ddude003

Responses from ddude003

Chord Dave - Missing soundstage width
I also found that streaming to a Lumin U1 mini in front of my Qutest DAC sounded so much better than directly from a laptop running either Roon or Audivana... 
Chord Dave - Missing soundstage width
I wonder if you have tried rolling the first or second gain stage with any NOS small signal tubes?  I use new Genalex Golden Lions all around with NOS CIFTEs in the first gain stage of my Prima Luna Dialogue Premium Pre...  In my system it really ... 
Price Trends for Streamers?
I get the feeling that Oppo is out of that product space...  There are those Pi family of DYI things for a few hundred and a Lumin U1 mini starts at 2k... So there is quite a range in there somewhere... 
Analog to Digital Converter for my PC?
Korg DS-DAC-10R 1-Bit USB Digital-to-Audio Converter...Mytek Stereo 96 ADC Converter is a little above your price point... 
Basic Digital Audio Setup Advice
As long as you have a reasonable WiFi between your MacBook your WiFi basestation and WiFi between your basestation and your Roon Ready Endpoint, yes, you have bit perfect transfers/streams...  If you have WiFi dropouts then you would most likely g... 
Anyone been able to compare the SQ of Roon Nucleus vs. MacBook Air?
I think the point everyone is trying to make is... Do NOT plug a DAC directly into a Computer, including a Nuc... Find a Streamer to go between your Computer and your DAC for better SQ...Re-Read rule #1 Suggested by Roon Labs... Linked here for yo... 
Anyone been able to compare the SQ of Roon Nucleus vs. MacBook Air?
If you follow Roon’s Core and Endpoint architecture you will be better off... Use your MacBook Air and/or other general purpose computer(s) including a Nuc or Nuc clone as a Core and find a "Roon Ready" Endpoint (read RAAT capable Streamer) to hoo... 
Basic Digital Audio Setup Advice
As I understand it, a Roon Nuc is a stripped down single purpose PC based Roon Core device... I think its better than your iMac as far as noise (read EMI/RFI) is concerned... However it is still not as quiet as a ROON ENDPOINT might be...The trick... 
Good Streamer with WiFi Connectivity
I can only speak from my own experience with the Lumin U1 mini... The Lumin App works with iPhone & iPad... Also is a Roon RAAT endpoint and UPnP for things like Audirvana... Can have local files on a jump stick and PC library backends and Syn... 
Good Streamer with WiFi Connectivity
Did you notice that _good_ streamers don't have WiFi...  Maxwell, Tesla and Faraday suggest all things transmit and receive...  All noise is additive...  Sure, add a WiFi extender, just put it as far away from your streamer and DAC as possible... ... 
Tube DAC ?
Get a nice clean, crisp, transparent, neutral, musical DAC...  Have you done any tube rolling with your C500 Pre or ZH270 Amp?  You have a lot of tubed sugar going on there...  You need to demo some DACs in your system to know what sounds good to ... 
Can streamed Music sound better on a Sunday?
Bandwidth and error rates are easy enough to look into with apps like speed test and error logs/rates from your broadband modem...  I would guess it is something else like power or RFI issues...  Some devices can be pretty sensitive...  Even power... 
Non Analytical Sounding DAC Upgrade- Budget $1,500 or less
I would generally agree with djones51 above... I have always felt the best place to add warmth or color, if its wanted or needed, is in the PreAmp stage... And PreAmp tubes seem to last much longer then tubes in a Power Amp... Horses for courses a... 
Will Quantum computing change the DAC game (in our lifetimes)?
I don’t think you will be seeing Quantum Computing embedded into your desk side, desktop, laptop, handheld or Audiophile stack... Maybe at some point in the future you may see it in the Recording Studio or Streaming Services... And then most likel... 
Non Analytical Sounding DAC Upgrade- Budget $1,500 or less
Yea, Chord Qutest new slightly over your budget...  Good luck finding a used one...  Not analytical...  Clean, crisp, concise, musical...