How to get into high end digital? (Feeding a DAC)

@holmz
It’s difficult to understand what you are targeting when your OP says “high end digital” (what does this mean to you?) and it appears you have not stated a budget.  
Generally speaking, digital audio playback requires a server(where music files stored)> streamer(transportation/delivery of music files) > DAC (translates files to an audio signal).  If you want to spin SACD/CDs, you’ll also need a transport.

A CD player has both a transport and DAC built in.  In high-end audio, for best performance it is generally better to separate the functions to better isolate components from vibrations and electrical noise but costs more in casework and additional cables.  Also, usually a DAC+transport is significantly sonically better than a CD player unless you spend considerable $ for a higher quality player.  For greater flexibility (upgrades), better performance, and lower cost, most high-end digital systems have a stand alone DAC vs a CD player.

@holmz
It’s difficult to understand what you are targeting when your OP says “high end digital” (what does this mean to you?) and it appears you have not stated a budget.  
Generally speaking, digital audio playback requires a server(where music files stored)> streamer(transportation/delivery of music files) > DAC (translates files to an audio signal).  If you want to spin SACD/CDs, you’ll also need a transport.
…

Well I was not thinking much of budget, but less than 10k.


But high-end to me would be something that sounds good and does not sound like it is obviously coming from a CD player.

A CD player has both a transport and DAC built in.  In high-end audio, for best performance it is generally better to separate the functions to better isolate components from vibrations and electrical noise but costs more in casework and additional cables.  Also, usually a DAC+transport is significantly sonically better than a CD player unless you spend considerable $ for a higher quality player.  For greater flexibility (upgrades), better performance, and lower cost, most high-end digital systems have a stand alone DAC vs a CD player.

Since the AVR has the Roon End-Point and DAC built in, I will try that first. Plus it has some built in room correction, so maybe that will help sound in terms of bass and EQ, without destroying imaging?
I’ll see I guess.

@audiotroy There is a lot of misinformation here the quality of the data stream really matters and can totally affect the sound quality of the dac all dacs are sensitive to jitter recllocking can help but digital noise can not be reclocked out.

This is one of the reasons pcs make poor tramsports

Listen to a dedicated server from auralac,aurrender innous or 432evo and you will hear a dramatic improvement in your digital playback.

Hi Dave, I have a T+A SD3100HV connected to a SOtM network switch with a MacBook Pro i7 core and SOtM cat 7 ethernet cables. Do I need a dedicated server to better the sound quality if so which server would you recommend. Thanks

OP you are getting advice from jasonbourne and his ilk which I suggest you completely disregard if you are after 'high end digital' That poor horse has been beaten to death.


You also mentioned something about measurements. If you are not familiar with digital then ignore the technical side and use your ears. Somebody gave the impression that R2R is baggage which is not true. Don't worry about the architecture just how it sounds. I have an ancient baggage machine, a Wadia 15 that is so full of baggage that it can only play redbook, but outplays my Bryston DAC even when the latter is playing hi-res. True story. The measurementalists frown when I explain that I prefer listening to ... music,  not so much interested in how sine waves measure or sound.


Whether it's analogue or digital the source matters a lot and it's importance should not be underestimated. The recommendation to visit a few dealers is solid advice and is worth heeding. Even if it takes time and effort you hadn't allowed for it will pay off by providing you with a target performance you are comfortable with. Forget those that say "just connect your computer to a cheap $300 DAC using the cheapest cable cos' they all sound the same" 


Also consider buying used which is what I am doing. I need to downsize and once my used Mojo Mystique V3 DAC arrives I will sell the ones I mentioned. He sells V3 units that he takes in trade for $3500 but they are scarce, and I will when funds allow probably get one of his servers at about the same price. Or contact me if you may be interested in the Wadia

@audiotroy There is a lot of misinformation here the quality of the data stream really matters and can totally affect the sound quality of the dac all dacs are sensitive to jitter recllocking can help but digital noise can not be reclocked out.

What exactly is digital noise?

I see this: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/dac-vs-cd-player-shootout-measurements.10...
which seemed to above 20kHz, but it would not help anything.

OP you are getting advice from jasonbourne and his ilk which I suggest you completely disregard if you are after 'high end digital' That poor horse has been beaten to death.

I try to appreciate all perspectives. And appreciate them more with soom back up evidence. And I would still like to know how and what people that design cable get good, or bad, cables from a scientific perspective. Not everyone is J.C Maxwell, or others, but the physics is not different for different people… It is universal.

You also mentioned something about measurements. If you are not familiar with digital then ignore the technical side and use your ears. Somebody gave the impression that R2R is baggage which is not true. Don't worry about the architecture just how it sounds. I have an ancient baggage machine, a Wadia 15 that is so full of baggage that it can only play redbook, but outplays my Bryston DAC even when the latter is playing hi-res. True story. The measurementalists frown when I explain that I prefer listening to ... music, not so much interested in how sine waves measure or sound.

I basically do not want an embarrassing CD play and disappointing experience. Currently I was not sure whether the old CD player or the RCAs had the blown channel… but I put the AQ Emerald interconnects on and it sounded OK with “The Violent Femmes” (Which are often recroded poorly), and “Social Diostortion” wasn’t bad.(So in my case the 1M AQ interconnects were better than the 5M store bought ones, which are obviously $hit-Haus.)

Then I put on some Vivaldi, and it is front to back and side to side… everything laid out.Then the Doug McLeod LIve the Europe…Both sounded pretty awesome.

But I am also trained and educated in science, so I have a hard time believing in the pure magic. When the McLeod song comes on, I do not want to think about measurements… and it again brought a tear to my eye. (Which is a better tear than those form looking at the empty wallet)

If the two sources sound different , then they must also be producing different signals versus time. This is what graphs, measurements, and solid engineering is for.

Whether it's analogue or digital the source matters a lot and it's importance should not be underestimated.

I hear you. I think that the speakers matter more, and I put the source at #2… but I agree.

The recommendation to visit a few dealers is solid advice and is worth heeding. 

I used to live close to many good shops, or close enough to get there in an hour or three.

Now I am literally more than a day’s drive away, assuming that people drive 1000 mi in a day… Hence I try to prefilter ideas and opinions into some plan.

It is probably similar to Covid shopping for many others in area which are less fortunate (i.e. more sparsely populated)


Anyhow I played a bit of “Immortal Technique” (Mistakes), and the “Eurasure” CD, and it all seems pretty good.
Maybe the rest of the chain of gear is not up to scratch.

But I will spend some time in (what I believe) is a decent shop in Perth… where I am flying to in 3–4 weeks.

i dunno…