Start with Upgrade to DAC?
I am ready to set out on an upgrade cycle to my system, which consists of the following, over the next couple of years:
* Rogue Audio RP-7 Preamp (Upgrades: Rogue RP-9 or McIntosh C2800--C2800 includes Phono preamp and DAC)
* Odyssey Kismet Monobloc Amplifiers (Keepers!)
* Lounge Audio LCR Gold phono preamp (Keeper!)
* Fyne Audio F-702 Speakers (Keepers!)
* Definitive Tech Supercube 6000 (Vandersteen Sub Three or Paradigm XR11)
* Schiit Bifrost 2/64 DAC (Schiit Yggydraseil or ????)
* NAD C568 CD Player used as transport (Schiit Urd or ???)
* iFi Zen Stream
*iPad Pro for Apple Music
* Ice Age Audio OFC Power Cords
* Audioquest and mostly Morrow Interconnects (RCA & XLR)
* Performance Audio Speaker Cables, using Mogami W3104 Speaker Wire
I am thinking that perhaps the best place to start would be the DAC, with the idea of moving from the Bifrost 2/64, which I like, to the Yggdrasil (model TBD) DAC, which has gotten superb reviews that speak to sound quality characteristics that are of concern to me. Budget for DAC upgrade is about $2500. OR, should I go for room correction capability?
I recently replaced a highly-rated 100 wpc tube amplifier with the Odyssey mono blocs, and I was stunned by the improvement in sound quality, definition, and imaging, but I think there still is some room for improvement.
Thoughts and recommendations most welcome.
Yeah, sorry for pyrotechnics. several of us obviously have a history that can get in the way of helpful feedback. Here’s an interesting take on streamers in the context of their functioning as DDCs, which I hadn’t really thought of before (though it is obvious). Anyway, this guy does some pretty good work trying to marry subjective and objective. More importantly, you might find his voice less annoying than mine, lol! Good luck in your journey:
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oh, and on your specific request re other streamers at or below your budget (full disclosure, of my 5 current streamers, 2 are the Zen Stream and the S2 Ultra): Other units I’ve considered in the $1000 or under price point include Primare N2 Prisma, Holo Red, and Volumio Rivo. And as others have heard ad nauseum, I’m a huge fan of the streamer reviews on HiFi News, particularly the lab reports section to give insight into what you’re getting, or not, as you climb the $ tree. (No other print or on-line review source has reviewed as many streamers as they have, so it’s a great resource.) |
@mike4597 I saw you mention that you are considering using room treatments. You can use the physical treatments like I use in my office. Very ugly but they work well, and the wife stays out of the office, so she does not care how ugly they are. Now if I were to use or need acoustic treatments in the Livingroom I would go with Mitch Barnett at, Digital Room Calibration Services, Convolver, Headphone Filtersets (accuratesound.ca) I used his great remote DSP service in the past and the dude is a digital genius. This DSP will only work for a signal before it goes into your DAC. So, no benefit with a tuner or TT. The cost of his remote service is $750. I no longer use the DSP files I had created for my office, but it is a great safely net to have. One reason I no longer use the DSP (convolution files) is because I have different speakers. The Magnepan LRS+ is actually rather easy to place in my office.
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