Baetis mid level streamer with entry level TotalDac best 2 box purchase(streamer DAC) I ever made.
Use Roon/Tidal
Away you go
What direction should I go
My system is as follows:
Magico S5 MKII
Pass Labs x250
Plinius CD-LAD mkII
Primare D30.2
Moon Audio Moon LP-5.3
VPI Industries Scout
As you can see I have no streaming capabilities. I have been reading a lot here but I am still unsure what to do. I was thinking that I would get a separate DAC and streamer. I would run the Primare digital out into the new DAC ( expecting a big improvement ) as well as connecting the streamer and hard drive so I would need SPDIF and USB connections. If I have ~$13k what direction would you guys go? I also thought about the Esoteric N-05XD to use as a pre as well as the all in one DAC/Streamer and still run the Primare through it. This would allow me to sell my current pre to help a little with the costs. This direction would also allow me to remove one shelf in my rack and save money on not having to buy additional cables.
If I had to be on one side of neutral I would go the more revealing, cooler, side of things. I listen to a wide range of music from Classical to Jazz to Rock to Metal ( and a lot of the subgenres that aren't "hifi" ). I am looking for a deep wide soundstage with no loss in the bottom end and airy highs.
For a time I thought about getting a new CD player that has digital inputs ( mine does not ) and add the streamer and hard drive to it. Based on reading I think perhaps that is not the best approach but I am not opposed to that either.
I have some somewhat local dealers to me that include brands like Aurender, Bricasti, MSB, Esoteric, Chord, Innuos, Mytek, Nagra, Berkely Audio Design. I am open to any recommendations outside of these also it is just I would prefer to demo them. But if it is used I would consider it as I could sell if it didn't fit my system.
- ...
- 23 posts total
You will need: fast Internet, a nice power supply for your router, a fancy ethernet cable from your router to your system, a fancy ethernet switch (English electric switch 8) , a fancy ethernet cable from the switch to your server (wolf audio systems luna r or better), a fancy usb cable from your server to your dac (t+a dac8dsd or better) , nice powercord for your dac, and xlr to your preamp. Also youll need a roon subscription and a Qobuz subscription. thats how i do it.. plus i have everything connected to a ground block |
To be fair, an iPad with a dongle into some RCAs, is what I often use to check the system. The rest of the gear is nice.
At 44k, and 2 channels at 24 bits, it becomes around 2 Mbits. One does not need gigabit ethernet for the low bandwidth of audio.
It may be a good approach. |
I just decided to add a dedicated DAC to my system. I’m currently using my Naim XS2 and will keep it for network streamer (excellent user interface I’ve had Lumin, no comparison) Access is difficult difficult under current conditions, so relied on Volumes of reviews formal and published on YouTube. Berkeley, Cord, Mytek and others, I narrowed it down to Dynafrips Terminator II and Holo May level 3. After multiple correspondence with both very responsive companies, I went with Halo. |
- 23 posts total