External DAC?

Sounds like you have the N130. I have the same. I added the LHY linear power supply ($300 including shipping) which make a big difference and then added a tube DAC. Sounds amazing. I use USB to take advantage of the DACs clock. COAX did not sound nearly as good. I use all Zavfino cables. I listen to digital a lot more now than I used to. A real bargain compared to my analogue source. Details in my virtual system.

@moose89 

I have the Node N130, the newest one before the X and I also have a Bifrost Dac and I also have a Denafrips Pontus ll dac that is far better than the BiFrost. I think depending on how much you want to spend, you can make that Node sound great!

Let us know what you decide to do.

All the best.

Thank y’all. I have a Rogue RP-1 and a Denefrips Ares ll coming. I also just bought the First Watt J2 to heat the Cornwall IV’s up, and my Mancave in the Winter. I’m wondering if I will leave my Cary SLI – 80 tube amp and replace it with this First Watt J2 in the winter time just for the heat but maybe for the sound?

is it going to be a good idea to use a hybrid preamp like this Rogue? In addition to the Cary SLI – 80 tube amplifier? What am I gaining?

@moose89

i think the fw j2 will allow you to hear differences in sound among dacs (ares vs node etc) than the cary, which will tend to homogenize the delta and promote it’s own sonic nature

regarding dac upgrades, over the longer term, i think you will hear a bigger step in sonic improvement if you went to a denafrips pontus or schiit gungnir mb or yggrasil (or a chord qutest or gustard r26)

@jjss49 

certainly I hope the Aries to  soften the highs without losing detail. I love soundstage and I have it now when I get this hybrid rogue pre-amp it won’t be my first ever. I was using a node as basically a PreAmp that I could switch, and it was very friendly, but now the node must go into the Rogue… interesting…