2. digital
  3. 180425-163832

Streamer/DAC - Where is the value?

I currently have ($10K) Olympica Nova II speakers, ($11K) McIntosh MA9000 integrated amp and a (~$1.5K) Cambridge Audio 851N network player. The weak link here seems to be the Cambridge unit. 

I'm prepared to upgrade my streamer/DAC situation and my budget is about $4-6K. Although there are SO many options out there and it's tough to tell where I'll find the most value. My assumption is that the DAC is going to play a much larger part in sound quality than the Streamer. I play music primarily through Tidal. I don't have requirements for server storage or any other sophisticated source capabilities. 

Many of the network players come with a pre-amp which I am assuming I should rule immediately. That pre-amp would be taking a share of the overall budget. On the other hand I was thinking maybe I should buy separates. I could max out the DAC and get something good enough for the streaming. Or even continue to use the Cambridge if I really wanted. Having a beautiful screen on a good looking streamer would be nice but seems like lower priority in terms of bang for buck.

Curious to hear people's thoughts. Are there any specific units anyone would recommend as either an all in one network player or as separates? The Auralic ALTAIR G2.1 seems like the ideal all in one but it's at the very peak of my budget.

Thanks!

128x128jpearson3131

Showing 1 response by ghdprentice

ghdprentice
6,471 posts
 

It depends on your longer term goals. Will you keep evolving your system to better sound? Or is this next purchase an end point?

I would recommend an Aurender A200 (combined streamer / DAC)… if you just want one and done. I own two Aurender streamers and cannot recommend them too highly.

If this is a step towards a better system, or really getting the most out of your system, then separates. They are both equally important. Aurender for the Streamer and… in that price range I don’t know the perfect DAC. I will say given the rest of your equipment if you want very top notch performance up to the standard of the rest of your equipment I would be looking in the $4 - $6K each range, DAC and Streamer. [my estimate is based on matching to,your speakers] Yes you can get stuff for less money.

 

Also, I recommend switching to Qobuz. The service sounds a bit better than Tidal but also has half a million high resolution albums versus Tidal… only a few.


My systems are shown under my UserID.

 

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