2. digital
  3. 175408-120426

Wanting to upgrade my streaming sound quality.

I would really like to get my streaming sq up to my analog sq. My equipment is a McIntosh MC 452, C47, TD 124 with an AT 150 SA on a SME M2-9 tone arm, a Rega P8 with an Alpheta 3, a restored MR 74 tuner, driving Aerial 7t speakers. My streaming now is an iPad with a usb cable into my preamp with Tidal. I would be willing to spend around $2500 . A one box solution would be preferable for a steamer/dac combo although two boxes could also work. I’m not interested in multiple clocks and separate power supplies etc. Also I don’t use CD’s for a source.  I do have AT&T fiber internet with up to 1000 mb speed and my modem is only around 5 feet from my audio rack. Balanced inputs is preferable but not a deal breaker. I’ve looked at the HiFi Rose 250 and the 150 although the latter is more money than I want to spend. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I’m an Analog guy in a digital world.

Greg

128x128gphill
stevewharton
111 posts
 

clean up your home network in the process

drop the catx cable if you can and go optical to your streamer

eliminate all the wireless connections in the food chain (wifi and bluetooth)

IMO there are great gains to be made getting the front end network optimized before anything reaches the streamer

the effort will bring your digital playback closer to analog SQ

ghdprentice
7,020 posts
 

@jallan

+1. Not sure this will get you all the way there, but my guess is it will be one of the highest performing pairs for the money (I own or have had both) but will be satisfying and serve as proof of concept. Giving you a platform from which to upgrade further if you wish. Both are highly regarded and should have excellent trade in value.

durangoat
20 posts
 

FWIW, I'm currently using a newer version NODE into a PrimaLuna Dialogue HP integrated connected to Zu Audio Omen Mk II's.  The BluOS has been excellent and my listening has been largely limited to Qobuz and Radio Paradise.  RP MQA has been a revelation.  To my ears, this set up has been fantastic.

If I tweak moving forward, I'll likely retain the NODE, incorporate an external DAC (Schiit Bifrost?), try some upgraded cables, and maybe move to a couple REL T/7x subs.  

Hope that helps!

hilde45's avatar
hilde45
4,974 posts
 

@jperry +1

 

calvinandhobbes
307 posts
 

This was my rationale for going with a dedicated streamer and external DAC.

 

As someone coming from analog, I knew the sound of a DAC would be an important consideration for me. Specifically, I was seeking a DAC that sounded more natural (detailed but also not harsh in sound). Going to a separate streamer and DAC provided more flexibility in finding this as the companies producing DACs of most interest to me tended to produce standalone external DACs. (mostly DACs with an R2R design rather than a delta-sigma design). It was not easy to find a one-box solution that had a streamer interface that I liked with a DAC that would seem to fit my sound quality preferences.

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