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Streamers/DACs

Just picked out gear for our new hifi room and I’m starting my search for a good streamer or streamer/DAC combo.  We have Paradigm Persona 3F speakers, Persona Sub and Anthem STR amp.  I’ve narrowed streamers options down to 3 well-reviewed choices: Aurender, Lumin T3, and Cary Audio DMS-700.  Not sure if I’d go with the Aurender A15 which has the option to just do digital out if I feel the urge upgrade to a better DAC or start with the N200 and either use the Anthem’s DAC or buy a separate unit right off the bat.  Mostly interested in streaming Quboz, don’t care about Roon. The audio room has no realistic way to add an Ethernet port so I’ll need to work around this with a Wi-Fi to Ethernet bridge (or comparable solution) if I choose Aurender or Lumin, whereas the DMS-700 has a built-in Wi-Fi option (but a seemingly rudimentary app by comparison to the others).  Any experience with these products is welcome.  Of particular interest would be experiences from other Persona owners and why they chose the streamers/DACs they did but all input is welcome.  Thanks much, this forum has helped immensely in the build thus far. 

128x128brewerslaw
brewerslaw's avatar
brewerslaw OP
36 posts
 

Total unexpected 180 on my part: Did the free Roon trial, got hooked, and set up a new Mac Mini M1 Roon Core.  

I’ll be looking for a separate DAC that pairs well with the Persona 3Fs/Sub

Strongly considering the following: Bricasti M1, Terminator Plus 12th, Chord Dave, and T+A DAC 200.  Any thoughts, particularly from the Persona-knowledgeable?

thanks much!

sandstone
358 posts
 

@brewerslaw,

Nice list of DAC options, so far. Please let me add this one.

I’m having very good success pairing an Ayre QB-9 TWENTY with my Persona 3F’s.  The Persona’s holistic imaging and full range, broad off-axis response is well supported. 

The TWENTY upgrade is essentially a new board with most of Ayre’s latest DAC technology. I’m running Cardas Clear and Cerious loom in fully balanced mode,  but frankly with its built-in power filters and FPGA schemes, the DAC seems less dependent upon higher end connections.

 

 

 

sunshdw's avatar
sunshdw
261 posts
 

I'm currently using the STR Stack and I'm using the Auralic Aries USB into my preamp. So with that I'll recommend the Auralic Aries G2.1 and they prefer WiFi use. I tried and sent back the Lumin and a HiFi Rose 150 to keep my Auralic.

 

 

vaejoviscarolinanus
18 posts
 

I am going crazy, I have finally added a DAC to my Auris audifi streamer and I am using Qobuz for a high resolution service. I see on my screen that it is 96khz yet it says 44.1 on the display. Does the Auris audifi digital output limit the signal to 44.1?

vaejoviscarolinanus
18 posts
 

Well I figured it out, the Auris audifi is limited to 44.1 from the coax digital output. I believe that it is something to do with the ability to hook up multiple devices and stream music at the same time. It sounds a little bit better when it comes out of the analog outputs . It looks like it is going to be a  backup instead of something that I will use as a quality front end. I am just going to dig out my raspberry pi and save my $ for a unit to feed my new Dac.

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