2. digital
  3. 132171-1590

Solid state DAC under 12K retail preferably with ethernet

Looking to upgrade from AMR DP-777 and go solid state.
These are the ones I know or read about: Bricasti, Berkeley, Aeris, DirectStream, ODSE, Meitner, Luxman DA-06

Am I missing any other important DACs I should be looking at or reading about?
Currently leaning towards Bricasti M1 SE.

Rest of my system: Coincident Frankenstein Mk 2 300b amps, Devore O96
essrand
lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,111 posts
 
“It's that last Ethernet interface before the D/A that uses the master clock that matters”

@audioengr,

Great point. It’s imperative to pick a player that has decent Ethernet interface to tackle jitter. My N10 does a fabulous job of minimizing jitter with onboard OCXO clocks. Also, it’s worth pointing out the use of a quality Ethernet cable to reduce noise and data transmission errors.

On my last visit to RMAF, I have seen few Ethernet switches that were focusing on jitter control with their onboard OCXO circuit and separate linear power supply. 

audioengr
3,282 posts
 

That has not been my experience with some ethernet-based DACs like the Ayre QX-5 Twenty. It still sounded better with a SOtM tX-USB Ultra behind it clocked by a master reference clock and through a modified switch.

If there is USB involved, then it's not Ethernet to the D/A converter.  You are maybe using a uRendu?

This is not the same as using Ethernet to I2S to the D/A chip.


Steve N.

Empirical Audio

audioengr
3,282 posts
 

On my last visit to RMAF, I have seen few Ethernet switches that were focusing on jitter control with their onboard OCXO circuit and separate linear power supply.

I don't understand how a reclocking of the switch will help.  The stream is packetized and the master clock is in the final interface, not in the switch.

The LPS will definitely help though, and it must have DC common tied to earth ground.  This reduces leakage.  This makes the biggest difference.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

limniscate
241 posts
 
@audioengr 

Sorry, I meant the sMS-200 Ultra with a clocked switch before the Ayre QX-5 Twenty.
essrand OP
295 posts
 
I think there is enough consensus coming around the fact that ethernet is better than USB, that I am starting to believe, although never having tested it myself.

@limniscate  if you look at the latest review of Ayre DAC, the review does mention that the ethernet sounds better than the USB, if I remember correctly.

I think I have changed my mind. Yes I would definitely prefer a ethernet interface. Not having to buy a fancy music server would be icing on the cake. Just a NAS and a laptop on the ethernet would work?

I believe the Bricasti is certified roon-ready, I recently checked the Bricasti and Roon website to confirm it.

Yes, a shootout would be great, I have been following mattnshilp's thread for years now.


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