Streaming through upconverting DAC - can I even improve audio quality?


New to streaming but have been at this hobby for over 50 years.  Started by getting a Marantz SA-10 SACD player that enables streaming through its DAC only via SPIDF.  The SA-10 upconverts everything to DSD 11.2.  So I started with ifi Zen Stream via ethernet, good Belden 75 ohm cable, then upgraded streamer to ifi's linear power supply, which made an improvement I could hear through balance of system, Luxman 590axii and Yamaha NS-5000 loudspeakers.  Sounds good so I'v e started to look at other streamers thinking it could get better, including the new Eversolo DMP-A8 (where I could use its DAC or the Marantz) and even the $5200 HIfi Rose RS-130 (streamer only).  But here's the thing:  so far, just using free Spotify 44.1 redbook quality, 1) since the Marantz upconverts everything to DSD 11.2 would I gain anything from a premium streaming subscription? and 2) the Ifi's femto clock and it's purifier noise removal works on the signals into the unit (clock) and then out (purifier on coax) and then the Marantz' dual clocks take over, so is there anything to be gained with a different streamer's clock? Or have I gotten the quality to about as good as its going to get without investing significantly more in another higher end DAC and streamer?  Should I be able to get SACD quality via streaming or maybe I'm getting that now and it's just that streaming sounds different than a SACD.

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Showing 2 responses by audiotroy

Your player should allow true high res on its usb input

 

If you play quobuzz or tidal you will get high res 24 192k sampling which does sound better then a cd at 44k as per your dac it is probably not upconverting but changing pcm to dsd internally and even so a higher data rate sple gives the dacs input a better sample to work with which may still sound superior

 

You will get far better sound with a much more advanced server

We import the 432evo servers amd they sound amazing and beat both Innous and aurrender see the threads here

 

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/review-comparison-of-5-high-end-digital-music-servers-aurender-n10-cad-cat-server-totaldac-d1-server-auralic-aries-audiophile-vortex-box.787020/page-99

 

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/upgraded-from-node-to-432-evo-aeon-music-server-and-its-another-world-s

 

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/new-dac-or-new-streamer?lastpage=true&page=3#2512774

 

Also running usb should sound better then spdif as usb offers asyncronous data transmision

DAVE and Troy

AUDIO INTELLECT NJ

US importer 432EVO music servers

 

 

Completely untrue usb with a good streaming device and cable with a high res source puts spdif to shame also the marantz website says the usb can hook up to a pc. https://manuals.marantz.com/SA10/NA/EN/WBSPSYdzpskctb.php

 

And the sa 10 is asyncronous

https://manuals.marantz.com/SA10/NA/EN/WBSPSYdzpskctb.php

 

From marantz directly The SA-10 is designed to set a new standard in audio. Whether listening to ... Asynchronous mode rear USB, Yes. Bit-perfect transmission, Yes. Signal