DAC recommendation for DSD input

Thank you jsalerno277-

Funny you mention it. A server is in my upgrade plans, I thought an external DAC may provide a larger improvement so considered doing that first. The server will happen either way eventually. And if the DAC is a Tambaqui, it will definitely be pre-owned :).

Thank you for telling of your experience with the H390. I am trying to avoid the idea that spending more equals improvement. I think I will demo the T+A soon.

Thanks kennymacc.  I agree, it's very hard to get in home auditions anymore and buying pre-owned is a crap shoot and waste of time if the equipment isn't satisfactory. Upgrading audio is not as much fun as it used to be :)

Thanks aberyclark, I'm definitely going to audition a T+A. Hopefully next week or so.

Thanks to all so far for the responses, much appreciated.

milpai-- yes, the burning in issue is PIA if they send you a brand new unit which you only have for a week!

cdennison53-- I live in Boulder and PS Audio is a short car ride away, they have a good return policy, and I may try one. I think they have a refurbished MK2 available.

whart-- I dont believe the T+A supports i2s, no mention of it in manual. For me, the jury is still out on i2s as being an improvement over usb. I've not had a chance to use it myself. 

pwoodard922 -- I've been listening to DSD since I owned an MSB Discrete DAC several years ago. I have quite a collection from ripped SACDs (DSD64) and purchases form nativedsd.com and Bluecoast music. 

@joshua43214-- thanks for the detailed write up. The SGCI9 is on my future list for sure, mainly for the direct optical connection to the Rendu. I wish that connection was available in their I5 line. Perhaps I'll take up HQplayer some day but doubt I'll be doing anything complex.

@xwfalcon--thanks, I can demo the T+A and I can return the pre-owned Tambaqui if its not for me, but they will charge 5% restocking.

@victor and @stievus-- thanks for the recos, I will check them out.

@mitch2-- what did you replace Tambaqui with?

@hysteve- Thank you, can you elaborate on "However I only use it for PCM because it’s too much hassle to play DSD. I’m using Innuos for streaming Qobuz and I’d need to buy a powerful computer to utilize the DSD feature"

Do you mean to convert PCM to DSD upstream of DAC as opposed to just having local DSD files (from ripped SACDs or purchase)?

@joshua43214-- I just found out that the optical connection has been removed from the SGC SonicTransporter I9. From Andrew at SGC:

"We removed the fiber network connection from the sonicTransporter i9. We found using the latest version of our Ethernet switch or an opticalModule sounds a bit better"

In that case a ST I5 is probably what I will buy.

@mitch2-- Thank you.  I am impressed with your knowledge and experience regarding DACs. 

@fasrfreight-- Thanks,  I just purchased the Optical Rendu a few weeks ago, mainly because the Hegel H390 had a low res network input (DSD64 only) and the Rendu would permit me to use the USB input. There seemed to be a pretty noticeable improvement in the SQ and I've been happy with it. My Roon Core is on an iMac Pro, not a MacBook Pro and the only app running on is the Roon Core. Nonetheless, I agree that a dedicated server would be an improvement. I could go the SGC SonicTransport route but I'm just not feeling that. I know a lot of people are happy with the ST/OR combo. In researching other servers or server/streamer devices, I'm finding the OR to be redundant and its inclusion seems to limit the choices for dedicated servers. Yet, the idea of abandoning it so soon after buying is disagreeable.  Can you or anyone recommend a server (other than SGC ST) that would improve the digital front end as well as make use of the OR? What about an Innuos Zen Mini MK3 ? Also, what is it about optical that causes you not to be a fan?

Thanks everyone for all your helpful advice!  Hopefully I'll be able to make a move late next week. If the pre-owned Tambaqui is still available, I'll probably start there and post the results. 

@tonyrox-- Thanks for the DSD info, very interesting. I do prefer DSD and now I have an explanation :)

@rikkipuu- Thanks, I'll bet the Goldengate is awesome, that's definitely the prettiest DAC I've ever see in a picture, Wow!

@dbt- I sold an MSB Discrete with two power supplies to TMR a few years ago! I really liked it, but I dont think I would buy one again, it would just remind me of the loss I took on the one I had :). Its a great DAC though and handled DSD very well I thought.

@thriftyaudio- Thanks for sharing your DAC journey. I'm demoing a T+A 200, it arrives in two days. I hear a lot of positives on the Bricasti DACs.

@bigby-- Thanks for that link. I'm going to check it out. I know a Bricasti dealer that may let me demo an M21, but at this point a new one is too much coin.

@psnnyder149-- Interesting what you say about a streamer. I just picked up an Aurender N200 today to demo for a week. It is the dealers demo unit so is well broken in. I was going to try the N20 but passed for a couple of reasons. I've been listening to the N200 for a couple of hours, playing DSD files that I put on a SSD internal to the unit. . I very much like the idea (and sound) of playing the DSD files straight from the internal drive.  I also have a T+A 200 coming in two days to demo.The N200 sounds great connected (USB) to the Hegel H390 DAC and regardless of any DAC demos, I'll probably buy the N200 and listen to the DSD files directly using the Aurender Conductor app, which is not as convenient or deep as Roon, but it gets the job done. The N200 is a Roon endpoint so I can still stream when I want and live with what ever degradation the network adds.   Only downside is the Sonore Optical Rendu has become unnecessary and I'll have to sell it as my trial period has come to an end.