@steakster - Yes. I was considering a new modem, would you happen to have a recommendation.
Digital Dilemma
I purchased an inexpensive Onkyo C-7030 CD Player more as just a transport, but also to use as a benchmark to compare to streaming music on-line. With intentions to get the streamed content to sound as good, if not better, than the CD player could muster.
After sitting my wife down for a listen (she has better ears than me) and playing Tidal, Quboz and then the same tracks on a CD, the CD was the clear winner every time. It also seems the CD playing without using the Gustard R26 DAC didn’t even sound all that much better than when played through the CD Player only, bypassing the R26. That doesn’t say too much for the R26 DAC or alternatively, it says a lot for the DAC in the CD Player!
I am using the R26 as the renderer via a LAN connection that is optically isolated. There are a few filters and adjustments on the DAC, but tweaking those still didn’t get the sound quality up to that of the CD Player.
A lot of you say you have achieved streaming that sounds as good as your analogue systems. What do you think, do I need a betted DAC?
Showing 26 responses by navyachts
@ghdprentice - the DAC has a streamer built into it. I am using it via LAN connection. The DAC/renderer comes highly recommended through many hi-fi reviews and forums, that why I purchase it. It's kind of disappointing. |
@soix - great advice, thanks. Do you know if the ifi Zen support Tidal? I've tried TIDAL and Quboz and it seems some tracks are better on one than the other, then vice a versa. I don’t really want to pay for two services so if the Zen works with Tidal I’d be happy. |
@audioman58 - WOW! |
@sejodiren - I paid $199 for it on Amazon last week, but they must be reading this thread as it just went up $50! Grab it while it's hot: ttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B004UR487A?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
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Lot of great comments and advice, thanks. @luisranger2bn - What? @riie - suggestions? @antialiased - I'd like to PM you on this. @ggc - "is when I connected a $9k power cable to it" - Love it!
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@riie - $12K, outta my range Captain, but thanks. |
@soix - great advice, thanks! |
@bigshutterbug - interesting, but I think the R26 sounds good, I just need to refine my overall streaming set up. |
@curiousjim - Belden 5000 UE 12 AWG - 4 feet long with locking bananas. |
@kairosman - DDC, what are you using and are you using the R26 as a renderer or do you have a separate streamer? |
@wsrrsw - so no streaming on your "Big Rig"? |
@bigshutterbug @kairosman - To test things out, I just hooked up and older Technics (model #SL-PG 450) CD player via RCA’s directly to the pre-amp and it sounds pretty bad compared to the Onkyo playing through the R26. The R26 doesn’t have any RCA inputs so I couldn’t try the Technics through it, so I'm thinking that the DAC should be OK. |
@vthokie83 The general consensus here is as you state, so I will get a different streamer, my confusion now lies with do I get something like an ifi Zen for a few hundred dollars or spend $5,000K+ (which I don’t have anyways) as others have suggested? |
@soix I actually bought and paid for a Innuos Mini when they first came out but got tired of waiting for delivery, so when I found my DAC could stream, I cancelled my order and got my money refunded. In the meantime, I also picked up a Roon Nucleus. I don’t think the Innuos Mini can be used as a Roon end point. Do you happen to know? |
@soix - yes it was the Pulse Mini that I had on order and no, a CD drive and internal storage is not important. I will re-visit it...Thanks! |
@russ751 - Yes, I was actually looking at this unit from LHY Audio which doubles as a switch as well: https://www.beatechnik.com/lhy-audio-sw-10 I'm hoping that this, hooked up to my DAC via a BNC cable, might get me closer to my CD benchmark!
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@axeis1 - thanks for your suggestions, I'm always on the hunt! |
@recklesskelly - thanks for confirming @russ751's comments. Do you know of any reclockers that are on the market as a lower price than the Innuos Phoenix? That thing is almost $4k!
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@axeis1 - I see the Auralic G1 has an on-board DAC, so you're suggesting to bypass it and use the Chord DAC? |
@recklesskelly - thanks |
How about this: Cable Modem >Ethernet cable >LHY SW10 network switch>SW10>Gustard R26 DAC (using 10mhz master clock from SW10 vis BNC to DAC)>pre-amp>amp>speakers The switch also has SFP ports to hook up a fiber optic cable then ethernet to the R26’s renderer. Mostly want to stream Tidal & Quboz so I also have a Roon Nucleus. |
@bigshutterbug - That’s interesting. I need to try out some more DACs, I guess. Further to the Onkyo CD player, I returned mine to the vendor. It’s a great bang for the buck, but I found for the occasional time that I listened to a CD, it sounded just as good playing it on my laptop’s optical drive, via USB to my DAC. One less piece of equipment on my rack now too!
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