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Looking for intermediate-step Streamer: better than BS Node and not @ Bartok level pricing

Hi

I have a BS Node.  Yggy DAC.  BAT electronics, Shunayata PCs, AQ SC, and Vienna Acoustic Beethoven Grand Reference Speakers in a wonderful room. I also have a Linn, Shelter 901 MKII and top of the line BAT phono preamp. It all sounds lovely.  I borrowed a Bartok.  AMAZING!!!  And then I returned it, as I cannot afford that level of playback.  I am interested in upgrading my STREAMER -- I think.  (Yes, I know I could upgrade my fuses, room treatment, and everything else I own....)

I am curious to learn if there is a MID-POINT step that others suggest before I spend $25K on the ultimate STREAMER/DAC setup when I retire in a zillion years.  It seems absurd that my system is dependent upon a $550. piece of equipment.  

 

I am looking for natural sound.  3-D.  I listen to jazz, classical, and rock from the 60s-90s.  No club music/ insane bass.  When the Bartok was in my system, I felt like I was listening to vinyl.  What might be a good landing place for the next DECADE or so??

Thanks in advance.

Joe

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Showing 3 responses by ghdprentice

ghdprentice
6,431 posts
 

Congrats on you folks that have bought an Aurrender N200. It is likely the Sp/DIF connection will sound better and that the Yggdrasil will hold back the performance somewhat… but I am sure you will really enjoy the streamer.

ghdprentice
6,431 posts
 

In the last couple weeks I helped a friend choose a new streamer / DAC. He had a Yggy and my Aurrender N100 for comparison.

We were auditioning a Linn Selekt with only the Streamer / and the mid level DAC (total $12K. ~$4K streamer and $6K DAC). I was able to compare the two streamer / DAC combos. The Linn was much better. The treble on the Yggy was mostly high frequency hash, the sax was a lean characterization, the bass line was a single boom. With the Linn the cymbals were brass sounding… no distortion, the sax rich and finely detailed at the edges, the bass line resolved into three notes. Big difference! Then we compared the Linn streamer and the Aurender streamer through the Yggy. Wow. Most of the difference was the Yggy. The Yggy was by far the weak point.

The Aurrender N100 is a very good streamer for the money although a generation old… it held up to the new Linn well. But the Yggdrasil was simply the weak link.

 

I would recommend upgrading the Yggdrasil first… get a better DAC, then upgrade your streamer… I recommend the best Aurrender you can afford.

ghdprentice
6,431 posts
 

OP,

 

Streamers performance generally conforms to the audiophile rule that if you invest two or three times more in a carefully chosen component (meaning great quality and crafted to your sound values) then you get a very sizable increase in performance. So, an Aurender N200 would be a great improvement, a N20 would be better… but probably really held back by your DAC. 
 

My best advise to anyone looking for a better streamer is to get the best Aurender they can afford. That to me is a really safe bet. I have auditioned many other good streamers… most above $5K are good and get better with investment level. There seems to be less difference in character among them like there is in DACs. Streamers provide a quieter background, more dynamics, better imaging, and better bass. DACs do the same but also tip tonal balance and an influence the musicality and natural nature of the sound more.

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