Has anyone compared Tambaqui to T+A SDV 3100 HV

Hi Noob,

My help will be limited as I while I have auditioned a Tambaqui - I haven’t heard one in my system in a direct comparison - so please take what I offer with the proverbial grain of salt. 

That said - I own two of the T+A units - an SD 3100 HV and the SDV 3100 HV in two separate systems. It’s fair to say I like them. I heard the Tambaqui before purchase. In my view - no contest, but I am clearly biased.

The preamp section of the SDV 3100 is exceptional. Period. For reference, I also own the T+A P3000 preamp in one of my systems. 

The DAC section is very, very good - I think exceptional, but others may have a different view. I like it better than other units I’ve heard which included all the usual subjects in the $40-$50k range. And if you can feed it native DSD, it’s extraordinary. 

Is there a weak point? Yes - two.

The G2 streaming client architecture is good - not great. You’ll be able to update to G3 down the road (I’m waiting for details) which will enable you to stream DSD 256 and probably 512. While you can feed the DAC that resolution (up to 1024 via USB), but you can’t currently use the streaming client to do so. I’m using an outboard streamer in one system and not in the other. Sonically, the streaming client is competitive. It’s very functional and offers plenty good performance as is, but it can be bettered by top end streamers - but it will handily outperform the majority of streamers not at the top end. 

The second issue is the library management software that comes with the unit. It’s very stable and well supported. But it lacks the metadata depth of a Roon or JPlay. If you intend to use Roon - a non-issue. G2 is not compatible with JPlay. I believe G3 will be. 

Hope this helps. If you’re anywhere near WI, you’re welcome to come hear one of them. Regardless, good luck in your search. 

Thank you, @mgrif104.  That is helpful.

A point of clarification regarding the T+A streaming client vs the Tambaqui. 

It’s my understanding that the majority of Tambaqui’s are fed via an outboard streamer because the onboard one is not particularly good. Many were fed by Auralic Aries units as Bill at GTT was distributor for Auralic and Mola Mola. Apparently the Auralic units sounded better than the internal streaming function of the Tambaqui.

I used to own an Auralic Aries G2 streamer (and Sirius processor). The T+A streaming client was vastly better than the Auralic unit. I compared this directly. I deduce from this that the T+A streaming client is vastly better than in the Tambaqui.

I mention this only as I might have given the impression that using the built in streamer was a sonic compromise. It is not. Can it be bettered? Yes. It’ll cost you a healthy five digits to do so. 

Best,

Thank you again @mgrif104.  That is very helpful.

I agree with mgrif104 on the software capabilities and streamer's absolute performance inside the SD 3100 HV. I had the SD 3100 HV in my system for about two weeks. Not sure how it compares to the Tambaqui although I have heard good things about the Tambaqui. I personally do not prefer all-in-one streamer/dacs because performance compromises are usually made in exchange for convenience. If anyone will do it well it would be T+A. What works best for me is to keep the heavy data processing at a remote computer/server (roon, HQ player), then a galvanic isolation scheme to isolate the Streamer from the LAN (fibre optic or wifi), and finally use the DAC exclusively for conversion to analogue. The less digital/data processes on any CPU inside the DAC/Streamer the better.