IMO, the key point is the DAC -- whether that's located in a player, streamer, or free-standing. Get the best DAC you can (listen to some, if possible), and you'll be on the right track.
Digital upgrade: new disc player or better streamer?
For consideration:
Contemplating an upgrade in my digital system. Currently using a Bluesound Node 2i streamer as well as an Oppo 105 for CD's and SACD's. I have a collection of about 800 CD's as well as about 50 SACD's. My system use is approximately 25% digital, the rest of the time listening to one of two turntables. In my experience, really good analog betters very good digital including the high priced units, hence my modest digital investment to this point.
However, I find that I do enjoy streaming, not only for convenience but also to discover new music.
So I've been contemplating either a new streamer, specifically a Lumin T2 or similar, to replace the Node 2i. Alternatively, a Marantz K1 Ruby to replace the Oppo, allowing me to use the Node 2i into the Ruby DAC. Both options cost around $4K.
Thoughts or other recommendations?
Thanks!
Contemplating an upgrade in my digital system. Currently using a Bluesound Node 2i streamer as well as an Oppo 105 for CD's and SACD's. I have a collection of about 800 CD's as well as about 50 SACD's. My system use is approximately 25% digital, the rest of the time listening to one of two turntables. In my experience, really good analog betters very good digital including the high priced units, hence my modest digital investment to this point.
However, I find that I do enjoy streaming, not only for convenience but also to discover new music.
So I've been contemplating either a new streamer, specifically a Lumin T2 or similar, to replace the Node 2i. Alternatively, a Marantz K1 Ruby to replace the Oppo, allowing me to use the Node 2i into the Ruby DAC. Both options cost around $4K.
Thoughts or other recommendations?
Thanks!
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- 20 posts total
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However, I find that I do enjoy streaming, not only for convenience but also to discover new music.BINGO!!! Truth be told, I rarely listen to my own music anymore. In fact, as I type this I’m listening to “Court and Spark” live by Herbie Hancock with Norah Jones that I’d likely never have heard if not for my Qobuz subscription. Anyway, IME it’s well worth investing more in your digital setup to be able to more fully enjoy the wonderful music discovery thing. If I’m you, I’d get an Innuos Zen Mk3 server/streamer and pair it up with a nice R2R DAC like a Musician Aquarius (or similar) that’s actually on sale right now from the distributor and for a little north of $5k you’re in a whole new realm of CD-quality and hi-res music. https://aoshida-audio.com/products/musician-aquarius Obviously it’ll still sound different from your analog rig, but you may miss it a lot less as R2R DACs tend to have more of that liquidity and naturalness you get from vinyl. You can load all your CDs easily into the Innuos with its onboard disc drive and you’ll have access to all your music along with streamed music from the same high-quality source. Just one possible idea FWIW, but definitely up your streaming/digital game! You’ll kick yourself for not doing it much sooner — I sure did. Best of luck. |
@bobbydd , With a similar situation(80 vinyl / 20%dig) and a decent but not great digital setup including.Oppo 105, I faced the same decision. After tons of research and with a bias towards the best sound I can afford, my path and thinking: - Agree best DAC you can afford (for me Denafrips Pontus II) - Rip Discs to NAS (for me Synology...Qnap also great) - Sonore streamer/renderer -- a good linear power supply is required (for me: microRendu on a budget, later upgraded to opticalRendu) - Separate device to run Roon Core (for me Small Green Computer Sonic transporter...or build a NUC or buy a fancy Roon Nucleus) - Subscribe to Roon (add Qobuz over Tidal if you like) - Use any device you like as remote(Macbook, ipad, iphone, Android) Benefits/reasoning that applied for me: - expandable storage in NAS (e.g. Western Digital Red drives) for my large live recording colleciton with easy backup protections not requiring cloud backup - Roon UX is a game changer IMHO, 50x more fun & ease vs. other apps - Optical benefits on renderer were significantly impactful - The Denafrips DAC punches high at its price and in non-oversampling mode sounds more like analog than most digital gear IMHO - While assembling/configuring a NUC is easy according to many, I didn't have the time or inclination, and Small Green Computer's device gave me plug-n-play setup and a track record of synergy with Sonore products (which they also sell). Checkout SGC youtube for simple short setup & system building examples. - I like having my server and Roon core hard wired ethernet in the room where internet comes into my house. The digital devices on my audio rack are small and tidy with ethernet carrying the digital signal into the listening space. Hope this helps...Cheers, Spencer |
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