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Standalone DAC upgrade from onboard integrated

It’s about time I posted, I’ve been following long enough. I want to bypass the onboard DAC (Burr Brown) in my new Musical Fidelity M6si integrated with a standalone DAC to drive my Magnepan 1.7x’s. Budget is $1-2k. First issue: can I realize an appreciable improvement over the onboard DAC in the M6 with a unit in that price range? Second issue: I love the detail, clarity and imaging I get from the Maggies, but I don’t want them to get too clinical with a new DAC. Hence, I’ve been looking mostly at R2R typology to keep the “musicality”, perhaps at the expense of some precision. My listening tastes are mostly jazz, classical, with some vocals thrown in. Sources are about 50% streaming, 30% vinyl and 20% CD. Other components include Blusound Node, Marantz TT-15/Clearaudio Virtuoso and a 5 year old Marantz CD player. All insights or suggestions welcome.

phydo
drmuso's avatar
drmuso
247 posts
 

@phydo 

I have the Node 130 with a LPS upgrade and bought a Denafrips Ares II DAC.  The Ares II is not really a noticeable improvement on the DAC in the Node 130; so if you go Denafrips, go for a used Pontus or higher to avoid just a lateral switch.  After I upgraded my streamer, I put the Node into a bedroom system and didn't even bother to hook up the Ares II.  I'm keeping it as a backup DAC, but probably should just sell it.

dantaudio
6 posts
 

+1 for the Cyan2.  And there are plenty of other good options out there in the $1-2K range.  I made a similar move with my office system: Bluesound Node 130 w/PD Creative power upgrade > Cyan2 > Arcam SA20 integrated > Maggie .7 w/ silver jumpers and silver tubes instead of fuses + REL T5/x.  Adding the Cyan2 DAC was an undeniable improvement over both the Node and Arcam internal DACs.  Once you hear it you can't go back!  My office system is a step down from what you have.  I am not familiar with the M6si or its DAC but I am confident you will get a nice bump in SQ with the outboard DAC.  I think your only question is which DAC will have the improvement/synergy you seek in your system?  The only way to know for certain is to try it and you could resell the used R2R if it doesn't deliver the gains you are seeking.

wings2hockey
9 posts
 

Add a ModWright Analog Bridge and save the current DAC. It's magical. 

mm1tt77
255 posts
 

I have the LTA Aero DAC and it’s phenomenal.  The ability to change the character with different tubes is also awesome.  Highly recommend the DAC.

netsullivc
4 posts
 

Reading the postings especially Soix your comments. I have a analog and digital parallel setup. The digital is flac of the laptop into a usb 2.0 connection in a fiio K15 gad to save for into a whammy and cans. I love the style and design effort put into the K15 its an awesome retro machine. Also its clear and detailed courtesy of the late model akm chips. However switching from my analogue mc table into an otl tube headphone amp, the digital setup is just lifeless. It completely lacks musicality, it terms of dynamics, rythm and beat and fully fails to draw me into my cd ripped flac collection. Fiddled with everything, to no avail. I like the clarity, detail and easy soundstage of the digital but its just so dry. I wonder is tgere an affordable kit to solve the problem, or save few k for a upmarket r2r like cyan 2 - will it have life, detail, dynamic and really entice the listener in or simply give up keep investing in analogue?

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