Is the DAC the digital equivalent of a cartridge.

@tyan42 

For most of us, “yes” - start with the DAC, which I think will create the largest difference (and thus closest to impact of changing a cartridge). But think about the DAC/streamer as an integrated chain - I wouldn’t let the quality of one lag too far behind the other (in the same way it wouldn’t make sense to put a $2,000 cartridge on a $200 table)

Based on very sophisticated engineering and psycho-acoustic analysis (a “guess”), for me, I’d probably go 4:1 on dac vs. streamer on a first try (I think ratio smaller on cartridge/table).  DAC is the piece really chewing up the bits. Accumulate more money, and try a better streamer. (n.b., the lower the budget, the closer the dac and streamer will get in price, in any event)

I just went from a six year-old Meridian Explorer2 to a Benchmark DAC3 HGC, and it was a fun “wow” moment. Better in every way - put a smile on my face.  So for me, a recent big leap in DACs made me very happy

Let us know what you decide to do!

Have a great day

@holmz I agree with you on the streamer. I too run roon on a NUC and am having trouble finding any real evidence that a streamer improves digital performance. There are people I respect who say it does so I’m keeping an open mind. I would go out and plop down $10k on a streamer tomorrow if I thought it was an improvement but so far, can’t see it.

As for the DAC, there are lots of great DACs out there that sound great. Glad you found one you like. There is a lot of difference in the various analog renditions that are presented by various manufacturers. While measurements tell you a lot, I’m in the clear, transparent, vivid soundstage camp of enthusiasts so I find some DACs muddy that. My DAC is the most expensive component in my system.

Jerry

@holmz I agree with you on the streamer. I too run roon on a NUC and am having trouble finding any real evidence that a streamer improves digital performance. There are people I respect who say it does so I’m keeping an open mind. I would go out and plop down $10k on a streamer tomorrow if I thought it was an improvement but so far, can’t see it.

As for the DAC, there are lots of great DACs out there that sound great. Glad you found one you like. There is a lot of difference in the various analog renditions that are presented by various manufacturers. While measurements tell you a lot, I’m in the clear, transparent, vivid soundstage camp of enthusiasts so I find some DACs muddy that. My DAC is the most expensive component in my system.

Jerry

@carlsbad thanks Jerry.

I got the Octo Research DAC8 (ordered) mostly because it measured best, and because it has 8 channels… and I believe that need at least 7 channels for the new project. So I do not have any evidence that I like it so far ;) just evidence that I should, and that it is fit for purpose.

I am pretty much of the mindset that most of what many hear is what we want to hear, and is therefore psychological.

Most of what I tend to like is also gear that measures good, so I am sort of lucky as that it gives me a way to avoid listening tests to weed out a lot of gear. Most of the time I am in Australia and a long way from shops. I am in the US for another week, and have went to one shop so far, and will be headed to another one this weekend. 
(I’ll call them today and set up an appointment,)

Been considering a new phono stage, which will become the most expensive part of the system if I decide to get it. The used AVR is currently the most expensive part of the system, and I have not even had time to put it in yet with the Covid lock downs and travel restrictions. (And it being at the second house.) The second most expensive part is the LP cleaner ;)

I don't understand why one would need and/or rely on an analogy for any aspect of audio performance.  What any given change in component would do to the sound is so specific to the particular components being compared and the nature of the system and the personal taste and priority of the listener as to render any such generalization by way of analogy utterly meaningless.

Most DACs, even quite low budget ones, do their task reasonably well so the differences between them tend to be somewhat subtle as compared with the difference between speakers which are so widely different in design approaches, interactions with their environment, etc.  To me, speaker choice, by far, affects the sound system the most.  I generally find the choice of amplifier to be the next most significant in terms of differences in sound.  I hear substantial differences between most low-powered tube amps and high powered tube or solid state amps. My own subjective judgment is that differences in amp types and specific amps tend to make at least as big a difference as between digital vs. analogue--I can be quite happy with both analogue and digital sources, I am less inclined to be happy with the wrong choice of amp.  I can live with almost any choice of decent DAC, almost any choice of turntable, and tonearm.  Cartridges vary substantially enough that particular choice does matter a lot.  I find cables to be surprisingly different in such fundamental characteristic as tonal balance that choices made have substantial impact (e.g., try substituting anything Nordost with anything Audio Note).

analogies are used in life, in education, to help those with no understanding develop one, if sometimes in only a rudimentary way... a basic understanding is better than none at all

in this respect, analogies are useful, but if one starts to dive into detail, analogies can fall apart, fall short in its explanatory power - but once again, a discussion of these shortfalls can be quite beneficial if one seeks a detailed, specific, complete understanding of a subject/concept

in that respect this thread is a good one