From separate streamer and DAC to al-in-one suggestion

@patrickdowns

I used to own EMM Labs DA2 so I am intimately familiar with Ed’s work. While MA3 may have all the features you are looking for, you still need an external server to run Roon core. I encourage you to look into Merging Technologies +player. The +player has a built in VC, headphone jack and offers a distinct advantage with a built in Roon Core / endpoint. I didn’t think I could possibly do better than my pairing of DA2 and Aurender N20 ($37K - retail) until I auditioned +player. The +player exceeded all of my expectations from all-in-one box streaming player. IMHO, +player have no peer if one is seeking realism, transparency and details from their digital system.

I was going to recommend the +player to @kray until I read his post about his budget.  

@patrickdowns

I just wanted to give your another option to consider if you are pursuing MA3 which is not nearly as good as DA2. And yes, I liked DA2 until I auditioned +player :-)

The DA2 is one of the best DAC’s but the DAC inside +player is not one or two notches but quite a few notches above DA2. In direct comparison, the DA2 sounded ‘congested’ especially with high resolution content like DSD’s. Merging pedigree with DSD mastering in recording studios clearly shines through +player. That’s why I went all out with +player by adding external +power supply and +clock.

“I feel sure that the aforementioned Merging Technologies + products (at over twice the retail price of the MA3 including the SGC i7 server)”

To my best knowledge, Merging +player with built in Roon Core / end point retails for $14K. In comparison, the MA3 ($10,500) including the SGC i7 ($1400) server adds up to total retail of $11,900. The SGC i7 does not come with linear power supply, add $285 for LPS plus the cost of a decent Power Cord for LPS. Not to mention, we are now dealing with Ethernet optimization on two separate devices SGCi7 and MA3 as opposed to one.

I am not here to debate what I’ve heard in my system nor here to dispute anyone else perception of what’s deemed to sound best at 1/3 the cost. No two systems are alike not to mention how each individual’s perceives sound :-)

Fortunately, there are so many options to put together a decent digital streaming system. If someone seeking a one box Roon based streaming component with DAC/VC/Headphone Pre, Merging +player deserves a mention. Apart from its superb sonic attributes in my system, Merging +player offers open path to future expansions (external power supply and clock) for SOTA digital playback.

“I’m looking mostly used, so I can try a ton of stuff and resell if it doesn’t work.”

@kray

There is a brand new Lumin T2 on Audiogon at almost 30% discount or a used T2 for as low as $2800, well within your price range. https://www.luminmusic.com/lumin-t2.html

@kray

Lumin T2 is a easy recommendation since you’re already familiar with Lumin and it has what appears to be an outstanding DAC based on Sabre ESS Pro Dual Chips. Given the used price difference between U1 mini with s/booster and T2, T2 is a no brainer. The thing is, you can weigh in on suggestions made here all day long but won’t truly know which DAC is going to sound best until you start auditioning them in the context of your system.

As far as Merging goes, +player doesn’t show up as often as +nadac (dac only version).