Bricasti Design M1 SE - W/ LAN Network Streamer - Version 1.51 V. Denafrips Terminator


I am stumbling along trying to put together a digital streaming system. Have a tidal account and stream through a Farad Power Supply, Roon Nucleus and a AudioQuest Dragon Fly Red,  into a Pass Labs XP 30 Line Stage Preamp, Pass Labs Class A mono blocs, Klipsch LaScala. Considering Bricasti Design M1 SE - Includes LAN Network Streamer - Latest Clock Upgrade Version 1.51 or Denafrips Terminator R2R DAC. My budget is under $10K and I like to buy used. Would appreciate the Forum's assistance in evaluating these components, how they would would work with the Roon Nucleus and what other components would be necessary or desired. I don't expect to use the Dragon Fly. It was used as a cheap way to get started.  My system is currently fully balanced.

thinman2

Showing 1 response by jaytor

If your Roon server is not located near your DAC, then an ethernet connected DAC will have the advantage of not requiring a separate streamer. If it is located near the DAC, then I don't see that an ethernet connected DAC has much advantage over a USB connected DAC (assuming the DAC does a good job handling the USB connection).

With modern DAC implementations, both are asynchronous interfaces, with the DAC controlling all the timing. Some DACs do a poor job of isolating the noise from the interfaces, so you have to be somewhat careful with this, but the Denafrips Terminator that you are considering has an excellent USB interface that buffers and reclocks the data.

The main thing you have to be concerned about is noise on the USB connection being introduced into the DAC. I think you'd probably be quite happy with the Nucleus (using a good linear power supply) connected directly to the Terminator with a good USB cable, but you could always add something like the SOtM tx-USBultra or Denafrips Gaia between the Nucleas and Terminator if you wanted to make sure you were getting the purest signal possible. 

I haven't heard the Bricasti - it could be an excellent DAC. I have a Terminator and I'm quite impressed with it.