Streamer-DAC vs Seperates

They would be definitely better, worse or the same.

I doubt that very much!  The chances that the options would be the same are incredibly low…

so…. Better or worse?  Or maybe no one has any real world experience directly comparing.  Was hoping someone had done this comparison and had some takeaways to share!

There is steady movement towards "all in one solutions." Integrated network transport/players plus DAC options are not only plentiful, but are dominating this space.

I really like my Bricasti M3 with integrated network player. I use Roon and did an A/B comparison between streaming with lumin u1 mini into the M3 via Audience USB cable and Roon with the M3 alone and preferred the M3. Sold the Lumin. 
What does this tell you? That it all depends. I wouldn’t bet on the same outcome if I had run the same comparison using something like Grimm, higher end Aurender or Taiko extreme. 
A built in network player isn’t an extremely expensive option and is even a default with some higher end DACs. 
Trying is the only way to know.

audphile  we have done the same test with our 432EVO server and the usb through our server sounds even better ino our M3 

Dave and Troy 

audio intellect NJ

bricasti and 432EVO dealers

‘“Trying is the only way to know.”
+1, @audphile1

@nyev

It appears you’re suffering from audiophilia nervosa…LOL! The irritating itch that keep surfacing every few days. Honestly, you got a darn good digital front end but instead of focusing on music, you can’t help obsessing over what else I can do or what’s next? Clearly, the DAC module inside Diablo is not engaging or musical enough to hold your attention.

Well, open your wallet and start auditioning DAC’s until you find the one that can outclass the DAC inside Diablo. I wouldn’t mess with Innuos trio until you solve the DAC riddle. I would consider a tube DAC like Lampizator Baltic to spice things up. Also recommend AQUA La Scala MKII Optologic or even Formula xHD.

IMHO, separate DAC and Streamer wins each time if you’re pursuing ultimate performance and flexibility. 

Happy Holidays!

Thanks for the perspectives! @lalitk , I’m not actually considering upgrading my digital chain at this point. As I said I’m very happy with my sound, and as of now I don’t feel the need to upgrade. I started this thread only because I am interested in the latest HiFi developments and the community’s perspectives, and my digital chain is an area I simply wonder about because I never went through the excruciating process of careful component selection. Despite that I think I landed in a pretty good place!

I have a few friends who are just getting into HiFi (or maybe MidFi but I won’t tell them that) and are ALL adding lower grade streamer-DAC combos which made me start wondering. They asked me if the combo approach made sense at their level and I said I really didn’t know (I had lots of advice on their other components). In the end they liked the convenience factor.

Also was recommending they try a variety of amps but the allure of McIntosh blue meters was too strong and they all went with MC462’s and the Mac tube preamp. Seems crazy they did that as I don’t think they realize the extent of the sonic differences amps can make - none had ever had a HiFi system before. I did test McIntosh separates when looking for an amp a number of years back and the Diablo clobbered all the separates I tested in that range.

I think it’s nuts they refused to test amps (they all tested speakers extensively). But I guess I didn’t test any digital options either… but I did go by community recommendation and not what gear looked sexy…

i too very much like one unit streamer/dacs.. after trying so many, i have kept 3

msb analog dac (w powerbase and lan module)

weiss 501

chord m scaler and hugo tt2 - fed by optical rendu via usb (really love the sound of this combo, small form factor as a stack, and particularly, its fantastic ability to drive all sorts of downstream gear)

the first two take ethernet in, does the rest, i am roon user... of course, upstream, there is quite a bit going on... switches, word clocks, ether regens or n-a passive filters with lps’s so there are plenty of boxes still

“I started this thread only because I am interested in the latest HiFi developments and the community’s perspectives and my digital chain is an area I simply wonder about because I never went through the excruciating process of careful component selection,”

@nyev

The latest trend seems to indicate one box Ethernet based DAC with rendering capabilities. Like Bricasti, Grimm Audio, Weiss and Merging Technologies plus what @jjss49 pointed out …..switches, word clocks, ether regens or n-a passive filters with lps’s….to further sweeten the pot.

Yes trend definitely seems to be streamer-DAC combos with “tweak” boxes like reclockers, upscalers etc.  But I’m wondering if what @lalitk said is true - that separate DAC and dedicated streamer always wins.

If I was upgrading now I’d be carefully testing separates like what I have (Zenith Mk3, PhoenixUSB Reclocker, Diablo 300 DAC module, PhoenixNET Ethernet switch) but maybe moving to a dedicated standalone DAC, and really seeing if the how the performance compares with combined boxes like the DCS Bartok, Weiss 501, etc.  Really curious if anyone has done comparisons along these lines.

Maybe not, because it seems people start by committing to the combo or standalone approach first, and testing components within those categories?

For me it came down to power cables and interconnects.  When I looked at all separates the total cost versus a DAC with built in streamer was not really close.  I ended up with a Bricasti M1 se with network / streamer card.  I would do that again and invest the savings into a music server like the SGC i5.  

Separates period. 

@testrun that is a very common sense approach.  I tend to go big on cables so definitely a factor.  But as I said, that is an example of first deciding what approach makes sense to you and committing to that, vs actually testing the sonic differences between the approaches.  

While the cable argument makes a lot of sense to me, I still wonder if anyone has really done a thorough comparison of sonic performance between similar cost digital separates vs combo boxes, on a revealing system (otherwise differences may not be detectable).  

Buy a quality DAC and quit throwing good money away. You have a great streamer/server in the Zenith. 

That’s one approach! Again not buying anything now. Just curious if anyone has in depth comparative experience of separates vs combo box digital solutions of equal value on a revealing system, considering the trend to combo boxes.

It’s more a general curiosity, as opposed to looking for a solution for myself. Was just listening and to me my system sounds awesome.