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System upgrade, need advice, source or speakers?

Hi,

I've had my system for a few years and have been thinking about tweaking it. Right now it consists of:

Speakers: Zu Definition MKII
Amp: Tom Evans Linear A
DAC/Pre: PS Audio Perfectwave DAC

All of my music is digital (flac) and the only input I use is USB hooked up to a mac mini.

For the longest time I've been thinking about swapping out my PS Audio DAC for something else. 1) I only need the USB input so I don't need the bridge etc that the Perfectwave offers. 2) I've always had the sneaking suspicion (for no particular reason) that the DAC was the limiting factor in my system.

I started looking into higher end DACs like the Lampizator Level 5 and the Calyx Femto.

But now I'm wondering, would I be better off keeping the Perfectwave (or swapping it for something like the NAD M51 or Berkeley Audio DAC) and upgrading my Def MKIIs to MKIIIs.). The price for either option is roughly the same.

Any advice would be appreciated.
danyal711
shakeydeal
979 posts
 
You don't say what you feel the shortcomings of your system are. What would you like to improve with this upgrade?

Shakey
danyal711 OP
22 posts
 
The DSPeaker Dual Core looks really interesting. The Zu Def MKIIs have 4 subs on the back of them and on each speaker you can adjust Volume, Low-pass Filter, PEQ Gain, PEQ Frequency, Phase. I'm wondering if I can achieve the same effect with these controls without the DSPeaker.

Yes I am looking for USB only but I've found pretty big differences between different USB solutions even in the ~$2000 price range. Most recently I've compared the Calyx 24/192 to the PS Audio DAC. Both are great units but the sound from the PS Audio DAC was far more smooth, transparent and less digital sounding. The problem is there are so many different USB DACs these days with a wide price range, it's hard to narrow down what makes sense.

Ultimately I think I want to improve the transparency and digital sound of my system. It's not bad by any means but I know it can be better. When I listen to live recordings I want get as close to the cliche of making the speakers disappear.
danyal711 OP
22 posts
 
Sorry the MKIIIs have all those controls not the IIs.
shakeydeal
979 posts
 
I would suggest you add a turntable as a source.

Shakey
ellrotts
29 posts
 
I would agree with speakers, I have an absolutly rotten system driving B&W 802D's.

I looked at it and thought whats the biggest upgrade i can make here with one component. Speakers was the obvious choice. Unfortunatly being constrained by cash wont allow me to go and blow 15k on amps right away.
If i had that much spare bread sitting arounf i would have bought another house.
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