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.
Here’s a used Pulsar at a good price you could try and likely resell for little loss if it doesn’t work out and might be worth it for peace of mind since this is a significant longer-term investment. https://nowlistenhere.net/Products/USED-Innuos-PULSAR-streamer__USED-colo--spc-INN-PULSAR.aspx |
Or save $95 and get this one! https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisbe282-innuos-pulsar-network-streamer-transports Of course Audiogon would be happier too |
I’ll add, @patrickalston, if you do try out a Pulsar, that the owner of Now Listen Here, Aaron Sherrick, is an excellent dealer and all around stand up fellow, so you might take that into account in choosing between these two units. |
For what it’a worth: get an Etherregen with a decent external clock in front of your streamer and an LHYaudio UIP-1 on the same 10m clock on the USB link to the Dac and things start cooking. Use the SFP port on the Etherregen for further improvement. The simple facts are as follows: A $2000 DAC or streamer can not contain a $5000 clock and no galvanic isolation on ethernet is as clean as a fibre conversion. That said use good power supplies and proper SFPs for the conversion. Ideally you can use the superior clock also on the DAC so that you have superior clocking through the chain while the DAC slaves the server |
@kirkwallace - I continue to waffle between the the RS130 and an innuous. I see that the Stream3 has replaced the Pulsar. Although it’s significantly more money than both the RS130 and the Pulsar, I’ve added the Stream3 to my list. @antigrunge2 - I had to explore what the Etherregen offers which gave me a chance to learn something new. Did some reading on it and I see that it’s an Ethernet switch. Also, not sure what you meant when you wrote "A $2000 DAC or streamer can not contain a $5000 clock and no galvanic isolation on ethernet is as clean as a fibre conversion." My DAC is asychronous. So, the DAC provides the clocking. Unfortunately, the Etherregen’s uses an older architecture, a noisier Switch‑mode power supply instead of a quieter Linear Power Supply and is not optimized for USB-first transports. Looking at how it’s built ($5 PS, Mid-Tier PHY chips, etc) suggests it’s aimed, at best, mid-grade systems system--It’s not a good fit for revealing components. Regardless, my next step will be a streamer. I need to nail that down first before I put money into an ethernet switch + ensure that it’ll it’s deliver discernable improvement to my digital leg streamer upgrade (i.e. RS130 or an Innuous---> BAT Rex 3 DAC).
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