@vthokie83 and @skasundr. I am tagging my questions onto this threaded so you don’t feel that you need to repeat all the work you already put in.
I’ve been trying to figure out what I need to do to upgrade my 30 year old Krell Studio DAC. So far, my digital music has been limited to CDs played through a Moon 260DT transport (no DAC) connected with a Cardas Parsec coax digital interconnect. At my age with >1200 CDs and >600 LPs, I haven’t felt the desire to invest in streaming music from online sources. Even limiting to a single digital source like CDs, I’m not sure I fully understand the various options. My system is reasonably revealing and capable of creating a wide soundstage with decent imaging. Whatever I buy needs to be a substantial upgrade from my Krell Studio.
Most/all YouTube equipment reviewers appear to be evaluating new DACs using streamed sources through their USB or I2S connections. Currently, I am limited to Coax or AES/EBU. Perhaps it is my lack of understanding (feel free to correct me if I’m mistaken), but many of the improvements in SQ as they go up the product lines in each brand get to improvements in USB interface, FIFO buffers, and digital clocks. Those benefits would all relate to streamed music.
If my source is from a CD transport, would I hear much difference between a Pontus 15th and a Venus 15th?
Would my CD transport benefit from a DDC? Would a DDC reclock the digital signal?
For CD-only playback, would I be better off with a Hermes/Pontus 15th or with a stand-alone Venus 15th?
Again, for CD music only, would I hear the benefits of a Holo May KTE vs. either of those Denafrips DACs?
Why would a Venus 15th benefit from a DDC if it has its own I2S and USB inputs and its own FIFO buffers and OXCO clocks?
As you can see, I remain pretty clueless with newer digital technologies. The Krell Studio was highly regarded in its day. It hasn’t seemed like a no-brainer choice and I no longer have friends who are audiophiles with whom to communicate. The Moon 260DT, the Cardas Parsec, and an upgraded power cord for the Krell have already provided substantial improvements for my CD playback.