs the $1100 price difference. The way used market is, who wants to risk reselling Aries at $1K range in couple of months.

As far as the tube mods go, Dan already recommended following tube replacements -

(2) Electro Harmonix 6922 TUBES - Stock Tubes
- Recommended Upgrade (that they use at the trade shows) Tungsram PCC88 / 7DJ8 - http://www.upscaleaudio.com/tungsram-pcc88-7dj8/
(1) Sovtek 5AR4 - Stock Tube
- Recommended Upgrade, NOS 1970 Philips 5R4GYS - http://www.upscaleaudio.com/philips-5r4gys

I plan to listen the DAC with stock tubes first and then swap them out with recommended tubes. The DAC being shipped with both tubes.

Modwright makes very good stuff, but the DHT tubes are incomparable. I have played around with ECC88s, ECC40, ECC81/82/83 of all kinds of exotic old brands from my local tube guy and they are great, but the, 345s, 45 triodes (mesh plate), the 101ds, 300bs, 6A3s, etc combined with the big bottle rectifiers do it for me.

I have (as rectis) metal base Philips GZ34, Mullard GZ37, vintage 5u4g, 5AR, new production 274b, military spec double mica 5r4gy, etc, all from the 1940s to 1960s. When combined with the big bottle DHTs are a quantum leap over the small signal tubes and especially for DSD.

I have NOT tried the uber expensive 300bs like from WE vintage, Takasuli, Elrog, etc nor the EML anniversary 45 globe (unobtanium). people say these are worth the high pricetag.