@dhite71 nice system! See if your daughter can hear difference between streamers…sounds like she’s got a good ear!
Discerning a difference between streamers is difficult...only me or common for all?
I have struggled to appreciate the upgrade to the streamer in my system. A couple years ago I had an Audio Research DAC 8 being fed by a Bluesound Node 2i. I picked up an Aurender N10 and did not appreciate anything so sold the N10. I tried a couple all-in-one units. First was the Aurender A20 and I was happy but curious about dCS. I got a Bartok 2.0 and felt the music was more natural sounding from the Bartok and sold the A20. I have always wanted the Audio Research DAC 9 to match all my other AR gear so got one that showed up on eBay a couple weeks ago. Since I couldn’t use the Bartok to stream I ordered a new Bluesound Node Nano so I could utilize the DAC 9 immediately. The pair sounded wonderful but I did not compare it to the Bartok. I ended up getting a quick buyer and it was already gone. The following week I purchase an Aurender W20. I was prepared to have my mind blown....but no. Some albums I could not tell any difference in the sound and others I think the W20 sounded slightly better but again...nothing huge. For the money and the space the W20 took on my shelf, I sold it. Over the years I always appreciate upgrades for all other components. This makes me feel like I am losing my mind. Have any others experienced this regarding streamers? I want to try more. Auralic and Lumin are on my list.
Thanks,
Dana
- ...
- 159 posts total
dhite71 I agree with your thoughts on streamers. I have tried a lot of streamers, dacs and all in ones. Here are some of the things I have tried: Bluesound (most of the models) DCS Bartok Lumin X1 Lumin P1 Lumin U2 T+A Dac 200 Berkeley Audio ALPHA DAC 3 I bought most of these used and sold them without losing a lot of money and it has been really fun to try them out. I am a gear junky LOL. What I found is that all of these dacs and streamers sound really good with my gear. I love the Bluesound app which is really good multiple zones. I am sure roon is also good but I have not messed with it since I want the system to be user friendly since my wife uses it as well. I have settled in with: Bluesound Node 130, Mcintosh D1100 (DAC/PRE), Mcintosh MC462, Harbeth 40.3 XD. I will eventually try the new NODE Icon. Just as a note, I have been a musician (not professional) for almost 50 years and feel like I have pretty decent ears. Happy Holidays!
|
After visiting a fellow audiophile a while back and doing some cable swapping in his system containing a brand new Mcintosh pre/amp combo, I would say if someone was wanting to discern differences between cables or other upstream components, that would not be the gear to have to do that. Maybe that is a good thing though. What do you have for cables? and Happy Holidays to you too! |
I don’t dislike Mcintosh, but I did own a Mcintosh pre and a set of power amps years ago and moved on. Notice my handle on here starts with "mc". I will add that I brought my $2000 Apollon class D amp to this fellows house, and we plugged it in place of the Mcintosh, and I’ll quote what he said: "I think I overpaid for my amplifier". But I would never bad talk Mcintosh, or try to talk someone out of owning them. People own gear for a multitude of reasons. I still like their look. I just got a little Yamamoto tube amp that has 45 tubes, not because I thought it would sound "better" than my Coda, but because it is a work of art, and it sounds lovely. Pride of ownership abounds. Maybe it is less inconspicuous regarding cable changes, or streamers, whatever- I enjoy listening to both. |
- 159 posts total