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?
How about this: Cable Modem >Ethernet cable >LHY SW10 network switch>SW10>Gustard R26 DAC (using 10mhz master clock from SW10 vis BNC to DAC)>pre-amp>amp>speakers The switch also has SFP ports to hook up a fiber optic cable then ethernet to the R26’s renderer. Mostly want to stream Tidal & Quboz so I also have a Roon Nucleus. |
@recklesskelly - thanks |
@bigshutterbug How did the D400EX compare to the Dac3? |
I have SMSL D400EX in my system for many months now, and was very positively surprised at how nice it sounds. Compared to my previous Benchmark DAC3, it is far more rich and full bodied in the midrange and lower highs. I don't feel I gave up much if any detail, the highs are sweeter and more natural sounding. Bass is full and strong. The biggest positive change was that I no longer hear harshness or "digital edge" from piano, female vocals or trumpets, and I can listen for hours on end without fatigue. I also own the Onkyo 7030 budget CD player that was the topic of this post. I use it in a simple office system, and have tried it in my main system many times before. The 7030 does not even come close to the sound of either the DAC3 or D400EX. Much smaller soundstage, less "air" and less detail. It is quite listenable and non-offensive sounding, and an audio bargain for the price. |
@bigshutterbug - That’s interesting. I need to try out some more DACs, I guess. Further to the Onkyo CD player, I returned mine to the vendor. It’s a great bang for the buck, but I found for the occasional time that I listened to a CD, it sounded just as good playing it on my laptop’s optical drive, via USB to my DAC. One less piece of equipment on my rack now too!
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