Old days & steamers vs newer stuff?
Given that there are a ton of variables depending on speakers and other equipment. What are the generalities in comparing? something like...
1) an old blusound node 2i with an ayre codex dac
2) lumin d2 for dac & streamer
3) node 2i with giselli labs dac
Basically, I'm asking if you think expensive old dac and streamers (lumen, node, ayre codex) still beat out the newer cheaper stuff like denafrips ares, gishelli labs, etc.
I want to improve my setup, but I'm not sure if used older higher end stuff is better than newer mid end stuff.
Quality improvements over time can often yield a newer less expensive product that is superior to older high end items.
Whatcha think in this regard when it comes to dacs and streamers?
Newest tech one can afford, or highest end used stuff one can find?
@kota1 that's wild. I had no idea it existed. This is cheaper than my node2i was. Does this item come with the microphone for ARC too? it looks like it has a digital out (to go to another better dac)? Is there any downside to this only having optical input instead of spdif/coax? I'm really green at all of this digital stuff, but I love the ease of streaming spotify. |
@kota1 I have no idea what dnla or UPNP is. I had a helluva time getting my node 2i up and running. If the dts play is just an app to control the streamer, I could handle that, but I'm not computer/ IT savy at all. Nevertheless, $200 for room correction seems like a bargain of an upgrade, so maybe I'll see if I can get help here or though Martin Logan to set it up. I never use the Bluetooth feature, so I won't miss that. Maybe I can sell my Node or set it up in another room. I'm not sure how these "roon endpoint" things work, but I don't have roon, so I doubt I could use the node 2i in conjuction with the unison, so I could sell it or make a second system. I'm also am using an old Parasound Zdac that may be lower quality than the dac in the unison (your thoughts on which I should use?) I'm tempted to buy this and possibly improve my sound for only $200. Wish me luck and give me your thoughts. Current integrated is a Yamaha A-S500 btw. Acoustic Energy Aegis 3 speakers. @soix I'm just trying to gradually increase my sound quality by upgrading the weakest link, or item that would make the biggest bang for buck improvement. My budget is "poor". Which probably quantifies as $400 per month to spend on stereo. |
@yesiam_a_pirate, I stream using spotify premium I don't think pandora has a high bit rate option for their music streams, But streaming services such as Tidal and Qobuz Offer uncompressed high resolution flac file music streams to choose from. Those are probably the best type of streaming options along with streaming uncompressed flac files from a network attached storage device such as your own hard drive that. Music has been ripped to in an uncompressed format. |
That particular martin logan streamer does not have bluetooth. It operates by pairing both devices on the same.wifi network. I believe streaming over wifi actually gives a better signal than bluetooth. There are other Bluetooth streamers like the Bluesound Node that have a bluetooth option to stream along with wifi method but wifi streaming is always better I believe. Maybe others here can elaborate because I too am a dinosaur and not computer savy. |
Big thanks too @kota1 for all the info , links. and explanations. You rock! Thanks! |
@kota1 will spotify on my phone allow me to diectly connect to the unison like it's a wifi device/speaker, or do I have to use dts play fi to hear spotify on the unison? |
