Just Get A Better DAC?


I see that many of you are adding clocks, DDCs and whatever other boxes for better digital.  To those of you who have done this, do you think it would have been a better investment to just buy a better dac?  I realize that it may be financially easier to add pieces one at a time, but I was wondering what those who have done it think. Plus, less boxes and cables, which is a blessing, IMO.  I guess this would also apply to those putting boxes in front of their streamers. 

chayro

@rsure -i like the 2.1x a lot, but it was improved with better tubes. It’s much lighter than the upper models, which was important to me. I never compared it to the upper models, and I have no doubt they bring more to the table. BTW, it needs to see 100k ohms on the amp end, which is what AN amps are.  I’ll post my system if you want to check out what I did. 

@chayro Thanks for the feedback, yes would love to see your system. I'm trying to decide between an Audio Note system with the AN-E speakers and either the Devore O/93 or O/96 and have a lot of questions I'm hoping to get answers to. Thanks again!

@rsure - your proposed system will be quite different from mine, but feel free to pm if you want to discuss something AN, as I don’t think the brand generates much interest here. 

Buy the Hermes ddc it’s night and day better then the Iris and oven clocks .

well worth the extra $$

is there any evidence other than "use your ears" to compare DACs quality? I'm sorta new to this and the DAC thing seems to be divisive.