@cbowie88 I by-passed the DMP-8 DAC and feed a Benchmark DAC3L that feeds an AHB-2 followed by the Focals 948. I found good improvement. Which eventually (lol) will make you exchange the 6 for a T8. Make the path as short as possible with ood cabling and you'll be OK.
Improving on the stream of a combined streamer dac
I recently (foolishly) compared the streamed sound of my Electrocompanient
ECM 1 Mk II to internally stored digital downloads on the same ( ie not stored in my Small Green Computer server). I was surprised how much better the downloaded files sounded. Perhaps, I was naive to think otherwise. So, I started looking at old audiogon threads to see if I could figure a quick and easy fix to up the sound of the streamer but found little that made sense or was affordable. My question is whether I should continue to search, or if I should take it for what its worth and just listen to the music. The rest of my digital front end: Small Green computer server, a Trendnet unmanaged switch and the ECM. I use a Luna Orange ethernet cable from switch to ECM and a Purist Audio cable to the SGC. Thanks for your advice and happy holidays to all.
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@cbowie88 I went through a few DACs in the last few years. I can always recommend the Schiit Yggi+ OG DAC that is no longer available but can be found used (also known as the A2 model). This DAC can be obtained for under $2k and as good as DACs I have owned up to $15k. I recently sold it and knew I was giving up a gem. I have not heard this DAC, but I will get it shipped to me next week. It is my old Schiit Yggi+ MIB DAC upgraded to the new Schiit Byggy (or Singular). It is supposedly the best DAC Schiit has done. Mike Moffet the DAC designer at Schiit is someone with a great history in digital. However, once I test out the functionality of the Byggy it will be sold. My next recommendation is for a DAC at ANY price. It is the new Imersiv D-1 DAC. which is astonishingly good. Measures better than any DAC ever made. A description like that sounds fatiguing but it is not, not tube wet like an Allnic but I like it even better. I have been listening to this thing at least 12 hours a day since the beginning of December. Check out these comments by people more knowledgeable than me. It is ridiculous how good this is compared to other DACs and the biggest jump my system ever took. Note: the D-1 should go direct into an amp, otherwise, it is a bit of a waste. |
What @audphile1 said. I suspect the streamer/dac combo. |
The main differences appear to be the clarity of the bass response and the presence of drums. Also, vocals are more forward on the digital files to the point that they seemed a bit veiled on the stream. Interestingly the differences are not as notable on jazz recordings. I plan to try another ethernet cable ( I have an old wire world ) but my recollection is that the Luna was a richer more musical sounding cable. You should read a bit online about Luna; its a very well reviewed cable line; just not well known in the US. I would not be so quick to dismiss them as the root cause of the sonic issues I have encountered. |
@cbowie88 If you get a new DAC and use the A6 just as a streamer ensure that the new DAC has async USB. You will then get the full benefits of your new, higher quality DAC's clock and buffering. I have expressed this elsewhere, but I am convinced, on technical grounds, that a great DAC with USB from an OK source component will beat a combo where the $$ were divided equally between the components. My own digital setup is extreme, my DAC cost about 20x the source streamer/server. Asynchronous USB ensures that the strobing of data into the DAC chip(s) is done by the DAC's clock. The source is just sending data, when requested, that is loaded into the DAC's FIFO buffer. Any decent USB cable will work well as all it has to do is send data, NO timing is dependent on the USB transfer. My usual USB is a Cardas Clear (it sort of matches my Cardas Clear Reflection interconnects) but I switched it out for a 3 meter wire that (I think) came with an Epson printer. Zero difference in SQ. My system is very highly resolving (Esoteric K-01XDSE, LA4, XA 25, Rockport Atria II).it shows any differences very easily. I2S is a totally different story, the cable is critical. |
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