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New DAC or New Streamer?

This should be fun. After I pay to get my amp upgraded at VAC next month  I plan to either upgrade my DAC or Streamer next. I should have enough for that by late spring/early summer. I'm retired so I save some each month until I have what I need. My system is in my user profile. But to keep this simple my current DAC is the Dinafrips Venus II I got a year ago. (I also have the Hermes DDC)

My streamer is the Cambridge CXN V2 via coax to the Hermes-> I2s -> DAC which is also 1 year old. I was just getting into streaming then and knew little about it. I have learned a lot this past year, a whole lot.

I think the bottle neck is leaning more toward the streamer. It seems the DAC is pretty good, I know there are much better DAC's out there but it holds it own I think. Maybe not? I cannot afford the likes of DCS, Lampizator, etc.

The next planned upgrades are a Terminator II DAC and Aurender N200 Streamer. Both are $5000-$6000. (Unless I go for the Terminator + DAC that is $7500 but I am not sure it is $2500 better than the Terminator II)

So, since both will get upgraded a year apart, which should I go for first? Which would provide the biggest upgrade?

Thanks. Happy holidays to all.

128x128fthompson251
jeffseight's avatar
jeffseight
574 posts
 

Latik,

I tried Innuos Sense briefly when first out and I had issues with functionality

so I went back to Roon where my libraries reside.

I have heard respected makers state the reason they do not incorporate

Roon is the SQ degradation they found. What they do not say is how they

must expose everything and change formats to accommodate Roon.

And likely pay Roon something. So it is not an exciting prospect to some.

 

Recently I heard Linn folks say they worked out "an accomodation" with

Roon that they could live with hence are now Roon Ready.

 

So there is a question of bias by makers and using SQ as their defense.

 

Is there any result of blind testing of Sense vs Roon ? Love to hear it.

 

charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,238 posts
 

I believe both Innuos and Aurender are well-established high-quality products. Aurender is a complete music server component. Innuos  "ZEN" series are complete music servers. Innuos "Pulse" series are streamer/network players. If one does not need or want full music server then a network player is fine and generally speaking less expensive. Both companies have their happy and loyal supporters.

Charles

lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,113 posts
 

“Is there any result of blind testing of Sense vs Roon ? Love to hear it.”

@jeffseight

I don’t believe in blind tests. Fortunately, my system is resolving enough to collaborate differences between hardwares/ softwares and how well they are executed with my hearing. I am a lifetime ROON subscriber and longtime Conductor user. On surface, ROON is good and its SQ greatly varies on hardware implementation. In contrast, Conductor app remained consistent in terms of SQ due to its robust tightly controlled in-house integration with the equally complimentary hardware.

Once you get to experience Sense glitch free, you will relate to what I’m trying to convey. Whether you can hear or appreciate the differences between ROON or Sense will entirely contingent upon your listening environment, system and your hearing.

oddiofyl's avatar
oddiofyl
3,503 posts
 

I believe it all starts at the top of the chain.  I think spending money on a great preamp is one of the best moves you can make.  I think the source is equally important.   
 

I bought the N200 knowing it won’t be the potential bottleneck if I upgrade my DAC.  
 

 

audioman58's avatar
audioman58
3,928 posts
 

More impact with a-quality dac for sure everything starts with the dac good or bad .

I own desfrid gear and heard them all, dont overlook the  Excellent 

T&A dac 200 for $6900 a great piece of technology with HQ player built into the design when used with Roon which was built into Roons programming .

a great addition .

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