2. digital
  3. 194963-135657

Options to improve digital sound

Hi,

I am looking for some, hopefully, simple advice.  My current digital system is an M4 MacMini feeding a Holo May DAC into a PrimaLuna 400 preamp and amp.  My speakers are Devore Gibbon X.  I primarily listen to downloaded and ripped files with Roon and Audirvana.  I also use Qobuz, but not as often.

The sound quality is good, but I feel like it could be improved.  The options I'm considering are a Small Green Computer SonicTransporter i7 to replace the Mini, or a SGC UltraRendu to put between the Mini and the Holo May.

Which option would be better?  Is there a better option?  I'd like to keep the cost under around $2500.

Thanks

walt8489
sns
3,890 posts
 

Adding a quality Endpoint to a stock mini is not the way to go, I know from direct experience. Your Core is as important as the Endpoint. Now a highly modded mini can be a pretty good streamer on it's own, again I know from direct experience, but this requires a good deal of diy mods. 

 

The OP's best route at this point is to go with a single box streamer, decide which music player to go with, Audirvana, Roon or proprietary, this will have great influence on which streamer to go with. If going with Roon, the SonicTransporter is very nice in the price range OP talking about, the I9 with optical is very, very nice if willing to pay the extra cost. And with Roon you add the second streamer sometime down the road, the OpticalRendu great match for Sonictransporters. If choosing to go with proprietary music players the Innuos and Aurender likely best way to go.

lordmelton's avatar
lordmelton
1,065 posts
 

You've got a great system but you need a proper front end. The 1st axiom of HIFI is garbage in, garbage out.

My choice was Aurender N20 and I'm still loving it.

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
5,610 posts
 

 

sns

3,887 posts

 

Adding a quality Endpoint to a stock mini is not the way to go,

Your Core is as important as the Endpoint.

how so? I’m just curious what your experience was. In my mind i can’t figure out why a Roon core would make a difference. Let’s take my use case for example…

I am using a Mac Mini as a Roon core (for years now). It is fed by one of the EERO mesh network nodes in a completely different room. I then have another EERO mesh node in a vicinity of my system feeding the streamer. 
I’d like to understand how in this configuration the Mac Mini is inferior to lets say a Roon Nucleus One or even Roon Nucleus Titan.

Also, a one box solution of Roon Core Streamer at the level of OP’s budget will most likely be a side step. You get all the Roon Core related processing which at times is CPU and memory intensive and at the cost of OP’s budget will be a compromise in my opinion as opposed to getting a dedicated Roon ready streamer. All in one no compromise solution starts at 4-5x the budget….i.e. Grimm MU1 used or MU2. But that’s just my take on it. 
 

But please let me know how the core impacts the sound quality. 

mswale
260 posts
 

Mac fanboy, have all their products. However, for music, I do not use any Mac gear, except my iPhone to control my streamer. 

Going to suggest, removing the Mini, replacing it with a quality streamer. Don't change anything else yet. Just get used to the streamer, then go down the upgrade path. 

I had my old ipod (yup, still got one) plugged into my system for a while. It sounded flat, hollow, and compressed. 

audiovicker
5 posts
 

Get a Roon Nucleus Plus revision A on Ebay or USAM around $600.00. Upgrade the power supply (s-booster).  $400 or so.  Plug in external hard drive or install internal.  

Use DSP to "tailor" sound.  Use high quality cables, they do make a difference.  You are familiar with Roon.  A very painless way to go.

More to discover