2. digital
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DAC upgrade

Let me start by saying I am a vinyl guy, but digital streaming, particularly if I can achieve the right sound has many advantages. My 2 channel equipment is as follows: 

Rogue RP-1 w/ NOS Brimar CV4003, LSA Warp 1, KEF R11’s, Rhythmic F12SE, Pro-ject 1Xpression w/Hana ML, Rega Aria, Bluesound Node, Marantz CD6007, Schiit Modi Multibit 2. Good to very good power, speaker, interconnect cables.  
My weakest link (I believe) is my DAC.

My desire is the best sounding DAC below $2,500, but certainly don’t mind spending less. i want the DAC to be as good as my best current component. I don’t need a DAC with preampliflication, don’t need balanced, don’t need headphones, however I would not eliminate a DAC with superior sound with those features. I do prefer a small form factor.  
My current top contenders are:

Chord Qutest, Schiit Yggy, RME ADI-2, Topping D90 III.

The Chord checks all my boxes… reviews, sound, form factor, no unneeded features, etc and don’t mind its quirky lights… but, looking your thoughts/ recommendations.  Thanks!

 

 

128x128signaforce
desktopguy
367 posts
 

(addressing the OP) It’s really up to you to specify your sonic preferences. In this thread you have solid recommendations for divergent types of DACs:

  1. Those that are highly resolving, "accurate," and detailed above all else (ie, Weiss; Chord; any other delta-sigma)
  2. And those that are musical, organic, and smooth, though not resolving quite as much detail (ie, Pontus; Ares)

Getting a really great DAC from the category that doesn’t suit your preferences would only waste time & money.

As for myself, I’m all in on NOS DACs. Have 3 of them and will never go back to delta-sigma. The best of my 3 on a technical basis is the Metrum Onyx. Easy to recommend that--but the recommendation only has meaning if you favor the sound in #2 above...

yyzsantabarbara
4,794 posts
 

I owned 2 Topping D90 DAC, the MQA and non-MQA. Both too sterile. I was thinking that the second time I got it, I had a very warm setup then, that the Topping would match, no luck.

I currently have the Benchmark DAC3B. It is hot on top and works nicely with warmer gear such as my Class A CODA #16 amp and my RAAL VM-1a tube headphone amp. With my Benchmark AHB2 amp the DAC3B is too hot and irritates me physically.

I also have a Schitt Yggi+ LIM and it is a great DAC. It was supposed to be a temp DAC after I sold the $15k Lumin X1. Lucky for me I liked the LIM more than any DAC I owned for almost all my gear. It was not a homerun with the AHB2 amp. I am testing it out now in Yggi+ NOS mode which may be what I am wanting to hear. I need more time to evaluate. The Yggi+ and AHB2 are rather good, just not excellent.

Some other DACs I owned include:

  • Gustard X26 Pro (nice warm DAC)
  • Musetec 005 (loved it except it was too warm for my RAAL phones). Loved it with my AHB2 amp
  • Audio Mirror Tubador v3

I will have to spend a bit of money to get better than the Yggi+ LIM in my system. The top contender is the Playback Designs 2 top end DACs to pair with the CODA and AHB2.

yyzsantabarbara
4,794 posts
 

Oh, and replacing your Node would be a mistake as well, since you already own an outboard DAC. Contrary to the crackpot consensus around this forum, the primary factor in choosing a stand-alone streamer should be its operating software, and rather unfortunately, Bluesound’s is already the best. The main problem is that most around here are like kids on Christmas morning when they receive a shiny new toy in the mail. Of course those same 1s and 0s are going to sound better when you approach “upgrades” in that frame of mind. Meanwhile, many of them own speakers that are distortion machines, or are not remotely capable of a linear response. That or their speakers are 12 inches from room boundaries. Silly.

Some streamers that are head and shoulders better than the NODE

  • Sonore OpticalRendu
  • Playback Designs Streamer-IF
  • Lumin X1

I owned all 3 and compared them side-by-side. The Node is a toy compared to these 3. The beauty of the gear listed above is that they all use a Fibre Optic cable. It is not just 1’s and 0’s that matter with regards to streaming, the noise that gets into the DAC from what the DAC is connected too matters, RJ45, USB, etc. Read up what some great DAC designers think of Fibre and not experts on this forum (like me).

Ag insider logo xs@2x
gubaface
26 posts
 

Merason Frerot DAC + Upgraded Power Supply.

I have both Benchmark DAC3 B and Frerot and while Benchmark has nice detailed sound Frerot is just pure, analog like sounding music.

signaforce's avatar
signaforce OP
175 posts
 

All I know is the vinyl side of my system sounds clear, clean, precise, dynamic, great soundstage and separation… glorious. I would put my system up against any like priced system.
The digital side, good soundstage, dynamic but not as clear clean or precise. Not bad, but certainly not near the sound quality of vinyl. I would NOT put my system up against any like priced systems  

That leaves the DAC and/or the streamer as the problem. New DAC arrives today, so we shall see. 
As I said at the beginning, I am a vinyl guy. I play digital as a convenience, while that may increase with the improvements, I am not willing to spend more on the digital side vs analog. I don’t need digital to be glorious, just very good. 
So, on a like for like purchase, my Rega Aris and Qutest are very equal. On the streamer side, I am thinking something like Auralic Aries G1.1. vs my 1Xpression/ Hana ML. Thanks 

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