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Help! Looking for a DAC with some unique ablities...

Ok, maybe I'm wrong in thinking unique. Here's the situation:

Currently using a Bluesound to Luxman CL-38uc to a pair of Luxman M383 driving Eggleston Works Andra 2.

On the one hand I want to upgrade the DAC and possibly streamer side of things (I'm willing to continue using tthe Bluesound for streaming and upgrade that down the road)

On the other hand the one aspect of using the Bluedude that I really don't want to give up is the ability to use the app from anywhere in the house and control what I listen to and the volume. (I leave the preamp volume at a high level and then the Bluedude can control the volume with the variable out.)  Far from the best option for sound quality but it sure makes life easy! 

So... Is there a DAC out there that has a phone app to control it and variable balanced outputs?

A second option could be a combined streamer/DAC I suppose that has a phone app and variable balanced outputs.

I know ultimately all are compromised options vs sending the processed signal directly to the pre-amp and then utlizing the volume knob on the preamp. But when I'm listening to music 40-50 feet away (not sitting in the music seat!) then the abilitiy to control the music trumps the quality. Still I'd like to do what I can to limit the qualiy losses and improve what I have.

Any good opinions out there?

Thanks, E.

everhard
everhard OP
15 posts
 

Thanks for the suggestions, so I understand correctly, I can connect the blue dude as a streamer only utilize coax for example connect to the Holo Cyan and it has an app that I will allow me to change the volume out the balanced outputs? 

In the case of the Auralic it just replaces the blue dude - presumably has balanced outputs. If I go that route to replace the blue dude with another streamer I'll have to consider other like units. If going that way I would want to be making a good step up. I kinda like the idea of separating the DAC from the streamer.

With the blue dude if you use the digital out you lose the volume control functionality. 

I definitely am not changing the pre, it's the best component I have in the whole chain. 

E.

yyzsantabarbara
5,550 posts
 

The Lumin X1 is a DAC and a streamer. A great streamer and an OK DAC. You can do everything with the streamer that you are interested in doing. The volume control on the streamer is the best digital volume I have heard.  I owned the X1 at one point.

Today I would get the Lumin U2X streamer which is the X1s streamer in a separate box. Some improvements are in the U2X.

High Fidelity

 

lanx0003
1,928 posts
 

The Node Icon seems like a good fit for your needs, and it’s endorsed by three trustworthy reviewers. Its DAC also performs well.  Take their advices seriously.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNHLnHulGFM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMpXGuG8DCw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQ57f_AzKd0

fpomposo
134 posts
 

You should look at Aurender... I love mine, sounds so much better than any budget streamer, I couldn't believe how much better it sounds than my old streamer setup, night and day..

They make the A200 that has variable output, built in DAC, the app is really good too. And the best thing about it is you can stick a SSD hard drive in it and have your whole music library inside which is what I do and it sounds even better than streaming...

The A200 is the entry level but I think it's still pretty expensive, and they have more expensive analog out streamers, mine is the entry level digital only N150 and it's awesome

mashif
471 posts
 

I retired my Node 2i but I always used the digital coax output to an external DAC and occasionally used the Nodes Volume control. It's a digital volume control that controls the digital or analog outputs. 

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