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Upgrading digital side

I currently own a Jay's Audio CDT-MK2 CD transport and a Holo May KTE DAC.  I also stream (mostly files) with a Raspberry Pi (Roon and Audirvana software).   These feed PrimaLuna EVO400 preamp and amp and Devore Gibbon speakers.

I am  looking to upgrade my entire digital side.  I have an extensive CD collection that I will continue to listen to as well as thousands of files.

My budget is around $20,000 and I prefer new equipment.

So far, for DACS, I have been looking at the Grimm MU2, Bricasti M21, Mola Mola Tambuqui and the DCS Lina.  For server/streamers, Aurender N200 or N20 and Innous Stream 3.  I know that the DACS I mentioned also stream, but I'm not sure that I want to be completely tied to Roon or Audirvana.  I like the idea of internal storage for my files.

Finally, I am also considering the Luxman D-07X SACD player, which has a USB input where I would connect a streamer.  I'm wary of the quality of the DAC in the Luxman, especially for streaming.

Any advice on the best combination of the above (or something I haven't looked into yet) would be greatly appreciated.

walt8489
soix
11,243 posts
 

Very nice.  Congrats and enjoy!!!

arafiq's avatar
arafiq
1,790 posts
 

@yyzsantabarbara Thanks, man. It's good to hear that you're getting better performance with the D.BOB in the chain. I'll reach out to you privately.

mclinnguy's avatar
mclinnguy
1,084 posts
 

@fastfreight 

I see that Grimm has updated its software options and Jplay is now available. Just wondering if you have tried Jplay vs. Roon yet? 

mclinnguy's avatar
mclinnguy
1,084 posts
 

I decided to get an Innuos Stream 3 and a Berkeley Alpha 3 DAC with a USB converter.  Being able to actually listen to something is a big advantage.  The combination sounds great and it's within budget.

Congratulations @walt8489 enjoy the music!

Tell us more if you could, just for others who may think about upgrading their DAC/Streamer in the future:

What else did you demo? 

In what ways did it improve upon your Raspberry Pi and Holo KTE? Did you demo either separately with your the Innuos or Berkeley? 

fastfreight
1,288 posts
 

Hello @mclinnguy !

I have had the S1 on demo in my home. Marcin from JCAT is super nice and great to deal with.  I honestly felt after multiple AB comparisons that his streamer was the best I had heard. But there was a slight Glitch, switching Between tracks of different resolution on Qobuz.  Marcin worked with me for a while, trying to get it figured out, but in the end we could not. I’m still not sure if it was a.JPLAY issue or on my end. But I ended up sending it on.  Also, I was hoping for a streamer that could run Roon as well as its native app.  That led me to purchasing an N 20.  It did not sound as good running Roon  as my Aries, and I could not wrap my head around the conductor app.  At the time the DAC in the system was a standalone Tambaqui.  

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