@rsure I envy anyone with ATC active spkrs! spkften thought about selling everything and buying the active 100s but it's so hard to demo anything
STREAMER - WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE?
I've been using the Eversolo DMP-A8 and think it's a mid-range, feature-rich, capable, and attractive machine. For the past few months, my focus has been on putting my system together (e.g., new caps on the amps, new tubes, getting clean power, turntable, phono stage, etc) and have felt that I've been overly focused on the analog side. I've long wanted to work on getting my end game digital setup and pulled the trigger on a BAT Rex 3 DAC and now want a streamer that mates well with it. I know little about streamers. . .just enough to get lost in the topic.
Other than an easy-to-read screen and balanced outputs, what features should I look for in an endgame streamer that will deliver a significant performance boost? I invite any suggestions.
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@fire_water I have the 50 ASLs which I bought after having heard the 150 ASLs. I went through a long process of auditioning multiple speakers and just when I thought I had found THE ones (was between Audio Note and Devore O96s) I heard the ATCs and while different sounding they seemed to handle every genre of music much more effortlessly. The option to just simplify everything with just the MU2 and the active ATCs and save me a world of decisions with streamer/dac/pre/power/ICs etc. was enough for me to pull the trigger. Do try and audition a pair when you can! |
RESPONSE: Of course, I agree with you on taking my own advice. I’m only saying that my research tell me that an AES optimized DAC will not allow the BAT to perform to its potential. I’m sure the N20 is great, it’s just not the best for for the BAT because the BAT REX 3 DAC is a USB‑first, asynchronous DAC the DAC’s internal clock becomes the master clock and the N20’s biggest engineering advantage (its clock) does not apply to USB. So, if I selected the N20 and connected using USB, then I’ve wasted money paying for technology (the N20’s master clock) because the BAT’s clock controls the audio stream. Am I missing something? Sorry if this has been mentioned before, from personal experience, the USB output is quite good on the N20. You’re really not sacrificing anything on that end. I do see your point about not spending money on something that you won’t use, unless the BAT DAC has an AES input? We carry many of the brands listed in this thread, they all have their own strengths and weaknesses, but you can really go wrong with Innuos, Aurender , Grimm or Antipodes
Cheers James |
@ ATC SPEAKERS I know this is a different topic but I actually demo'd the ATC active 100 and was blown away and like you said it handles all genres of music without any lame excuses. But I need to spend more time with these and that's the issue because unless you commit to actually ordering them no demo is available. But you are right, a good all in 1 box streamer/DAC/preamplifier connected to a great active spkr like ATC does make life simple! What's the size of your room? |
That’s because the ATCs are equipped with solid state amps and very high quality drivers. The others mentioned have drivers that are better than mid-fi but definitely not top-tier, they are essentially just variations of Seas Prestige series and mid-level ScanSpeak stuff. Didn’t see the OP’s speakers mentioned, but as long as he’s using the tube amps and BAT DAC, there is absolutely no way he is going to hear differences in streamer quality. Any audible differences (for which there is zero supporting science anyway) will all be highly masked by the tube distortion and noise floor.
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