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Streamer Advice / Recommendation for Denafrips R2R DAC

I really could use some help / recommendations on the choice of a streamer.  Here's where I am in my research:
I've decided on a Denafrips Pontus DAC (R2R) because of it's sound characteristics (musical while maintaining definition).  It is within my budget, while the Terminator is not.

My current thinking is I need a streamer that does not have memory, amplification or a DAC on board.  I will use the streamer-DAC pairing to listen to music in a AVR / Music setup: Denon AVR3700H (105 watts) connected to a Rotel 1590 power amp through the Denon precouts.  Bowers & Wilkins 702 S2 (left right) speakers.  Bowers & Wilkins 802 center channel (power connection by Denon amp)  SVS and Yamaha powered subwoofers. When used for streaming Netflix it's a 7.2 setup.

For streaming music I listen to the usual list of suspect: Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify.  In it's current setup, the system is too bright and harsh.  Speaker placement is in the room from acoustic hell: rectangular 15' x 45' with the front/ center channel speakers facing the narrow width (unfortunately by necessity and I'm in the process of adding reflection panels to cover 15% of the room.

I am determined to achieve music that does not wear me out after a couple of hours listening: well produced electronic music / R&B  / piano jazz.  I like midrange dominance but without too much detail in the +8k hz.

I learned to budget more for the DAC than the streamer, but most of the streamers I've looked at are combo amp/hard drive/DAC or they have networking into multi rooms. The  Auralic Aries G2.1  is out of my budget by about $2,500 (at 5,100 US), Willing to pay more for great sound but am unsure the streamer makes that much of a difference than the DAC.

Advice? Setup Recommendations?



pmreagan2

Showing 5 responses by jjss49

jjss49's avatar
jjss49
6,612 posts
 
@bikerbw

yes, i too tried the project streambox, and prior to that, the volumio primo... both well reviewed and recommended streamers - these are of course based on the popular volumio streaming software

but there is something so obtuse and difficult about setting these up, you are right, one false move and the thing bricks... just won’t play, and you cannot go back to the start screen, wipe clean and try again - one of the more frustrating experiences i had when i started to stream

even after i got the primo working, i did not like the software and how it interfaced with tidal and qobuz... was very awkward and difficult to save and access favorites, for instance, and see the past playlist

i returned both for refunds (within 10 days for the streambox as i could never properly initialize, and within 30 days for the volumio unit)... i am happy with blu os and the node 2i... have several of them, they work well and the software, while needing some updates periodically, works well and i can save and access favorites easily
jjss49's avatar
jjss49
6,612 posts
 
The G1 or even the Lumin U1 Mini are great choices and those telling you the Node 2CI are all you need are fooling you and themselves. I bought one for my daughter and tried it in my system in place of the G1 late last year and there was no comparison. This was a repeat of a head to head comparison I did five years ago against the Aries Mini and the results were still the same, the Auralic won.


i agree w @jackd on most of his comments, but not on this... this is contrary to my findinngs comparing the node 2i as a streamer only to lumin auralic innuos and mytek... i suppose this might depend on the dac receiving the sent bitstream but i believe my findings hold for most decent hi end dacs

if using the node onboard dac, then jack's findings make sense to me
jjss49's avatar
jjss49
6,612 posts
 
@soix

seems like tonight is the night we try to tell people the right answer, but they just don’t listen

'i can throw you the pass right on the numbers, but i can't catch it for you' -- tom brady  🤷‍♂️
jjss49's avatar
jjss49
6,612 posts
 
used as a streamer only (not using its poor onboard dac) the bluesound node can ably serve much more resolving systems too...
jjss49's avatar
jjss49
6,612 posts
 
bluesound node 2i or the newer revision just called the node

1 and done

you can spend more on a bitstream source (innuos, mytek, auralic, lumin, aurender and so on) ... it won’t sound better feeding the pontus in your system
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