New DAC or New Streamer?

“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.

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.  
 

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 .

I’ve learned not to underestimate the value of a really good streamer. I started with a Node 2i then worked my way up to an Aurender n100sc and now a Aurender n10. Each jump was an significant improvement over the last. Not to mention that Aurender is a fantastic manufacturer. 

This year I upgraded my entire system.  The source used to be the same Cambridge as yours, and is now Innuos.  As I've also bought new speakers, amp and DAC, plus cabling, it's impossible for me to accurately state where the improvements begin and end.  Needless to say though that the SQ is 100x better.

My point is that everything between the ethernet port of your router/switch and the input of your DAC matters a hell of a lot.  To state it's only 1s and 0s is to frame it in too binary a statement.  You need to understand the digital signal is actually an analogue representation of a digital signal, along with noise and jitter issues.