Streamer/DAC combinations

With DACs I think auditioning at home in your system is a must...   you are splitting hairs when it comes to DACs.  They are better than they have ever been.  

davegolf2424 OP

2 posts

03-20-2024 at 09:08pm 

Improved soundstage. I feel my streaming setup may be lacking in that area.  

Hi @davegolf2424 , why do you feel that way? If your music stream seems deficient, it’s more likely to do with the masters used by the service, and perhaps the way your speakers x room are rendering the files. Assuming all devices in between those two ends are reasonably competent, they should have less influence. Especially a streamer.

I like the Matrix Audio integrated streamer/DAC/preamp products. They provide top of the line ESS DAC chips (two of them, in some models),  most available I/O options (including I2S and HDMI in some models), and excellent IR remote controls.  They support very high digital sampling rates and are among the best-tested DACs in (FWIW) the ASR measurements.  Priced from < $1K to > $4K.  Lumin is another good Chinese brand.

Just got into streaming a couple of months ago. I started with the Node on its own while I waited for my USB cable to connect to my Pontus II 12th and I was truly blown away! The Node on its own sounded great but when I got my USB cable (Synergistic Foundation) and plugged into the Pontus is when things went from amazing to magical! Soundstage, detail, richness, air, ALL of it went to another level. What a difference the Pontus made! Everything came so much more alive….

I just recently put together a second system and had come across the Eversolo Master and after reading so much about it pulled the trigger. I have since moved the Node to my second system (connected via USB) to DENAFRIPS Ares II 12th. 
 

Since adding the Eversolo to Pontus it now actually bests my CD/Pontus combo. I found myself for the very first time not listening to CD’s anymore. I never ever thought this would happen. Truth be told the Node/Pontus came damn close but I still found my CD’s sounded a bit warmer with more detail. But now I can’t stop listening to the Eversolo/Pontus combo. It’s actually frightening how realistic and 3D like everything sounds now. This is a level I never even knew could exist…

I cannot recommend the Eversolo and Pontus combo enough. 

Another option might be to trick out the node with a linear power supply and add a fiber connection (ie transmitter and receiver) right before the ethernet connection to the node. All of this may cost around $250 so it’s a cheap upgrade.