Dac with separate streamer or Dac with built in network card
In my search for a dac upgrade I was looking at the Weiss 501MKII, the Berkely Alpha Dac Series with the Berkely USB port. I then realized that the streamer controls the clock and hence jitter reduction in all connections except the USB. It became apparent to me that in most cases I would not be getting the benefit of a new Dac upgrade as to clocking and hence jitter. So I then was advised I needed a new streamer whose internals were on par with the internals of my Dac. The new streamer would be a Lumin U2X or a Aurender N20, which both cost over $10,000.00,
I was then advised by a few audiogon members that I should consider a stand alone Dac with a network card which would take the place of purchasing a new streamer. It was mentioned that I should consider the Meitner MA3i, which is a Dac with a network card. Until today I thought a network card is only found in a streamer. Was not aware of a Dac & streamer combination. I have always believed in separates such as power and preamps, as well as an external Dac running into a streamer. Does anybody have any thoughts regarding the option of a high end Dac such as the Meitner with a network card? Thank you.
PS Audio and Lumin among others have stated the all in one is the best way to go. You eliminate the interconnect cable and associated circuitry and can optimize the layout of the streamer and DAC components internally. Aurender A1000 is a good bang for the buck (especially used prices) for tube amp owners (single ended). Or move up the price range for a balanced unit. |
Just to be clear, I am not suggesting a standalone all-in-one DAC/streamer solution. There is still a server of some type involved. The goal is to have all the heavy processing done elsewhere and the streamer board in the DAC only has to feed the stream to the DAC in the quietest and most efficient way possible. |
I have followed your posts, but remind me what you are using for software/UI, and if you have any kind of server. I guess my last post might have been a bit confusing. The DAC combined with an endpoint streamer has worked well for me and is a significant improvement over SPDIF/USB in my system, I recommend it. But I have a server that runs Roon core separate from the networked DAC, which only runs the Roon endpoint software. @audphile1 does something similar with a Roon Nucleus (I think). I think there are non-Roon configurations (JPlay maybe?) that would allow you to have no server, but someone else would have to chime in on how that is done and whether it works well. As for which DAC, I have not heard the Weiss, but from what I read it sounds fairly detailed. The Meitner is known to be warmer and might be a shift for you. I "think" that Bricasti and the Tambaqui might be closer. But if you really like the Weiss sound, but just want an upgrade, the 501 is a good choice. It's all up to taste and synergy at that point. |
@zlone you remember correctly. Eero mesh network -> Wireworld Starlight 10 Twinax Ethernet cable -> Trendnet 8 port 1G switch. From switch it branches out into Roon Nucleus One ($500 direct from Roon) with another WW Starlight 10 Twinax, and from switch to Meitner MA3i using Audience Hidden Treasure Ethernet cable I use Qobuz and Tidal as well as a music library on SSD mounted inside the Nucleus One. All streaming is managed via Roon I used to run Roon Core on Mac Mini but after comparing it to Nucleus the mini’s been decommissioned Solid as a rock. Great sound. |
