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Does anyone have a digital system that is as involving as their analogue front end?

I have a good analogue front end. Not stratuspherically good but good enough for this comparison. VPI Prime Signature 21 turntable, Pass Labs XP-25 pono preamp, Pass Labs XP-30 preamp and Hovland Radia amp. It has a lovely, very involving sound. On the right recording, I just drop everythng and am drawn in to listen.

My streamer, on the other hand, is decent but not spectacular. It is better than my CD player, but it is not jaw-dropping like my analogue front-end. My question is this: does anyone have a high-end, tier-one streamer (dCS Bartok Apex, Lumin X2, or something like them) that can rival a good analogue system?

audio-b-dog
charles007100
236 posts
 

@audphile1 I just did the most recent update yesterday, no problems. What problem is it giving you? When I do,the update something is going on with the dac, even though nothing is going on with the screen of the dac when the update is going,when done the screen comes on turning the volume up to 50 something is doing something in there..I have never had any problems with Quboz connect not using the MConnect…the MConnect did show a error at first and song would quit playing while going to Qobuz through the MConnect app…but that doesn’t happen anymore…the MConnect has always recognized Qobuz for the last 5 months…

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
7,870 posts
 

@charles007100 

It doesn’t see my ma3i. I’ve tried everything. Streaming is working just fine. Only updates are an issue. 

audio-b-dog's avatar
audio-b-dog OP
788 posts
 

@audphile1 

I am probably not getting my MA3 until next week. They screwed up my trade-in. But when I do receive it, I want to keep in touch with you to help me resolve these issues you're talking about. I plan on using their MControl app. 

lanx0003
1,928 posts
 

@chillydog I am using an Innuos ZENith Mk3 streamer/server into a Border Patrol DAC. I think it rivals my Rega P10 and Aura phono stage. I still love my vinyl, but I don't feel like I'm missing anything when I'm streaming Qobuz.

The best system I heard is the "Living Voice R80 fed by Innuos Zenith Mk3, BP Zola DAC, and BP S20EXD power amp. The sound was silky smooth, with rich and controlled bass, an airy top end, and a sweet midrange. Natural and very musical."  You are really onto something.  

audio-b-dog's avatar
audio-b-dog OP
788 posts
 

I am listening to Cassandra Wilson's "Blue Light Till Dawn" on my Moon 280D. It is an excellently recordeed album, which I am thinking about purchasing on vinyl. I have been switching back and forth from listening simply on the 280D and listening to the CD on my McCormack UDP-1 as a transport. It sounds better with the McCormack transport. I'll test this on the Meitner when it comes. What I think I am learning from this experiment is that there is more jitter and interference coming from wifi (although I'm directly plugged into the router with very good cables), and that the McCormack is feeding it a steady, well regulated flow of digits with far less jitter.

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