Streamer upgrade? follow up.


I posted the first part of this earlier in the week. There are a few other threads running concurrently here about this same subject.This is my personal experience with this situation.Ive been using a Aurender A100 streamer/dac which is they’re entry level unit, the SQ wasn’t horrible but I was pretty sure I could get it better.In a attempt to do that I purchased a Denafrips Pontus two and a DhLabs Mirage Usb cable to use with the A100 utilizing its Usb out.The two local hi fi dealers here in SO Cal both told me this would not produce much of an result and in my opinion after trying it they were both correct. So… as I stated in the first post I was coming from a “bit is bits” perspective which was I was convinced adding a better Dac would accomplish my goals, I just couldn’t believe that the zeros and ones  could possibly effect the quality of sound. But not being one to give up I decided in for penny in for a pound Id see for myself if there was anything to the other side of this conversation, I wanted a new toy for Xmas anyway.So I traded my A100 plus some cash to TMR ( nice people btw) for a shiny new Aurender N200 which arrived yesterday. Last night the moment of truth, I hooked up the new unit with the exact same everything as before in my system nothing different but the streamer.I let the tubes and everything else warm up for a few hours,picked a song I knew inside and out sat down and pressed play. Immediately within the first few notes of the Stones “ Wild Horses “ I knew I had made the right choice and that I was wrong believing  bits are bits “. I really don’t have adequate language to describe the difference in sound quality other than to say I feel like Im in someone else’s home listening to they’re far superior system, its that drastic.I can with complete confidence say this has got to be one of if not the most significant upgrades Ive made in my system, scouts honor!              PS. Grinin ear to ear here.                                                            

bikeboy52

@niodari Im having a hard time following you. No employing people is not a charity, it’s something much better, you know “ teach a man to fish” ???

@laoman 

Those who do not have always try to play down those who have. This is human nature.
Well done op

True unfortunately far too often.

Charles

I'm not going to get into the moral implications of privilege, I'd estimate all of us audiophiles in top tier here, level of guilt subjective.

 

I do believe value for money is valid question, personally, I don't see parts and assembly costs of off the shelf streamers to be value proposition. I'm DIY kind of person, so utility one of most important considerations. Business models for off the shelf don't provide me with equivalent utility vs my research, labor time, but that's just me.

 

Bottom line, each individual undertakes their own cost benefit analysis, vast majority of individuals using high end streamers find them to be worth it, who am I or anyone to question that. Objectively, great variability in streamers, observationally, sound quality correlates with price,  and my own experience mirrors that.