I love this device as Roon Ready / Tested. The idea of upgrading a DAC is technically a bit tricky. DSD never succeeded by any measurable level. Newer formats like MQA will suffer the same fate as streaming is the market today. Many white papers and blind testing have it as nonsense.
I was into vinyl for some time and intentionally kept away from trendy components, and cult like recommendations. I did succeed mostly and did not get into an upgrade cycle at all. I have Denon 103R, PL XA-25, PL XA-15, and full range drivers were my thing. I like things built like a tank or refined by serial production.
Changing gears completely, I wanted Roon nucleus with a Roon ready DAC. I only have direct comparison with a Qutest, Anthem AVM60, and Panasonic UB-820. Qutest is great but I don not want to be a DJ pressing buttons. No switched power supply for price seemed trendy. They simply know better too.. To dismay of its followers I did not find it better than Brown Burr on the Panasonic UB820 (OPPO replacement) multi player in HD with tube or ultraclear. Chord had the edge slightly on electronica like 30303EO Stakker Humanoid but my collection is mostly rock. I would in no way get a Hugo 2 over this stereo solution.
This device is really no-nonsense and reminded me of listen to vintage gear at a local library with crumbling Grado headphones as a kid thinking I could never afford these. For system, oddly Roon Nucleus / Teac UD-505 is much less harsh. I can not describe it completely but full range speakers have a bit of harshness as a few frequencies. It is gone with this set up. When going back to a Playfi-spotify stream it comes back but comparison is not fair.
I was into vinyl for some time and intentionally kept away from trendy components, and cult like recommendations. I did succeed mostly and did not get into an upgrade cycle at all. I have Denon 103R, PL XA-25, PL XA-15, and full range drivers were my thing. I like things built like a tank or refined by serial production.
Changing gears completely, I wanted Roon nucleus with a Roon ready DAC. I only have direct comparison with a Qutest, Anthem AVM60, and Panasonic UB-820. Qutest is great but I don not want to be a DJ pressing buttons. No switched power supply for price seemed trendy. They simply know better too.. To dismay of its followers I did not find it better than Brown Burr on the Panasonic UB820 (OPPO replacement) multi player in HD with tube or ultraclear. Chord had the edge slightly on electronica like 30303EO Stakker Humanoid but my collection is mostly rock. I would in no way get a Hugo 2 over this stereo solution.
This device is really no-nonsense and reminded me of listen to vintage gear at a local library with crumbling Grado headphones as a kid thinking I could never afford these. For system, oddly Roon Nucleus / Teac UD-505 is much less harsh. I can not describe it completely but full range speakers have a bit of harshness as a few frequencies. It is gone with this set up. When going back to a Playfi-spotify stream it comes back but comparison is not fair.