Better digital front end for my DAC


I have a psAudio directstream DAC with the Bridge II.  I have tried using mcontrol, recommended by psAudio and find it frustrating.  It consistently repeats songs and I always have to manually skip to the next song.  In addition, I would like something that provides access to Sirius for more casual listening.

I bought a Sonos and plugged it into my DirectStream and it sounds bright and is not enjoyable.  This is using an optical cable.

Are there other alternatives that provide a better user interface, sound quality and options above what I have tried?
128x128mmporsche

Showing 6 responses by jjss49

@thosb 

Does this mean most all dedicated streamers will sound better than router hooked directly to the Bridge via ethernet cable?
 
seriously doubt it...
unmodded sonos is jittery so yes it will sound shrill, a classic sign of problematic jitter in the bitstream

if you want to hear the sonos properly and benefit from its simple and foolproof user interface, get this:
https://wyred4sound.com/products/digital-converters/remedy-reclocker

... and a proper 75 ohm coax digital cable, don't use toslink unless it is glass cabled

e j sarmento at wyred has sold many of these, and modded countless other sonos streamers (before introducing the outboard reclocker) for a reason

otherwise just get a bluesound node 2i

third option is pay for roon... there are then many streamers that are roon ready, the software is very nice but you pay over and above the streaming services to use it

(no affiliation - just a happy customer)
@mmporsche

well the dac is receiving a digital bitstream signal, so depending on its internal ability to reclock and manage incoming jitter, it can sound good, ok or bad

with the reclocked signal out of the sonos using the little w4s box, you know that the incoming signal is pristine (and also upsampled to 96k) - so that part of it is handled

i have a/b-ed the reclocked sonos against auralic, mytek and innuos streamers costing many times more, cannot hear a difference into various good dacs on hand...

good luck have fun

ps - total sidebar -- what porsches does mmporsche drive? :)
nice!

i am air cooled fan too... nb 993 and 964 as well

i think the reclocker will make real audible difference for you, it did for me... if not i believe you can return for money back
996’s drive ok but the interiors are just sooooo bad ... and the 996 gt3 is an absolutely brilliant driver’s car... tactile, demanding, doesn’t suffer fools - was it jeremy clarkson or richard may who said the best thing about driving a panamera is that you can’t see its exterior? same for 996... but then you see the interior!!! LOL

.1 997’s are ok if you don’t track them... ims and oiling issues are tough, but otherwise they are very nice cars, and nowadays quite good values
@mmporsche

glad the reclocker is working for you

here are two good sources for reasonably priced, excellent quality and sounding digital coax cable - be sure to get no less than 1.5 meters in length

https://www.cullencable.com/nitin-digital-cable/
https://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/digital-audio/index.htm

and to answer your last question - a sonos connect v2, and a sonos port, feeding bits (not analog) connected through a w4s reclocker will sound the same, work the same

happy listening

btw, i am not affliated with any of the above, other than buying owning and enjoying their products