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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
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,249 posts
 

@lalitk 

Thank you very much for your input and recommendations. Yes, I’m going to get the new DAC into my system and develop a degree of familiarity. Once achieved I’ll tackle the server /streamer component. More than likely I will just get a high quality LAN cable initially. I’m looking forward to this new listening venture. 

Charles 

lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,363 posts
 

@charles1dad

Sounds like a plan! I meant to include this comprehensive review of different ethernet cables by Audio Bacon. I like Jay’s approach on how he evaluates each cable, you may find it helpful! The article is bit dated and may not include some of the newer brands. 

https://audiobacon.net/2017/07/09/sotm-iso-cat6-special-edition-the-flavors-of-audiophile-ethernet/2/

charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,249 posts
 

@lalitk 

Thanks for the link.

Charles 

teh_chucksta's avatar
teh_chucksta
54 posts
 

So late to this…I’m a budget guy so buying a $6,300 Aurender N200 is out of the question, and will continue to plug a DAC directly into my MacBook Pro (which was a gift). With the $$, my path leads me instead to upgrade to a Mytek Liberty ii (replacing an IFI Zen DAC 1) and add 2 REL S510 subs. My hope is these other purchases will provide better bang/buck.
My perspective.  Thanks.

audiotroy's avatar
audiotroy
3,732 posts
 

We did a recent shootout of the aurender n20 which is a big step up over the 200

 

the 432Evo was far better sounding and has a built in ripper

 

our servers are modular and upgradable

dave and Troy

 

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