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PS Audio Directstream Junior Owner - Still beneficial to buy a separate server/streamer?

Hi All,

As I think about the next upgrade in my system path, I was looking into getting a server/streamer but was unsure if that would be a worthwhile benefit. I have the DSJ that I use as a Roon endpoint (my PC, located in another room, is my Roon Core).

I stream approximately 60% of my content while the other 40% is from files local to my Roon Core. Would an Innuos Zenith MkII, Roon Nucleus, or Bluesound Vault 2 be an upgrade on sound quality in my setup?


freesole
11 responses Add your response
cymbop
315 posts
 
Are you using the Bridge II in the DSJ currently?  It might take a good penny to better that for sound quality.
freesole OP
159 posts
 
The DSJ already has the bridge built in :) The Directstream Senior would require a separate Bridge II to be installed for streaming
daeone
28 posts
 
I went from a Bridge II in the DS senior to an Auralic Aries G2.  No comparison, the Aries sounds much better.  Others that have the DS jr, and Aries G1 report much better sound vs. the internal bridge as well.
I dropped Roon (really like it as an interface) but the Auralic Lightning DS is really solid and sounds better than Roon on my system.
rbstehno
1,431 posts
 
I went the opposite way, from Auralic to bridge II and Roon. DS Lightning was better than most (I actually used the LUMIN software with the Auralic, it sounded better) but Roon sounds and operates better. 
cal3713's avatar
cal3713
1,421 posts
 
@rbstehno and you felt that improved the sound (not the user experience)?  I have a dsd w bridge ii and am totally content using bubbleupnp to stream, would probably continue using that even if adding an auralic...
rbstehno
1,431 posts
 
Been there done that and more. I also used minimserver for the Auralic and before that pure music and then audirvana 2+. I would take Roon/bridge 2/Ethernet any day. USB sucks as an interface and most dacs favor usb 
dpac996's avatar
dpac996
696 posts
 
@rbstehno i am discovering similar thing that you have and have been on sort of same path. Do you have any DSD files you stream via Roon to your DSD/BridgeII?
Thanks
rbstehno
1,431 posts
 
I have multiple Terabytes of music ripped on my Mac server running Roon and quite a few are DSD. For example, the Norah Jones album is in dsf dsd64 format according to Roon. I also stream Tidal MQA songs which I really like that format. 
cal3713's avatar
cal3713
1,421 posts
 
@rbstehno Thanks for the comment.  Putting the bridge in my PWD was a huge upgrade over the prior USB input...
dpac996's avatar
dpac996
696 posts
 
@rbstehno did you / do you experience any low level ticks/pops when streaming DSD from Roon to Bridge II? 
I do. It's very subtle but DEF there.
Snowmass version: 3.0.5
Bridge version: 3.6.17

Roon Core PC --> Netgear Gige unmanaged switch --> 30 feet cat 6 --> bridge II.

Please list your networking config if you have time.
Thanks
rbstehno
1,431 posts
 
Dead quiet. I have a 1G internal network using a switch. I also use a cat 7 cable to the bridge II. I also stream Tidal MQA over a 1G fiber network and fiber delivers a dead quiet network, much quieter than using copper 
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