Upgrading my streaming/digital system- what would make the most sense?
Hello all,
I would like to improve my digital chain and I'd like to get your feedback on which component(s) are worth upgrading first. I would like to get a more natural/organic sound and more naturally layered soundstage. Don't get me wrong, it sounds good but there is a bit of digital haze ( I think the blacks could be blacker and spatial cues could be more present- thus the somewhat flat presentation), and at times the music sounds a little artificial, albeit very clean.
I use Roon to stream Tidal and Qobuz and the digital audio chain consists of ethernet cable> switch (basic cisco)> 2 ethernet cables
> Macmini (roon core)
> Moon 280d with Mind2 bridge (roon endpoint etc)
(The rest is Vinnie Rossi preamp in passive mode to Pass Labs xa60.5 mono's to Avantgarde duo's or Thiel 3.7's; cabling Nordost Heimdall 2; I also have an analogue set up).
I had always assumed that the most effective upgrade would be the dac, particularly because in this configuration the '"noisy" Macmini does no processing other than sending a stream of 1's and 0's as a Roon core/server to the Moon/Mind2 bridge as Roon endpoint/renderer.
But some have suggested that this is not the case ie the Macmini should be replaced with a Nucleus or Small Green Computer, or something else along these lines, rather than the Dac. But would that really make such a noticeable improvement rather than a considerably better dac?
Or would something else yield a better improvement?
I would like to go in stages rather that doing a wholesale replacement of the entire chain so I need a bit of help to decide what the next step should be- many thx for your thoughts and feedback.
I'm in the camp that the DAC is the heard of your system and you get the most bang from the buck there. I'd put your core on a NUC, install ROCK and let that stand alone. Then spend big money upgrading your DAC. I personally highly recommend chord DAVE and also the Chord Mscaler. But there are lots of other great DACS out there when you are willing to spend 5 digits. Jerry |
Everyone is giving you their personal experience here, but you have to wonder how many ran controlled experiments, changing just one variable at a time, listening to the same set of test tracks that cover most/all important aspects of sound quality. I also assumed a better DAC would make the most impact, but after running about 5 DACs and 5 server/streamers through my system, I found the server/streamer made the most difference. I ended up with a Grimm Audio MU1. The Grimm performs a lot of functions to clean up the analog wave that carries the digital signal, so the router and switch quality became much less important. For the DAC, I finally picked a Chord Dave, which I was able to pick up used. The Grimm includes the equivalent of an M-Scaler, so you don’t need that. Think of the server/streamer as the turntable and cartridge and that helps the process. |
@dougthebiker I have an Innuos Zenith MK3 but you've got me reading up on the MU1. I too have the DAVE. If I sold my Innuos and M-scaler, it would almost fund the Grimm. What $5k streamers did you compare the Grimm to? I could also offload my NUC core which would clean up my rack. Jerry |
The closest contender was the Innuos Pulsar. Also tried the T+A MA 200 which was a bit edgy in the treble no matter what I paired it with. The EVO 432 Aeon was almost as refined as the Pulsar. Nothing else was much better than my old Innuos Zen Mk3. I also am unloading my old NUC. Surprisingly, the Grimm made my old Schiit Yggy sound about twice as good. |
I used to output USB from my IMac to my DAC... Sounded OK to me. Then I got a SOtM SMS200 Ultra network streamer to feed my DAC. Everything opened up more and became both better controlled and Wider/Deeper at the same time. Every once and awhile, I got back to iMac > USB > Dac for a few days to reconfirm the rightness of my now 4-year old choice. And it has always been a joy to return to the streamer. The iMac still runs the Roon Core, but the music comes via the SMS 200 ultra via the network. I also now use HQ Player and the SOtM comes stock the the HQP NAA built in. I’m very happy with the SOtM streamer, but more than that I am just recommending the addition of a network streamer/bridge of sufficient quality rather than feeding your DAC from your Mac Mini. |
