@bh123 - Great post. I had a similar experience going from a Node 2 to a N100SC.
Streamer upgrade? follow up.
I posted the first part of this earlier in the week. There are a few other threads running concurrently here about this same subject.This is my personal experience with this situation.Ive been using a Aurender A100 streamer/dac which is they’re entry level unit, the SQ wasn’t horrible but I was pretty sure I could get it better.In a attempt to do that I purchased a Denafrips Pontus two and a DhLabs Mirage Usb cable to use with the A100 utilizing its Usb out.The two local hi fi dealers here in SO Cal both told me this would not produce much of an result and in my opinion after trying it they were both correct. So… as I stated in the first post I was coming from a “bit is bits” perspective which was I was convinced adding a better Dac would accomplish my goals, I just couldn’t believe that the zeros and ones could possibly effect the quality of sound. But not being one to give up I decided in for penny in for a pound Id see for myself if there was anything to the other side of this conversation, I wanted a new toy for Xmas anyway.So I traded my A100 plus some cash to TMR ( nice people btw) for a shiny new Aurender N200 which arrived yesterday. Last night the moment of truth, I hooked up the new unit with the exact same everything as before in my system nothing different but the streamer.I let the tubes and everything else warm up for a few hours,picked a song I knew inside and out sat down and pressed play. Immediately within the first few notes of the Stones “ Wild Horses “ I knew I had made the right choice and that I was wrong believing bits are bits “. I really don’t have adequate language to describe the difference in sound quality other than to say I feel like Im in someone else’s home listening to they’re far superior system, its that drastic.I can with complete confidence say this has got to be one of if not the most significant upgrades Ive made in my system, scouts honor! PS. Grinin ear to ear here.
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@lalitk Thanks everyone,I really appreciate the support and civility of this thread, sometimes Im not sure if I want to expose myself here, To answer your question though Lalitk Im coming straight off the Linksys router with Blue Jeans Cat 8. Exactly as bh123. Work on this is next and I was going to tap you and some of the others here on this if thats ok. I was just reading Oddiofyls tweak above, I,ll have to wait for my war chest to build back up for anything pricey but Id be game for a first move now if it were not to costy.Looks like bh123 experience mirrors my own, I consider my system mid fi Ive got a number of other similar components that I switch out from time to time I have complete solid state rig as well and a pair of esl,s I sometimes use , but nothing I’ve ever added or changed out has made this level of improvement. Thanks again everyone. |
@lalitk Grounding the chassis.You know I looked at that ground terminal and thought it unusual but was focused on everything else, thanks easy enough, I’ll get right on that. |
Thanks for your post and kudos for keeping an open mind. General purpose laptop are just that, they are not optimized for high resolution audio. Music is an emotional experience, the better the sound, the more you feel! The big question is what are you willing to do, to attain the sound that has the power to move and engage us. I am convinced that once you’ve had a taste of high quality sound, you’ll never want to go back. But if you still have doubts, all I can say is: Retune your ears! |
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