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Questions from a noob on digital streaming

Ok, I am a noob.... I apologize here in the beginning.

I have been a vinyl guy since forever....

I have been considering a change to digital for several months and finally started to make the transition. I just sold my turntable so there is no going back, and believe me the decision was brutal to make. But I am happy with my new path....but still a bit anxious.

I am currently using a Cambridge magic plus through a tube Pre and tube mono blocks. I am planning on getting the direct stream Jr. and this is where my questions start.


I have been using Audirvana to play Tidal with my current Cambridge Dac...

I see that DS Jr. has installed ability to play Tidal, and use Roon.....

Does this mean I can play Tidal without using Roon or other player with the DS Jr. and MConnect Controller?

What are the pros and cons of this if true, compared to using Audirvana or Roon or Jriver?

Can I use Audirvana to play tidal through the DS Jr. ?

What are the pros and cons of this vs Tidal direct through the DS Jr.  or roon  or Jriver  etc.?

What I think I understand is...Tidal is a streaming service (check), audirvana and roon are players used to play the stream and send to the Dac (check)????? But the DS Jr is a streamer ????? Why is one better than another? And which should I use?

A bit confused, and I have been trying to do my own research, Im just not quite getting what is what and why one may be better than another.



I am trying to sell a quicksilver pre-amp to complete my purchase of the DS Jr.....It's on audiongon YOU SHOULD BUY IT !!:-)

Also, since I am selling the tube pre and using the Jr as a pre.....will the power tube amps smooth out the digital sound????

OR  should I get the Gain Cell, which I could today, and keep the Tube pre???? Seems a waste to have a tube pre with no turntable and switching strictly to streaming.

I HATE confusion....

Thank you,

TD


128x128tonydennison

Showing 4 responses by tonydennison

tonydennison's avatar
tonydennison OP
382 posts
 
Thank you everyone for your responses.

I have been led to another question.....

I read serveral persons say "Audirvana sounds better than Roon."
others say "Roon sounds best."

Are there different qualities of sound if these are file managers?

Thank you,

TD
tonydennison's avatar
tonydennison OP
382 posts
 
Thank you all, you have been very helpful.

Right or wrong I am going with the Direct Stream Jr. and will play around with different players.

Thankx

TD
tonydennison's avatar
tonydennison OP
382 posts
 
Hello guys, 3- Questions :-)

Q-1
As you know, I am getting a DS Jr. and am wondering if I need to run the power amps while breaking in the DS Jr or if I can feed the DS Jr with a Bluray loop and the power amps off????

The power amps are tube and I dont want to leave them on unattended.

Q-2
Another question....My sub is 40 ft away, at the moment I have 40 ft well insulated rca's going to my sub that I used with my Tube Pre. With the DS jr, I have to use the RCA outs to my amps which do not have XLR....Am I better off getting XLR-RCA adapters (or will they sound like poop?) or running solid core speaker cable from the tube amps 40 ft away to the sub?

I imagine you will say speaker wire....

Q-3
Finally, I purchased an AC conditioner from PS Audio, but as I said, the sub is 40 ft away....would I get any benefit running an industrial extension from the conditioner to the sub power cord, or should I just plug the sub direct in to the wall?

Thanks

TD

tonydennison's avatar
tonydennison OP
382 posts
 
Ok, I received the DS Jr today at 11am.. it is 1130pm and it is still on.

Started off pretty dang harsh....I replaced the Anti-Cables ICs for a pair of Rothwell Rivers and everything mellowed down nicely.

Sounding better and better  as time goes on. Vocals are starting to move forward.

I hooked up my sub with speaker cable out of the Amp mains.

Speaker cables I am using are 12 gauge appliance copper from home depot....used it for years.

I am using Quicksilver Mid Mono tube amps and Boston VR950's.

Running tidal through Mconnect.

Question, I can only make setting changes in audio streaming with mac when plugged in to the DS JR, but I dont use that to play music, I stream from the ethernet cable, so are there any adjustments to be made with Tidal built in to the DS JR.?

Anywho back to Miles Davis Funny Vanlentine.

TD
Anyway
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