Upgrade BC DAC 3.0 or go BC REF link instead?

I think the key design goal of the PS Audio is not just DSD but also how well it handles regular 16/44 and PCM material. DSD is a bonus from what I gather.

If the cost is not too substantial, I'd go for the 3.5 upgrade but bear in mind the full upgrade will include VBS-1 and the VBS Ref power cable as well. Those did put my 3.5 combo pretty close to the PS-Audio IIRC.

But you are right that speakers make the biggest difference so if there's anything you aren't happy with the speakers, they probably should be addressed first before the source.

Blindjim,

Welcome back. I remember your posts well.

Not sure what you meant by "I'm a front to back guy". My interpretation was "source is most important", and you mentioned all your music will come from a HDD. I'd like to offer a different alternative for your consideration: the computer as source. What will you use?

I have an Audiophilleo with PurePower connected to a Metrum Octave. In a way this mimics the BC setup with Link + DAC. I used to play from a laptop dedicated to music. I have recently built a dedicated server, but optimized in the hardware and software, and the sound difference has been striking. Would starting with the computer be the right place for you?

Doggiehowser
A complete BC 3.5 only equals or gets out run by the PSA setup, huh?

wow. I recall hearing another friend here saying his then ver of a DCS setup was bettered by the orig Wave as well. Hmmm.

I’ve some catching up to do for sure. That said, having what popular opinion says is best hasn’t always stood as best IMHO. Neither will my wallet enable me presently to have the best reside here. Maybe soon though.

I’ve found out too in my years regardless the speakers the front end maters as much if not more. As a single entity they often will provoke or impart the greatest degree of substantive gain in a system, though it could be argued the gain is merely ‘d instead.

…and the little Goober smoochers usually cost the most too and are certainly the more ungainly things to manage and setup. so they’ll come along when they’re supposed to… though not first.

I’ll likely settle around the 5K to 6K or so range (pre-owned or new) and just be happy right there this time.

Having an excellent sounding front end has always shown me almost any speaker can be thereafter added on and the result will be an increase in SQ.

The extent of the said increase in audio quality is the real concern… and the amp usually dictates which sort has to be injected.

And that’s OK too. Audio is no longer my whole reason for being as it once had been. I’ve other interests now.

Thanks for the insights, I’ll definitely have to give PSA a much closer look before I leap.

Lewinskih01,
Thanks. Good being back in the hunt… I think. As usual though I’m all about being more in the know before being on the go.

Yes.. PC will be source, so to speak. Presently it’s a reasonably new Win 7 unit with a mediocre 3.5 GHz CPU (I3) and 16 GB DDR3 RAM. This will change this year.

I also have a 4 bay Synology DS 413 I’ll use as a server. I’ve one 3TB HDD in it and this will change soon too as two more 4TB drives will enter it in the coming months..

I’ve also read some ether net cables from Audio Quest are whoorth giving a try.

I’ve run across an off shore app which works great in ripping DVD & Blue Rays, and converting videos. DB poweramp is the CD ripping tool. Still.

A personal confuser of one sort or another will be the tool for playback into an Integra DHC 99 I have on hand as one processor, and two ch will still run through the Thor linestage. Multi ch power for a while comes from a Butler TDB 5150 and an Odyssey plus 2 ch amp for the rears.

Still have some two way Silverlines around SR 15s I think and a Center stage also from Alan . A Vel DD 15 sub, and a couple well oiled Phase tech Flagships from the 90’s a Ben Q DLP 7500 720p projector throws onto a DIY 116 screen.

so for a while I am ok… but still having the Thor linestage preamp and various Voodoo, Shyunyata and Elrod power cords, moving up a bit now and then isn’t going to be a driving necessity as it once was.

I might even begin this time with monitors instead of floorstanders.

I’m unfamiliar with your hardware but will look into it.

Looks like I’ll be calling BC soon to get the particulars on costs for filling in the rest of that idea before making a decision.

The thing is I really like what the BC DAC does in several systems so I find it a very safe and very solid selection. Combine that with being desirous of a pair of their mono block amps and there’s some built in synergy. If I keep grazing on the BC pastures.

I’ve recently heard friends rigs which use Pass labs XA amps and SF Stratoveri speakers, or plannars and now outfitted with the Mitner DSD DAC and honestly they’re superb but it’s not a night and day diff from the VBS 3.5 & BC 500 or 1000 MK II amps & other comparable or lesser priced speakers. All their rigs are outstanding. And no clear cut OMG !!! winner IMHO.

So now, I can live happily in the range I’ve previously lived in and that’s the Hey! That sounds really good’ range.

Very likely it’ll wind up being the sound and how good a value it is which gets my $$$$. But we’ll see.

What I meant was cost wise the DAC3.5VB II + VBS1 + VB Ref cables might come pretty close to the PS Audio's Direct Stream DAC

Jim,

In my experience, upgrading the computer has made a large difference. And the software made more of a difference than going from old laptop to new server with many audiophile bell and whistles (fanless, SSD, linear power supply, upgraded USB card, etc). Using Windows Server 2012 made a difference, and applying the AudioOptimizer by AudioPhil made the biggest impact. I have yet to try JPlay on top of what I have. You can read some references here on A'gon, and many references on Computeraudiophile.com and/or jplay forum/computer audio sub forum.

Cheers