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Streamer Advice / Recommendation for Denafrips R2R DAC

I really could use some help / recommendations on the choice of a streamer.  Here's where I am in my research:
I've decided on a Denafrips Pontus DAC (R2R) because of it's sound characteristics (musical while maintaining definition).  It is within my budget, while the Terminator is not.

My current thinking is I need a streamer that does not have memory, amplification or a DAC on board.  I will use the streamer-DAC pairing to listen to music in a AVR / Music setup: Denon AVR3700H (105 watts) connected to a Rotel 1590 power amp through the Denon precouts.  Bowers & Wilkins 702 S2 (left right) speakers.  Bowers & Wilkins 802 center channel (power connection by Denon amp)  SVS and Yamaha powered subwoofers. When used for streaming Netflix it's a 7.2 setup.

For streaming music I listen to the usual list of suspect: Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify.  In it's current setup, the system is too bright and harsh.  Speaker placement is in the room from acoustic hell: rectangular 15' x 45' with the front/ center channel speakers facing the narrow width (unfortunately by necessity and I'm in the process of adding reflection panels to cover 15% of the room.

I am determined to achieve music that does not wear me out after a couple of hours listening: well produced electronic music / R&B  / piano jazz.  I like midrange dominance but without too much detail in the +8k hz.

I learned to budget more for the DAC than the streamer, but most of the streamers I've looked at are combo amp/hard drive/DAC or they have networking into multi rooms. The  Auralic Aries G2.1  is out of my budget by about $2,500 (at 5,100 US), Willing to pay more for great sound but am unsure the streamer makes that much of a difference than the DAC.

Advice? Setup Recommendations?



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pmreagan2 OP
13 posts
 
I got the preamp message loud and clear. (Thanks for the insistence). Now it’s a matter of figuring out how to transition my components from a primarily theater setup (being frank about it) to a primarily music/ theater system. 
I know little about preamps so it’s back to reading and benefiting from experts (that’s you). 
How do I add a preamp into my existing configuration?  It had been my plan to keep the 2 channel Rotel RB 1590 power amp (300 watts), add a 3 or 5 channel power amp (model undecided). The Denon AVR3700H has 7 precuts to bypass the internal amps. The clear advice received here is that the Denon preouts are very poor quality and NOT USE them. OK, so…. 
Which preamps put me in position to transition to a 2 channel music rig while still enabling a 7 channel theater?  Or is it more than one piece of equipment?  I know you guys I’ve been down this road. 
practikl
19 posts
 
Totaly agree with @soix, the preamp has a dramatic effect on the sound. Pretty much all AVR suck as stereo preamp. Fix that first (the weakest link), then you could try to find the best streamer and everything else. Try a SPL preamp.

I'm looking for a streamer too, was considering the new Node (now the Pro-ject and the Aries G1 too). But I heard that it's difficult to find a better app than the Node.
jjss49's avatar
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jjss49
6,612 posts
 
The G1 or even the Lumin U1 Mini are great choices and those telling you the Node 2CI are all you need are fooling you and themselves. I bought one for my daughter and tried it in my system in place of the G1 late last year and there was no comparison. This was a repeat of a head to head comparison I did five years ago against the Aries Mini and the results were still the same, the Auralic won.


i agree w @jackd on most of his comments, but not on this... this is contrary to my findinngs comparing the node 2i as a streamer only to lumin auralic innuos and mytek... i suppose this might depend on the dac receiving the sent bitstream but i believe my findings hold for most decent hi end dacs

if using the node onboard dac, then jack's findings make sense to me
soix
9,728 posts
 
Since your Denon has preouts, all you’d need to do is connect the front L/R preouts from the Denon to an input of your choice (or HT Bypass if it has one) on the stereo preamp and that’s pretty much it. Choose that input on the stereo pre when you’re doing HT and another input when listening to streamer, CD player, etc. That’s really all there is to it, and the AVR will be completely out of the signal path when listening in 2-channel.

One potentially very elegant and effective solution in your situation would be something like the Audio gd R28 preamp/DAC available at Underwood HiFi for only $1500. Not only would this get you a good stereo preamp but also a very good discrete R2R DAC that probably has sound characteristics very similar to the Pontus. Not sure, but Underwood may offer a trial period that’d obviously be very helpful. Add in ProJect Stream Box and for about $2400 total you’re all done and your stereo performance will be transformed. If I’m you this is what I’d do, and I think it’ll bring big improvements in tonality, musicality, soundstage, and overall refinement compared to what you’re hearing now. Again, FWIW.
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