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DACs to look at?

I have been thinking of adding an Anthem STR or McIntosh 2600 to my system....but music is always going to be third on my list: movies and gaming will always be first. I realized that's a lot of money to spend. I currently use a BS Node 2i, running RCA to a Marantz 8805, which is connected to a Krell amp. In the next month, I'll be switching to an ATI 7 channel, and might eventually go to Anthem for processing. But, I'm looking to make my 2 channel just sound "better." I like the BS, but I'm never wowed w/ the sound from music. It sounds really good, but I've heard friends w/ my same speakers (JTR 212RT) say music is jaw dropping for them. I'm just curious if there's some DACs I should look at? Ive been reading about Schitt, they seem to make some good stuff. Ideally, I'll connect the DAC to the BS and use the Node for its OS and streaming....and I'm assuming an upgraded/better DAC will make everything sound louder/cleaner/etc.

Please let me know your suggestions - and if I"m way off base!
ethos4lyfe

Showing 7 responses by ethos4lyfe

ethos4lyfe's avatar
ethos4lyfe OP
74 posts
 
@djones51 hes bypassing the node DAC and using the Mac C2600...obviously that's going to be better given the price point/build/etc. I don't need it to sound THAT good, I Just want a bump
ethos4lyfe's avatar
ethos4lyfe OP
74 posts
 
I did listen to the C2600 once - I was there to demo the speakers for movies so didn’t give it a detailed listen. I liked it for sure, but trying to find something that’s not $5K! lol 

and...sigh. Pandemic 
ethos4lyfe's avatar
ethos4lyfe OP
74 posts
 
@djones51 my buddy has the topping but he said its better for headphones versus tower speakers? not sure he's correct, as again im pretty lost on this stuff. Ill look up the RME and the D90. I'm also still considering just getting an Anthem STR 
ethos4lyfe's avatar
ethos4lyfe OP
74 posts
 
@djones51, yeah I have a line on a good price for an avm60. I just wonder if it will sound "better" than my Marantz 8805. I know the room correction is far superior, but I will be moving in 2 months. So, not sure I want to hook it up, calibrate for my room an then do it all again. Also, I was told by a dealer friend that the avm70 is coming...hopefully by the end of the year. So again, do I buy the avm60 at a good price and then get the 70 later? Or just wait. A friend offered to sell me his integrated, but I really don't need the two amp channels since im switching to an ati 6007 in the next few weeks. 
ethos4lyfe's avatar
ethos4lyfe OP
74 posts
 
@oddiofyl interesting....you're the second person to recommenced it. I guess I would just run the optical from the BS into this device? I could use the BS for streaming/OS and use this for the DAC...there are other options as well I'm sure. 
ethos4lyfe's avatar
ethos4lyfe OP
74 posts
 
@mahler123 yea that's what im trying to figure out. I move in a month or two, so might just wait - room acoustics will be much different and I'll have a better idea of what ill be looking for. I'm mainly a HT guy, but the gold note ds-10 sure looks like. Its close to $3K though
ethos4lyfe's avatar
ethos4lyfe OP
74 posts
 
@mahler123 thanks for the input. was speaking to a hi-fi shop owner out here and he was explaining why some streamers/dacs sound so much better. its not necessarily the dac itself - many use the same ones. its the other parts - circuitry, SNR, clocks (?), etc....I hadn't really thought of that, as I'm new to improving my 2 channel.
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