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Which dac or other suggestions

First time poster here. I am looking for advice to increase the sound quality of my existing system. I have a Marantz SR7009 being used as a pre-amp powered by Emotiva's XPA-5, 2 revel m22 bookshelf speakers serving as my L & R, revel c52 center speakers and 2 revel timber matched C563 in ceiling rear surrounds. I mainly listen to music and switch between L &R stereo only and sometimes "all stereo" or matrix through all speakers. We do watch movies but seem happy with our home theater experience thus far although always open to suggestions. We mostly listen to music through a Sonos connect but we also do have an Orbit turntable. I know that the turntable will one day need to be upgraded to maybe a Rega RP3 or similar. I am in the process of adding two SVS SB12-nsd subs to the mix. Our room is large at 20x30x10 and I hope these subs will make some sort of impact. We also use an Apple TV. Now for my question.

I am looking to increase the sound quality of my Sonos driven music. I spoke to an audiophile (owner of Echo audio in Seattle) and he suggested a dac. In particular, because he knows I'm cheap haha!, he suggested the California Labs Sigma ii, Enlightened Audio Designs DSP-7000 mkiii, and some Krell dacs (stealth and ??) that I have never seen listed for sale. I missed an opportunity on both the Cal Labs and the EAD and I'm kicking myself. With ALL this being said, what other dacs should I consider? My budget is $750 or less and I would prefer $400 or less. Old vs new? Tube? NOS? DSD? Yadda yadda. I am looking for an increased sound stage and dynamic range. If I get more clarity and warmth then yee haw!

I appreciate all of your input in advance. Thanks for letting this first timer ramble.

Btw, I listen to mostly indie rock but I seriously dive into ALL types of music and yes I like it loud.
troydunnagan
mhart032
34 posts
 
I have been through a ton of DACs to find some kind of improvement in my streaming audio, I didn't notice a huge improvement with any of them really. I stream via tidal or my own flac files. If you are thinking you just have to try it, I recommend the Jolida DAC III w it has Bluetooth for streaming a pretty decent tube stage and can be had for under 600. This is the only DAC I have kept with all that I've gone through. As far as the svs subs, svs makes a pretty decent sub. I have heard really highend systems with them, as well as low end. They all had great bottom end..

My advice would be to forget about a DAC, the marrantz has a built in dac, and is a pretty good preamp, specially in the Atmos category. I build a budget 9.2 theather for a friend useing that preamp and all elac ub5s for rears, fronts surrounds and atmos, McIntosh amps and 2 velodyne subs and it sounds quite good. 


bondmanp
1,808 posts
 

I agree with mhart032 - you are unlikely to improve on the DAC in the Marantz AVR without spending a good deal more.  I haven't heard the Emotiva amp, except at a show, but I have listened a bit to some mid-priced Revel speakers.  I liked them, but I would not catagorize them as particularly warm.  If you are looking for a warmer sound, I would focus on the amp and speakers.  The Marantz AVRs I have heard are also just to the warm side of neutral.  For an amp, at least for the front channels, consider Odyssey Audio.  I have an HT3 3-channel amp for my front channels, and it is as warm as I would want without losing any detail or extension in the mids and highs.  It was noticeably warmer and smoother sounnding than the Rotel amp it replaced, and an AVA amp I also auditioned at home.  I know this may be more than you want to spend, but a call to Odyssey might be worthwhile. 


And don't ignore the cables and power.  Better cables and better quality, cleaner power can make a system sound warmer by reducing RFI and other powerline hash, which, I believe, people hear as etch and grain in the treble.

kalali's avatar
kalali
1,977 posts
 

From the OP: "I am looking to increase the sound quality of my Sonos driven music." and "My budget is $750 or less and I would prefer $400 or less."

My Bluesound Node2 recommendation was based on these requirements. I'm sure there are other changes in the audio path that can improve the SQ, e.g., speakers, amp, etc., but improving the source, at least in this particular case, will be the best bang for the buck, IMHO.

gdhal's avatar
gdhal
1,641 posts
 
@kalali 

I'm reading favorable things regarding the Blue Sound Node 2. In fact, even my dealer recommends it. Claims he sells it to folks buying 20K+ systems. He didn't say, however, whether or not those folks are using it as transport or the total source (i.e. it's own DAC and analog out right to the amp). I'm on the fence with it but will probably pull the trigger at some point given its relatively low cost. If the USB were plug-and-play it would be a no brainer and I'd jump on it immediately. I don't like the fact that I'd need software on my computer to deal with selecting the playlist, but I may have to swallow that pill. 

Are you using the Node 2 as transport or using its internal DAC?
williewonka
3,075 posts
 
@gdhal - re ....

Question for you (or others on thread).... I have an Oppo UDP-205. I’m very happy with the sound. So too are many others. That said, have you or anyone else on the thread had a chance to hear the Oppo and if so, how would you compare the sound to the Node 2? I’m only interested in sound comparison. Features are besides the point. They likely sound different because Oppo uses Sabre ESS DAC and I believe Node 2 uses Burr Brown.

You are correct - the Node2 apparantly uses the  Burr Brown PCM5122

Unfortunately I have no knowledge of the Oppo - other than they are very well respected in audio circles according to many of the posts I have read.

From your post above to @Kalali

RE: - 
 If the USB were plug-and-play it would be a no brainer and I'd jump on it immediately. I don't like the fact that I'd need software on my computer to deal with selecting the playlist, but I may have to swallow that pill.
Personally - I found removing the computer completely from the path...
- improved the sound quality - no more USB related issues
- made life so much more simpler - no more OS/SOftware upgrade related issues - their is only one update source and that is from Bluesound - before I had MAC OS, iTunes and Audirva updates that had to allign - just like the stars some days :-)

RE - 
 I don't like the fact that I'd need software on my computer to deal with selecting the playlist, but I may have to swallow that pill.
I've found that even with Bluesound,  I prefer the interface of the App on my computer to create playlists - just because for me, the interface seems the easier place to perform that specific function

Hope that helps

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