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Help please! Something amiss with my digital chain

Hello all,

I'm new here and new to the audophile community.  At 49 years old, finally have had a moment to set up some nice audio so I can sit and enjoy music - with the family and by myself! - as its meant to be heard.  No more soundbars and bluetooth pod speakers.  Was a vocal performance major for 1 1/2 years in college and music has a hugely positive impact on my life. 

After much initial research and some listening to a few friend's systems, I spent a little money.  The analog chain sounds fantastic - rich, nuanced, lively, none of that fatiguing glare - I can't believe I waited this long.  Pound for pound super thrilled with the result.  When I switch to my digital source, however, the music sounds much thinner, flat, lifeless - awful.  Can someone more experienced than I help me diagnose the problem? 

The system:  MoFi Ultradeck with MoFi Ultragold MC cartridge --> Modwright PH9XT phono stage --> recently refurbished Decware ZMA tube amplifier --> Omega SuperAlnico monitors.  The digital side includes an Auralic G1.1 streamer --> Linear Tube Audio Aero DAC --> Decware ZMA.  I use Audioquest red river level interconnects and mid-level Decware copper speaker cables. 

Some hypotheses: 

1. Could it be I need a pre-amplifier after the DAC?  Holding the amp volume steady, sound level coming from the DAC is noticeably less than from the phono stage.  If this is the issue, any suggestions on what will have good synergy with the tube amp? 

2.  Power supply issue? right now I'm plugging everything into a very basic surge protector.  Was gonna wait and see before pouring cash into this aspect of things. 

3. Weird setting issue with the complicated streamer?  I'm playing Tidal and it seems it automatically shifts to whatever resolution the track is, but maybe I'm doing something boneheaded here without realizing it. 

4. Burn in issue? The DAC got a week of burn-in before I received it. I've also run music for several days when away from home to see if things improve but its not changing much. 

Any and all ideas appreciated.  Thank you!  Alejandro

ale1601

Showing 1 response by dogearedaudio

dogearedaudio's avatar
dogearedaudio
198 posts
 

If you decide to try a preamp, you might consider the LTA Velo.  It would mate nicely with the DAC.  Even though the ZMA has a volume control, without a preamp you can suffer a lack of dynamics that makes the music sound flat and fatiguing.

Another question is, what are you using to connect the Aurelic to the DAC?  Digital cabling is rather critical and can't be ignored.  You don't have to spend a fortune, just be sure you get the right impedance match with coax cables, and avoid exotic stuff unless you really know what you want.  

Everything else seems okay, except maybe the Omegas.  I've never heard them but I'm not a huge fan of single-driver speakers.  It's possible that your analogue setup is kind to them, as someone else suggested, but your digital setup puts demands on them that they can't meet.  It might be worth borrowing a decent bookshelf speaker like a Spendor or Focal just to see if that makes a difference.

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