So, OP, I assume you will retain or purchase the NT-1, correct? The BS three-box combo, including the extra I²S cable, could easily cost $2,400, which is about 60% of the value of the NT-1. If the BS combo only reaches 60% of the NT-1’s performance, it seems the extra $1,400 would be worth spending.
DDC Sound Improvements???
I'm trying to put off buying a new streaming transport. Of the Hifi Rose RS130, Innuos Stream 3, and Matrix NT-1; the NT-1 was clearly the winner to my ears with a greater sense of clarity/transparency, sound stage width and depth, and neutrality that it presented.
I currently have a moded BS Node with LPS that has been hard to beat thus far. Will the new Gustard U26 DDC truly improve sound quality with the blacker backgrounds and sound stage dimensions. The DDC would also allow me to use i2S.
$1,000 for a DDC vs $4,000 for a transport is pretty tempting. In my head this additional filtering in the DDC would give me the sonic improvements of a great streaming transport.
What are your thoughts and experience?
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@lanx0003 The BS w/LPS has been here for the last 4 years. Since there is no resale value in it, my thought process was it's cheaper to buy the $900 (open box) DDC than to send $4,000 on the Matrix. Total cost is $1,850 spread out over four years or $4,000 right now. Right now I'd rather put that towards the new speakers than another incremental improvement with the digital setup. I have the digital sorted out that has impressed my local hifi store rep when he heard my system. Once you remove the bias of "oh you have a Node" and let your ears hear what's being projected, I'm happy "for now". LOL!!! |
OCXO vs. Accusilicon crystals (38ps) on the U18, along with the dual power supplies. It will be nice if U26 also publishes its jitter performance (I guess it will be on par with any other OCXO; usually under 10ps). I wonder if using the further-refined (yet still dirt cheap) Node Nano with a 5V/3A LPS like the iFi iPower X could bring the combo to about 80-85% (just a hopeful guesstimate) of the NT-1. At $379, the Node Nano is the best streamer under $900 that I have tried. Detail and musical with weighty low ends. According to trustworthy reviewers, the Nano sounds significantly better than the old Node. You may also be able to reuse the LPS. It’s important to use a 3A-rated LPS even though the Nano only requires a minimum of 2A on paper. Try ordering a returnable unit from Amazon first—and thank me later. |
i still have a modded node n130 (s booster) as well as a node nano here, both driven by 5v lps’s -- they sound the same to me from their spdif as well as their usb outs (into various dacs - lampizator msb weiss chord) not unexpectedly, they are both outperformed by my auralic aries g1.1 as well as my grimm (using its spdif out) but the performance margin is fairly small/subtle i have not tried the matrix unit, which seems to be the current flavor of the month touted by churn and burn reviewers the gustard units are very well built, sound quite good (i really enjoyed my time with the r26 and M18) |
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