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New DAC or New Streamer?

This should be fun. After I pay to get my amp upgraded at VAC next month  I plan to either upgrade my DAC or Streamer next. I should have enough for that by late spring/early summer. I'm retired so I save some each month until I have what I need. My system is in my user profile. But to keep this simple my current DAC is the Dinafrips Venus II I got a year ago. (I also have the Hermes DDC)

My streamer is the Cambridge CXN V2 via coax to the Hermes-> I2s -> DAC which is also 1 year old. I was just getting into streaming then and knew little about it. I have learned a lot this past year, a whole lot.

I think the bottle neck is leaning more toward the streamer. It seems the DAC is pretty good, I know there are much better DAC's out there but it holds it own I think. Maybe not? I cannot afford the likes of DCS, Lampizator, etc.

The next planned upgrades are a Terminator II DAC and Aurender N200 Streamer. Both are $5000-$6000. (Unless I go for the Terminator + DAC that is $7500 but I am not sure it is $2500 better than the Terminator II)

So, since both will get upgraded a year apart, which should I go for first? Which would provide the biggest upgrade?

Thanks. Happy holidays to all.

128x128fthompson251

Showing 3 responses by oddiofyl

oddiofyl's avatar
oddiofyl
3,479 posts
 

I recently got an Aurender N200.   It’s an awesome machine.   I’m using it with a LAB 12  DAC 1 Reference and it is a great sounding combo.   Has none of the nasties often associated with digital playback. 
 

I bought the DAC after a short demo.   It sounded great on the store and even better in my rig.   
 

I bought the Aurender sight unseen.   I traded a piece of gear toward it and it was a transaction that was easy on the wallet.  My piece plus $850.   It was a no brainer since I stream so much.  
 

Build quality of Aurender products is off the chart.   They are well built and the suppprt is excellent.    
 

I bought the LAB 12 with the option to trade up within a year but it sounds so good I’m not sure I want to spend double.   Not right now anyway 

oddiofyl's avatar
oddiofyl
3,479 posts
 

I believe it all starts at the top of the chain.  I think spending money on a great preamp is one of the best moves you can make.  I think the source is equally important.   
 

I bought the N200 knowing it won’t be the potential bottleneck if I upgrade my DAC.  
 

 

oddiofyl's avatar
oddiofyl
3,479 posts
 

I agree with Charlesdad….  If you stream a lot , the Streamer is very important as it is akin to a CD transport.   Can you imagine pairing a $5000 DAC with a Coby DVD player as your transport?   It will work but you just inserted a major bottle neck into the digital chain.  
 

I also have a Bluesound Vault 2i and it’s been great.  It has so many things going for it , including convenience 

When I turn my TV on the Vault senses this , puts its input to Video and I now have. Control of the volume for TV and movies 

Tons of free content.   On and on.  
 

But when I really want quality over convenience I power up my Aurender and Stream Qobuz or Tidal     
 

Those streams sound good on the Vault but the Aurender is noticeably better in every metric. 

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