Audio-GD R8 Ladder DAC with out a doubt.
I've heard two systems a few days ago, both much more expensive than mine and both with +20k DACs and I prefered my under 20k system over those +120k systems.
Of course its not just the DAC, but if you have the right components and you properly set them, you can have a system that can compete with multi thousand dollars ones.
But the R8 was up to the task. Of course I feed it with a very good signal, the SOtM SMS-200 Ultra Neo vía the Gustard U16 with I2S signal, much better than just USB.
You wont have a very very good sounding system until you take care of multiple issues like AC power, vibration control, the digital signal, speaker location, listening position, a pair of well located and integrated subs, room accoustics, etc |
@andrewkelley what DAC do you have in your main system? You may be surprised by the Audio-gd R8.
By the way, I have 3 PS Audio Noise Harvesters. The affect the sound very very little, if its not placebo effect. I dont recomend them. |
@andrewkelley
Have you compared the Simaudio Moon 280D with any good 1.5k DAC?
I believe a good dedicated DAC with a good source should sound better. If not, the Simaudio Moon 280D is a giant killer as, for the price, its a streamer and a DAC.
If not, may be you should think about upgrading your main system with a better streamer + DAC and keep the Simaudio Moon 280D in your second system. It would cost a little more, but you could get better sound in your main system, as I guess could be better. Of course, you would have to change the Bluesound Note for a better sounding bridge like the SOtM SMS-200 Ultra Neo or the cheaper Sonore Ultrarendu.
I prefered my SOtM SMS-200 Ultra Neo + Gustard U16 USB Converter + Audio-gd R8 Ladder DAC combo (about 3.5k total) against a +20k Mark Levinson streamer and DAC and also vs a +20K T+A DAC.
Just an opinion. |
I wouldn't care much about coax output and sample rates.
For me, another issues play a MUCH bigger role on sound quality and music engagement. To mention a few: gear quality and synergy, AC conditioning, accoustic treatment, location of speakers and listening position, recording quality, digital signal quality, etc.
Some called experts recomend streamer, or network bridges, with a good and clean USB output and then, if you have a DAC with I2S input, a USB to I2S converter.
I can't agree with them more. Thats why I've got the SOtM SMS-200 Ultra Neo and the Gustard U16, both being VERY good upgrades for my DAC. Its right to mention that the U16 has troubles with some gear and some sample rates, but once you get working, it sounds superb.
If you can, I would follow that way. I know some will say keep it simple, but I believe that the quality of the digital signal you feed to your DAC is FAR more important than sample rates and maybe as important as your DAC quality.
Im pretty sure, eventhough I cannot demostrarte it, that my streamer+converter+DAC chain, wich costs around 3.5k, can equal, if not better, almost any +10k DAC fed by a USB signal from a computer.
I already heard two +20k DACs that, in my opinion, didn't sound according to their price level. One of them was a streamer with DAC incorporated and the other one was fed by a computer with Roon. Im sure, at least on the last one, that the USB signal from the computer was a big parte of the shortcomings in sound.
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Hello andrew
The SMS-200 you mentioned in offer is the regular one. The SMS-200 Ultra Neo is the one I have and I understand it's considerably better (and more expensive) than the one you are talking about.
If you want to keep costs limited, may be you could try the Sonore Ultrarendu that costs about $400 less than the SMS-200 Ultra Neo and I understand it has a similar sound quality.
If you live in the US, may be Sonore can offer you a trial period.
You will have to consider a Linear Power Supply for any of them. I would recomend a cheap chinese one with Talema transformers, about $70 on ebay.
The Gustard U16 converts the USB signal into I2S (HDMI cable). In most DACs with I2S input, this option sounds better than USB. There are several brands of converters, Singxer has some good ones, being the SU-6 their flagship, but costing about the double than the one I have, the Gustard U16. Some people on head-fi forum say the Singxer SU-6 has no operational problems like the Gustard, but the latter sounds better. In my system, the Gustard improves the sound noticeably, making it more organic, dynamic and detailed.
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Andrew
If Im not mistaken, you have a Sim Audio Streamer and DAC all in one, a Bluesound Node streamer and a Schiit Gungnir DAC, am I correct?
If so, can you stream with the Bluesound to the Sim Audio, using the latter only as a DAC? If you can, that would give you the chance to compare the Sim Audio as a streamer vs the Bluesound and as DAC vs the Gungnir. It would help to look for the weakest link of the chain and to see if the Sim Audio is as good as you think.
On the other hand, Hans Beekhuyzen has a YouTube channel and he has tried the original SOtM SMS-200, then the Ultra and Ultra Neo versions. He also has reviewed A LOT of others streamers/bridges, to mention a few: the Node, the Auralic aries mini, the Rasberry Pie, etc.
He answers questions vía YouTube, on the coments side of every video. He is very profesional and I guess you could ask him wich streamer/bridges he recomends considering your budget and needs.
Dont forget that many of the products we have mentioned here are bridges, meaning you will need a computer to run them. They will send the signal to the DAC, but you have to control them with a computer using Roon, Audinirvana, or another software. |
I insist, get the best combination of digital gear you can pay and forget about sample rates, MQA, etc. At least for at the begining.
For me the correct gear is MUCH more important. A good digital chain playing PCM 44.1 will sound MUCH better than a mediocre one playing hi-res.
For instance, in my case, replacing the WiFi connection with a 10 bucks Cat8 Ethernet cable plus a 20 bucks used Cisco Ethernet Switch (a Gigabit one) had more impact in sound than changing sample rates and formats. |
Thank you vougeot for your kind words.
I think most of us here learn a LOT from each other. There are also other forums with nice people helping and advising like head-fi.
One of the things I've learned, and I'm only been a few years on this "hobbie", is that you don't have to spend multithousand dollars to get a sound that can compete with almost every system out there, you just have to spend it right. Of course it cant be done with a cheap system, but you don't have to spend tens of thousands of dollars.
Jim Smith, the author of the book "Get Better Sound", once said something like this: "if you have a nice system and you hear better sound at a dealer's shop or at a show, you have work to do at home improving your system's voicing and installation" and I couldn't agree more. By the way, I totally recomend his book and his articles about subwoofers installation.
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