Best EXTERNAL DAC suggestions

@retrocrownfan

hey appreciate your comments on Mogami … so I ordered a couple RCA pairs off EBay to hook up my Rogue preamp! They are priced right. What do you like about them? Moose

Under $1000

Warmth and soundstage 

@decooney

yes. Converted single garage on a raised Peco wooden floor with a space between the cement and floating floor. Room is 20 x 12, listening space is 12 x 12, and ceilings 9’. triangle is accurate, and one speaker is in a corner, and I have put rollers with platforms below the Cornwalls to tweak them as needed. My room is full of performed wall coverings and rug and La-Z-Boy recliner sets directly across from my television and entertainment center and a 7 foot or 6 foot triangle.

Yes. Thank you ALL! 
I bought Rogue used with EH tubes, $900 delivered!

@audphile1 

i got your drift. And I bought the Rogue RP-1. I took all these wonderful opinions and suggestions in. The reasons for the reasoning. It just makes sense to firstly allow my Bluesound Node3 to run through a hybrid tube preamp. I may even now go back to my Marantz Model 15, at 60 (old school) WPC for fun, after giving my NAD C 316BEE v2 a listen at (40) WPC. 

 I have to see/hear if an EXTERNAL DAC will now be order?

And come tube amp use in the Fall, ( my Mancave is 75 degrees + now in TN with the TCL 55” TV on)as the weather goes chilly, the Cary SLI-80 tube amp comes out to provide warmth… (hopefully this new Rogue RP-1 half-tube preamp runs coolish?) Anyone know? But I wonder how the Cary tube amp will sound with the Rogue RP – 1?

For my replacement tubes for the Rogue RP-1 , I got these on the way: 1957 Westinghouse 12AU7 PLATINUM+ GRADE Black Plate Tubes Matched Pair 95% NOS.

Any thoughts my good AUDIOGON friends?

@vthokie83 

Really…thank you for the info!

adding to my Bluesound Node v3, as a DAC first time, will be the Denafrips but an Ares ll? A really great used buy  it comes with a SPDIF cable? I’m not sure about all these interconnects… options… and even if SPDIF will work with Node3… then the order of NAD amp- Rogue RP-1, Node3, and the better cable choices for interconnects  

  I’m hoping to get it right … suggestions? And thanks y’all  to the many posts that have helped me decide on WHAT to do …as EXTERNAL DAC quests can be infinite as it appears…Moose

So

@spawn350 

thanks yes I looked up ACRO 10000T. Nice machine. I wish it had a remote where I could change the friendly preset channels while I stream which is what I love about the Bluesound node.

@vthokie83 Vthokie83

thank you so much for educating me about digital cable. I’m still not clear on how the node 130 connects but I’m sure I can call Crutchfield. It sounds like one end of the RCA is analog and the other end must be digital? Because I know the node has, an RCA looking output.? So the node needs to find its way to the Digital imput  of/to the Denefrips Aries ll. 
 

@decooney 

thanks for your imput. I think in hindsight,what I’m hoping for with my choices….is a bit more smoothness in the top end of my sound, taking a bit of the sting out of the detail that Klipsch provides, as the detail is what makes the Cornwall 4 so much fun. I sit there each time I listen, in amazement. Especially when I replace a sports announcer with Apple Play to a click on my Node remote’s (10 ) streaming channel choices, to quite a contrast!

so, I love clarity and detail and soundstage. I’m hoping I can hook together now, the current shipments of Rogue RP-1, Ares ll, with the Node v3, and keep it going within my eArc Apple Play TV hookup. Everything operates off WiFi. No cable. I’m going to learn more now, implementing DIGITAL RCAs I gather, and want that KNOW HOW.  

I also forgot to say that I run “cleaner power” through a battery backup tower, like one used in computers which includes a Panamax power conditioner plugged into the chain. I think my voltage ranges from 120-125 on readouts… I’m hoping this helps protect my components. 

Really happy! Great choices. Got them all together… non fatigue great sound, musicality that conforms, and sound that is like watching a bubbling brook… Holy ease!

Now I’m not quite convinced that adding an exterior Denafrips to my Bluesound Node has paid quantitive improvements. Also I think the NAD C1366BEE amp far exceeds the First Watt J2 with my current Cornwall iv match up. However…. The Rogue RP-1 preamp is a nice edition. I’m going to give the Ares ll some additional listening time to decide whether it’s keepable.  I put the First Watt J2 back on the market here. 

My mistake. I did not place the jumpers in position when using RCA connectors! First Watt J2 jumped up in gain!