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DAC vs Music Server

I want to preface my comments by saying, this is my experience, I don’t know everything, and your results may vary. I’ve recently compared the Mola Mola Tambaqui, DCS Bartok, and DCS Rossini in my system to my Chord Dave. The most significant differences were between the Rossini and everything else, but the Rossini wasn’t a good fit in my system. A couple of dealers told me that the most significant differences will be found by replacing my DAC. After my experience comparing several DACs, I decided to purchase the Antipodes Oladra music server. I’ve been using the Antipodes K21 and K41. I received the Oladra and wow! The richness of instruments and naturalness of voices, the enveloping soundstage, dynamics, realism, detail while sounding relaxed. Everything across the entire audio spectrum has improved. In my system, the Oladra music server has more impact on the sound than any DAC I’ve tried. It’s a reminder that our own ears are the best tools to decide on what does or doesn’t work in our system.

ricred1

Showing 1 response by mitch2

mitch2
3,696 posts
 

I have found greater sonic differences in the streamer (or Roon endpoint), than resulting from the server (Roon core + local files).  

When comparing, I think it is important to understand what the device is being used for and in the case of the Oladra, K50, Grimm, and others, those are performing the dual functions of both server and streamer and outputting directly into a DAC.  Units like the Innuos Pulsar, Auralic Aries 2.2, and Sonore Rendu line-up are  stand-alone streamers (only, no server), although the Aries 2.2 (that they call a "Streaming Transporter") has local file storage capabilities.

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