Affordable SS that sound like Tubes

I am looking for suggestions on affordable SS that sounds as good as Tubes.

Can you define what that means? What type of sound is that from the affordable tube gear that you’re trying to replicate with affordable SS?

Also, streaming using a Mac Mini sucks. If you haven’t experienced a good streaming setup you’re wasting your money on physical media and downloads. I’m making this statement based on personal experience. 

Is your mac mini connected to the PS Audio DAC or the DAC is fed via Ethernet cable into its network card?

And I cant explain to you what a nice tube amp sounds like, you will have to hear one yourself and then come up with a SS pre and amp for no more than $3000 which is what my QS’s cost new that sounds as good as that..
 

I owned Rogue ST100 tube amp with Rogue RP1 and RP5 preamps - they sounded different with the same amp. I also owned Audio Research tube preamps. And every model sounded different as well.
I have no idea what your set up sounds like though, and apparently, neither do you. I’d be surprised if anyone can make a valid recommendation. You have people shooting in a dark. 

Earlier you said your Mac Mini is used only as NAS. Now you’re saying it is connected to the DAC via USB cable.
NAS = Network Area Storage, would mean that your DAC would be accessing the data stored on Mac Mini by means of a network connection. And that isn’t how you have it all set up. 
So in the end, you are using the Mini as a streamer. Let me repeat what I said earlier - Mac Mini sucks as a streamer. If you like the sound of your current amplification, focus on upgrading your source. Your digital front end is far from optimized. 

@tonydennison

I can’t recommend a SS amp that sounds like tubes. You’ve already gotten recommendations on good sounding amplifiers.

As to using mac mini as a streamer, which is what you’re doing, it’s not optimized for this task. You have OS running, background processes and Audirvana running on it processing music files from hard drive (hope it’s SSD). All that good stuff that’s happening inside loads up processor and memory, results in good amounts of heat and generates noise and interference that you end up feeding via a USB out that’s not optimized for streaming music. Add to that the noise generated by the internal power supply. All that junk from the Mini gets fed into your DAC. On top of it, your computer is probably close to your components and cables and is plugged into the same circuit. You are now dealing with EMI and the garbage that the Mini dumps back into the circuit that’s powering your system.

A much better solution would be to use the PS Audio DAC with its built in network card and stream using ethernet. Have your Mac Mini as far away from your system as possible. It and the PS Audio DAC would need to be on the same network.

When you’re using a dedicated streamer, you take advantage of the optimized USB and other digital outputs, cool running processors and internal isolation. You also get a better power supply that’s designed with audio in mind. But with the DSD DAC built in network card you don’t even need a dedicated streamer. 

 

tonydennison OP

280 posts

08-26-2023 at 03:47pm 

@audphile1 

I was only responding to your condescending attitude from the get go, so...good riddens.

“Good riddens” ha…that’s just another thing you got wrong. Good luck to you buddy. 

I may have made an assumption about the PS Audio network card based on how good the one in my Bricasti M3 is. 

As to streaming, I have Tidal, Qobuz and an extensive library of ripped CDs and many DSD files.
 

In any case, given your attitude, thick headedness and sarcasm that prevent you from being receptive to a different perspective and ideas other than what you have convinced yourself of, I’m over and out. Enjoy the journey.