@macg19 consider a fuse upgrade. I added a QSA yellow with nice improvement. If you don’t mind ordering from Aliexpress they have a fuse as good and probably better for $20 delivered.
A Skeptics Digital Upgrade Journey
2 months ago I argued against the benefits of high quality digital cables. It’s just 1’s and 0’s right?
My Bluesound Node (N130) was a convenience - decent SQ for casual listening (SXM radio and Tidal). Focused listening sessions were vinyl only.
Back surgery forced me to take another look at digital - the records were too low to for me to get and my wife was doing enough without taking requests.
I started looking at DACs, and Denafrips was on my list. Thanks to @drmuso I ordered the LSY PSU with LPS ($280) from BEATECHNIK also run by Alvn Lee from Vinshine Audio.
I added a tube DAC from Black Ice and they arrived on the same day along with a Coax cable from Analysis Plus. Interconnects to amp were Nordost Purple Flare. Hard wired Blue Jeans ethernet.
- The PSU+LPS on its own made a huge, immediate difference. If you have a Node and it’s out of warranty or you don’t care about voiding the warranty, this is a big bang for the buck. Customer service was top notch.
- Adding the DAC improved the sound but I was underwhelmed even after over 100 hours on the tubes. I switched from the AP Coax to the supplied USB cable and things got better but highs were still a bit too bright/harsh.
- I ordered Zavfino interconnects (Arcadia OCC) and USB cable (Majestic OCC) - immediately things warmed up. Sent the AP Coax back.
- Lastly, I replaced the Svetlana tubes that came with the DAC with some NOS Mullards from Brent Jesse - let them warm up for 24 hours and WOW - now the digital source was warm and rich and sounding more like my much more expensive analogue rig. It's still early days on the tubes.
Very pleased with the outcome and I think the all in cost of $2,570 is pretty reasonable.
- Node $600
- PSU/LPS $280
- DAC $900 (on sale direct from Black Ice, list is $1,200)
- Cables: $340
- Tubes: $450
Lessons learned: everything matters including digital cables, apparently it is not just 1’s and 0’s. Serious listening library expanded exponentially.
Thoughts on my choices/path? Any one else done something similar?
Showing 7 responses by tksteingraber
Nice choices … you will be rewarded going digital. I did something similar. I decided to add digital to my modest home theatre system. Already had digital on my main system. My biggest improvement was replacing my macbook laptop with a dedicated streamer and network roon core. Here’s my set up now. 1- iFi Zen stream using Audioquest carbon USB cable / $300 and $100 used 2- Sonic transporter as roon core using Tidal Hi Res /$1000 3- Black Ice Glass Dac Dsd with Sylvania Nos Gold Label black plates /$650 1.5 yrs ago and $80 4- Added optical isolation Router-FMC-optical cable- FMC-streamer / $60 5- Topping 3 input LPS both FMC’s and IFi stream use / $130 Can’t get over how good it sounds through my midfi Pioneer elite HT Amp in analog direct mode to my Fritz Rev 5 SE speakers. |
Agree a quality streamer makes a huge difference. When I upgraded from my audio use only PC laptop to a Bricasti M5 (on my 2 channel system) it was an eye opener. Total believer now. Also, having it as a network player is another step up keeping your computer, NUC or Core anywhere on the network away from your system. Hardwired to the network better than wifi/bluetooth in my experience. As for Digital cables, my experience is that a quality USB or coax make a definite difference. Ethernet cables not much. A Blue Jeans/nice amazon quality cable sounded as good as several Audioquest/Pangea levels I tried and returned. I use Optical isolation so that may have an impact. |
@erik_squires yep I threw away all the empty beer bottles, In and Out wrappers out and cleaned the grease smudges off the dials and buttons prior. Not sure but I don’t think it improved the dynamics! 🤣 |
@macg19 ok this may seem crazy but I have the same DAC as you and love it. I bought this cable when I bought the DAC 1 1/2 years ago. I have since tried many power cords to see if I could upgrade the sound. I tried my VH Audio DIY flavors, KimberKable 12TC and 8TC DIY, Chinese Nordost Gold and others and I have been amazed that this one just sounds the best without doubt. I think it just has some synergy you can’t explain. It wasn’t as good on my other components I would recommend trying one they are crazy cheap right now and you can always return it within 30days. Took me 60-80 hours break in. I have the gold over copper plug version. Ears will tell you the truth. Good luck with it all.
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@macg19 good to hear you are having fun with trial and error. It is what makes this hobby fun for me. The power cable improved quite a bit after 60-80 hours. I bought a plug adapter off amazon and plug it into my second fridge in garage for a week or so to break them in. Zavfino is my next go to company…great choice. |
@dolfan hope they work out for you. Low risk at that price. They take some play time to be at their best. In think they work best on the lower draw components like streamer, DAC …. I am not a Rhodium fan. It is lower in conducting and its main benefit is that it’s a very strong/hard metal and the plating won’t rub off for heavy use plugging in and out. I like copper then gold for home audio use. |