Signalyst HQPlayer - Is it worth the upgrade?

@milpai 

Good points. I did post something similar over on audiophilestyle forums - and on what’s best - but haven’t gotten much guidance. However, there are a lot of DAC 200 owners so I’ll try a parallel path to what they’re suggesting.

I only just purchased the SDV 3100 - haven’t taken delivery of it yet. Candidly, the DAC 200 is so good on DSD that I hesitated to upgrade. I’ve told this story elsewhere. When I first auditioned the DAC 200 - I used it with my streamer converting whatever Qobuz or my stored files fed it. It was good, but it wasn’t massively better than the dac it replaced (which was a pretty nice and well respected Dac in its own right). It was when I fed it native DSD files converted by the Sirius processor that I had a “holy crap” moment and purchased it.

I hopefully get the unit later this week - but the holidays and family arriving mean it will be January (or later?) before I get things settled in. I certainly think it’s worth trying HQ player and roon with this unit. If that combination sonically outperforms my streamer and processor - I’d be delighted. And if it were also convenient (no tinkering, set and forget), I would be able to sell my other gear and reduce boxes, cables and clutter and my wife would be delighted.

Thanks for the kind words on my system. Not as purposeful in set up as yours (nice room and set up!) but it gets the job done nicely and it’s relatively “invisible “ in our living space.

More to come.

Best,

@mgrif104 

Congratulations on SDV 3100. The SDV 3100 is a serious upgrade, especially if you’re already impressed by the DAC 200 with DSD. It’ll be interesting to hear your impressions once it’s settle down in your system. 

T+A knows how to do justice with DSD files much to the tune of my Merging Tech +player. I had the same holy crap moment when I first heard my collection of DSD files. You’re in for a royal treat with SDV 3100. 

@mgrif104 

That is a fascinating upgrade to look forward to - completely different league. Before you sell the DAC 200, I hope you get a chance to experience DSD 512 on this DAC. In my experience the DAC 200 without DSD 512 is like Clark Kent. And with DSD 512, it is like Superman. At least in my setup, when you gop from DSD 256 to DSD 512 there is this "drive" or "zest" along with a "naturalness" that makes the recordings come alive.

There is no real tinkering, if your PC/laptop is set up correctly. The best part is that you can experiment with the filters/modulators from your phone/tablet. T+A's chipless design is optimal for DSD playback and was one of the reasons for me to get this DAC.

Not as purposeful in set up as yours (nice room and set up!) but it gets the job done nicely and it’s relatively “invisible “ in our living space.

Actually living rooms with large open space and high ceiling makes music sound so spacious. Unfortunately I do not have that liberty and hence had to move to the basement. Luckily that space is under the morning room, so that even if I play at 85db level, sound does not go to the bedrooms, since there is nothing above the morning room.

Thanks @milpai 

I hope it’s the upgrade you suggest. I wasn’t able to audition the new DAC in my system against the DAC 200. But, it also comes with a particularly nice preamp. So, I’m reasonably confident I’ll be pleased. (It does mean I’m now selling my integrated and getting a new amplifier - it’s an expensive hobby…).

And, you’re right about the DAC 200 and DSD 512. That’s what I currently give it with my Sirius processor and it’s very, very good.  Sourced that way, I found it to be better than any other sub $20k DAC I’ve auditioned. 

I look forward to giving HQPlayer a trial and will certainly circle back to you and the group with my progress and findings. With the built in NAA, it’s sounds like I might actually be able to get down to 2 boxes - the SDV 3100 and whatever amp I settle on.

Best,

@mgrif104 ,

One thing I will mention is that "not all the bits are the same". So when I got the T+A new, I used Foobar to send DSD 512 and DSD 1024 to the DAC and noticed a difference over the previous DAC. But it was not a "game changing" experience that folks talking about. So I decided to give the HQ Player a try. All I will say is that with 30 seconds of 512 DSD with HQ Player to this DAC, I simply purchased the HQ Player.

Hence I hope that you are able to try out the HQ Player with the new DAC.