Considering A New Streaming DAC (Pick 1 of 4)

Hi Rockrider, No I have not and your detailed comments have been helpful. All options are on the table. I've heard nothing but glowing comments especially about the Tambaqui. Here's the rub for me, and it's a personal one regarding ergonomics and interfacing with a device on a daily basis: I prefer controlling input selections, attentuation, etc by hand. Just a personal thing.

I hope you haven’t eliminated the Tambaqui and A20 because of my comments.  The adjectives used were only for the specific comparison between the two, not the whole of DACs in existence. They are both fantastic components. I’ve had a bunch of DACs come and go, some VERY well regarded, but these are still here.  For good reason.

Anyone know of a streamer that will download and check the md5 sig before starting play?

Living in a rural area with starlink, streaming is interrupted at times, chopping up the audio.

Other than outright purchasing audio files and playing from local storage, I can only try to find a “caching” streamer.

I would be much happier with a bit of “gap” between songs rather than gaps during one.

Hi Soix, Not at all and I just might do that. But you learn a lot by asking questions. At this point I'm leaning towards keeping the N100H and looking at an M1.

At the level of your system, keep the DAC and streamer separate.  Does that extra box really bother you that much?

Regarding “ergonomics and ease of interfacing with the units”, they are both equally great. Settings like filters, volume offset, source selection, etc can all be changed with their respective Apps on a phone or tablet. All from your listening position. 

Since I’m feeding the Tambaqui with an N20 there is the extra box and cabling (and about twice the cost!).

Rockrider, Detailed response is very much appreciated. Any comments on ergonomics and ease of interfacing with the units?

@scottya118 I would change my response if you are not planning to use Roon.
I compared Mconnect (allows you to use Qobuz and Tidal) vs Roon and preferred Roon for a more natural less “digital” presentation. From what you are describing a one box solution like the Aurender, Lumin or Auralic are better options. 

@scottya118 

It will take me some time to look through all my notes, but don’t worry I’m not ignoring your question!

Rockrider, Can you share experience of A20 vs Tambaqui with pros/cons for both?

You can use Mconnect or other UPnP interfaces for the Bricasti. I really like my M3 but the Meitner MA3 looks pretty interesting. The Meitner offers a USB for local files so you could play your rips with no need for a nas or a streamer. Really like ethernet input with a EtherRegen and SoTM cabling in front of it. 

If you are not considering Roon, then the internal streaming capability of the Tambaqui is not available. The Tambaqui needs either an external streamer, or at least an external Roon core. Either way it is not really a one box solution for streaming. 

I have not heard the Weiss nor the Bricasti. But I do have both Tambaqui and Aurender A20 in the house. 

Another true one box solution you might add to your list is the dCS Lina. I recently picked one up and it is very impressive. For streaming it can be controlled via Mosaic with Ethernet input. But it can also act as DAC for other sources. 

All three sound great in their own ways. I’m still optimizing Ethernet, power, etc. so not ready to depart with any of them yet.

Good luck in your journey!

Thanks for all your responses. Most helpful. Question to all: Keeping in mind my front end usage with streaming as a secondary pursuit and no Roon (nor do I plan to employ it) does that change anyone's responses? Thanks again for your input.

I went from a LUMIN T2 a Weiss 501. Granted, the Weiss cost twice as much as the LUMIN  but the Weiss portrayed natural tone, space and dynamics more realistically. I am a Roon user and that was a must-have feature. I am very satisfied with the Weiss.

I was considering the Bricasti M12 but the lack of fibre input and the desire for less streamer boxes made me go with the Lumin instead. It has to be fibre for me. I was going to use the X1 direct-to-amp (CODA #16), but I found out I liked my Benchmark LA4 preamp in the chain. So, the X1 stays in the office, and I am now looking at the Lumin P1 for my Livingroom (it also has fibre).

Selling my DACs and streamers to go Lumin.

Agree with @audphile1 love my Bricasti M3 but if I could have afforded it I would have bought the Bricasti M21. Beautifully made in the USA and not solid state sounding nor tube sounding just musical sounding.

I’m running the Bricasti M3 as a one box solution with Roon and like it a lot. So I’m partial to Bricasti. I also use the XA30.8. Both the Bricasti and the Pass sound better when run with XLR cables. Just wanted to mention this to you. Your other choices might be fine single ended, don’t know.

Your other option if you only have digital as a source, is to ditch the preamp and run a better DAC, something like the Bricasti M21 direct into the XA30.8. The preamp in the Bricasti is excellent. Super low noise floor, transparent, dynamic.
Just a thought.

we sell a lit if dacs and streamers 

we sell bricasti naim Aavik Aqua hifi and 432evo servers 

please reach out to our office for a conversation about these devices

Dave and Troy

Audio intellect  nj

I have a Lumin X1 streamer with fibre. I would use the DAC's mentioned in the OPs choices with fibre converted to USB. I find it interesting that GTT (distributor of Mola Mola) used to demo the Tambaqui with an external streamer and not the built-in Ethernet streamer. 

My long sold KRELL K-300i integrated (a great unit) had a built-in Ethernet streamer and it was not as good as using fibre converted to USB.

The built-in Ethernet is convenient, but my 3rd choice after fibre, USB, and then Ethernet.

Depends on your goals obviously, but for my taste I’d go for either the Weiss or the Tambaqui in that system. At the risk of generalizing a bit re Pass and AN, for balance I’d want the most transparent and high res sources, to balance out the personality of the Pass/AN.

Tubed TD may be too much of a good thing in that specific system but YMMV (new TD comes with a return policy so try it if you’re really curious)

Can't demo but hoping someone can identify 1 more than other 3 as "tube like." Not holding out hope on that. I'll check out that Lumin. Thanks.

All of your choices are great.  I would just add one more...Lumin X-1.  In performance, it was super close to my Lampi Pacific and that says a lot.  

Are you able to demo any of the units?  Your choices are so good that you would be happy with any of them.  Good Luick.