I'm using the TP-Link battery powered wifi to the A6. No ethernet. Just the Supra Excalibur USB to the Merason DAC1 MkII. I don't think my digital side is noisy. Background is blacker than black. Imaging is deep and expansive. Tones are crystal clear. But its a little anemic compared to vinyl. I think i just need to accept that its gonna be that way unless I dump 5 figures more into my streamer which I don't really want to do.
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I still recommend trying Audience USB. And experiment with different interconnects between dac and preamp. There are ways to liven it up. For example I have Nordost Tyr 2 interconnects between Meitner and amp. Great cables! Not as engaging sounding as the cheaper Kimber Carbon XLR that I use on phono stage but occasionally throw on DAC. Yes not as detailed as Tyr 2 but on rock music they’re more engaging and overall better than Nordost Tyr 2 that shine on acoustic jazz. |
Probably the most significant issue with streaming to my understanding is the bit rate. Your provider can send you a stream that by all indications your equipment identifies as 16 bit or high res when in fact, you're receiving a compressed low bit copy. Your ears aren't fooling you. I'm very much a physical media person, vinyl and silver disc as well enjoying our abundant local and high-quality local FM broadcasts. As far as parity between the sound of vinyl and digital silver discs they are about equal and I don't experience any audible transition between the two, I'm as comfortable listening to one or the other. It has mainly to do with your source components and them not having any significant sonic character of their own. Each has to be at least as good as the other. Looks like your Mearason is as good as it gets and its probably what you're feeding it, Lumin supposedly makes great streamers and they're highly regarded. Follow both manufacturers' recommendations for the appropriate interconnections or interface and leave it at that. |
@faustuss no. Your streamer can’t possibly treat an MP3 file as a 24/192. Every streamer will validate the incoming data stream. DACs will do the same. In nearly most cases, in my experience, these methods of streaming result in sound quality variations. Some of these options sound better. I’m trialing Jplay right now. Again same situation - for some albums I prefer Roon, for some others Jplay sounds better. Not a day and night but audible difference. Definitely worth exploring every option. |
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