IS THE MARTIN LOGAN Renassance 15A worth the $10,000 higher cost than the Expression 13A

Go big or go home. Actually, go big at home.
Kingsound King III electrostatic with twin Legacy Audio XTREME XD Subs in 13×23 room. GLORIOUS!

Don’t rook yourself by under-purchasing on performance.

Both reviewed by me for Dagogo.com

(Old thread; maybe someone now can benefit)

Douglas, I had to look away quickly from the gear you have reviewed. Lol

I have been reading some good things about the ARC DAC-9 . But it came out a few years ago already.

But==I do have an itch to upgrade my bluesound streamer/auralic vega dac combo.

What is an awesome combo or two under ..let's saaaay $10,000??

Streaming is really picking up steam for me since I tried Qobuz.

ps..I still love my M-L's.....with carefully selected gear it provides really nice sound. But--to each his own of course.

I own the Aurender ACS10 and the Audio Research DAC 9.  I've owned and listened to several music servers  and the Aurender is the best I've heard.  On top of that it is a CD bit perfect ripper also.  Two (2) terrabyte internal hard drives and it streams also.  The DAC 9 is without a doubt the best DAC I've heard.  The DAC 8 is also pretty darn good, but Randy in Santa Monica Optimal Enchantment convinced me to upgrade.  No regrets.

The music is wonderful.

By-the-way, if it is still posted, you might want to consider the Monolith III Speaker. It has new panels (a $3000) value using their new  panel designs (same as the 15), and electronic crossover.  I've heard the Monolith IIIs vs the 15s and I still prefer  the Monolith III.  Last I saw, they were being sold for $7000

enjoy

miniorl ,thanks...how do you connect both units? usb? dig coax?..what brand / model?..thanks

mike

mikepaul, I have not done comparison between the Bluesound and my current source, the reviewed Small Green Computer SonicTransporter and the SONORE Signature Rendu SE with systemOptique. I am very pleased with the performance, both as server and streamer. 

If you consider the Rendu, make sure you do the systemOptique option, which can be ordered built into the Signature Rendu. I was stunned by the benefit of transitioning from an ethernet connection to an optical connection into the Signature Rendu. (See my article on the systemOptique). It's an enormous improvement over ethernet connection. 

As to DACs, I have used many. My experience is that it is almost impossible to recommend a DAC as universally superior, as every last one has done better/poorer with different combinations of gear. One of the most consistent in all systems has been the Exogal comet with Plus Power Supply. However, in some systems the COS D1 DAC+Pre has superseded it. Then again, the reverse is also true in particular systems. I have found no universal superiority with any DAC tested to date. I have most definitely found superiority of certain DACS in certain systems. Don't let anyone tell you that any given DAC can't be beat. 

But, I wouldn't quickly return to the old Ethernet standard. Perhaps someday a standard Ethernet/DAC combo will impress, but that remains to be seen.   COS D1 also reviewed for Dagogo.com