1. Home
  2. digital
  3. 195879-199672

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
audphile1's avatar
audphile1
7,857 posts
 

If you are anywhere in the house and not in a listening chair, digital volume control is not a detriment, it’s a convenience. 
 

If you are open to using Roon (yearly subscription) there are DACs like Mola Mola Tambaqui, Meitner MA3i, dCS Bartok (even has its own app making Roon not really necessary), Bricasti M1S2 and M21 to name a few. When back in the listening chair you would just set Roon volume to maximum and use your preamp. You don’t need bluesound with any of the above DACs as they feature a built in streaming card. 

bobbyloans
99 posts
 

If you’re keeping the blue sound I’d look at Gustard or Denafrips depending on your budget 

zlone
1,334 posts
 

Good advice given already, one additional thought. If you have a blue dude with USB out, and you want to take your sound quality up a notch without replacing your streamer, you could consider putting a DDC between it and the new DAC. Added complexity you may not want though. The Node Icon is probably a decent upgrade for the path of least resistance. 

retiredaudioguy
285 posts
 

The Eversolo DMP A8 and A10 have the features you are looking for.

Streaming from pretty much every source, DAC, volume control, balanced outputs, iOS and Android apps to control volume and source.

I have the A8 in my 2nd system and it's pretty good, reviews of the A10 suggest it is very good.  The A10 volume control is an R-2R ladder in the analog domain, and can be bypassed for critical listening if you continue to use your Luxman pre.

It also has DSP capabilities - for digital sources.

 

everhard OP
15 posts
 

Morning all, thank you for the suggestions! In the meantime in talks with a friend I found out I made a mistake - the Blue dude can do volume control as long as you don't set "digital pass-through" on. So that means I can use it as a streamer and look to getting a DAC for it. And in that case for critical listening I can set the digital pass-through on and let the Luxman handle volume control.

Toronto Audiofest is coming up next month so now I've more reason to go...

In the meantime I'll have to do further research on DAC's, see what budget I'm willing to go to and look for options, both new and used. First world problems...

E.

More to discover