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Digital Dilemma

I purchased an inexpensive Onkyo C-7030 CD Player more as just a transport, but also to use as a benchmark to compare to streaming music on-line. With intentions to get the streamed content to sound as good, if not better, than the CD player could muster.

After sitting my wife down for a listen (she has better ears than me) and playing Tidal, Quboz and then the same tracks on a CD, the CD was the clear winner every time. It also seems the CD playing without using the Gustard R26 DAC didn’t even sound all that much better than when played through the CD Player only, bypassing the R26. That doesn’t say too much for the R26 DAC or alternatively, it says a lot for the DAC in the CD Player!

I am using the R26 as the renderer via a LAN connection that is optically isolated. There are a few filters and adjustments on the DAC, but tweaking those still didn’t get the sound quality up to that of the CD Player.

A lot of you say you have achieved streaming that sounds as good as your analogue systems. What do you think, do I need a betted DAC?

128x128navyachts
soix
9,456 posts
 

I've gotten a lots of advice here that goes from spending thousands of dollars on new equipment and cables to spending little on a new inexpensive streamer & a good USB cable to just beefing up my existing DAC with a new Master Clock. I'm confused...

I’d recommend not overcomplicating this upfront and just start with the streamer and decent USB cable and see how that works for you.  The upgraded power supply, clock, etc. can all be added later and give you something to look forward to for further meaningful improvements down the road. 

kairosman's avatar
kairosman
279 posts
 

I have the R26 as one of my DACs that I swap in and out of a $60K system, I run it via I2S and/or AES inputs with an external clock and DDC and good quality cabling. Set up properly like this it sounds as good as any of my other more costly DACs - different, but as good. My experience with DACs in my system is every part of the digital source chain contributes to the DAC's performance. The chain is only as good as the weakest link.

navyachts's avatar
navyachts OP
583 posts
 

@soix - great advice, thanks!

navyachts's avatar
navyachts OP
583 posts
 

@kairosman - DDC, what are you using and are you using the R26 as a renderer or do you have a separate streamer?

wsrrsw's avatar
wsrrsw
1,011 posts
 

@navyachts +1001 what @soix said. KISS. That's why I was recommending the one box solution. 

Right now on Audiogone I see a Lumin T3 (new..discounted) an Aurender 200 (good price) and A HiFi Rose (also good price). Entering here may be all you will ever want. Plug, play and chill.

To Roon on not to Roon is the question and that done right will also add a few K.

I'm a very happy Qobuz user and use Roon for a whole house system but not for the big rig.

 

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