Upgrading digital source device is not easy

Weiss 501 or Benchmark DAC 3 or Mytek Brooklyn DAC+.

These latest DACs will outperform a 10 year old design. The biggest benefit is usually with redbook format files. More vinyl sounding but with all the detail of digital and ultra low noise floor.

For your computer digital sources, You can do much better. Much lower jitter.

Options:

1) Empirical Audio Interchange DLNA renderer with HDMI I2S output - you can use Jriver or Audirvana+ as players

2) Empirical Audio Off-Ramp 6 XMOS USB converter (galvanically isolated) with HDMI I2S output - no driver needed for Mac or Linux

These should match or beat your transport.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

The DAC in the Cary is already very good.

To best it, you will have to go to something like this $23K Esoteric D-02 for $8,895.

Here’s a review of it: https://www.audiostream.com/content/esoteric-d-02-dual-mono-da-converter

I have to look at the back of Cary 306 pro to see there is hdmi output.

for me 
mid tone liquidity and sound stage is most important among all other aspects

Have you thought of adding a Bryston DAC 3?  It can take the DSD stream from and SACD via HDMI

Great thread that I just saw about the RedCloud and DACs in general.

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/i-love-my-ps-audio-direct-stream-with-red-cloud-2

I have only heard 3 DACS that I can remember as being something I would buy. My criteria are great fatigue free sound quality and value ($$$). I do not think it is necessary to pay a lot of money for digital. The three DACs I like are expensive but not outrageously priced. There are better sounding units than these  three but it is a matter of diminishing returns for me with the more expensive units.

1) Resonessence  Labs INVICTA MIRUS (the best sounding DAC to my ears, I have not heard the likely better Pro variant) $6K

2) PS Audio DS. I like this a lot too and the fact the Ted Smith is continually upgrading the OS along with the Network Bridge feature set make me want to get this DAC. $6K but many used units being sold for a lot cheaper. A review on the Darko site was stating that the Mirrus and DS are not starting to sound very similar after the upgrades to both.

3) Benchmark DAC2. I just sold it but I loved this DAC and the price was under $2K new. I am in the process of getting ready to buy a lot of audio gear and this DAC no longer had a role in what I need.

At one point I was thinking I do not need a pre-amp with one of these 3 DACs (all have volume control) but I have changed my tune on that and will look into pairing one of these DACs with an integrated amp for my office system.

Last week, I replaced my Benchmark DAC2 HGC + Parasound A23 amp with a Peachtree Nova 150 integrated (includes a DAC) and I prefer the sound of the Nova. This is solely related to the quality of the amp and better volume control of the Nova. However, it goes to show (to me at least) that you can get great digital sound without spending a lot of money. The Nova was $1100 used.

You may find the following audio story of DACs interesting:

http://www.soundstageultra.com/index.php/features-menu/opinion-menu/781-jeffs-getting-a-new-stereo-s...

Have you tried playback Merlot DAC?

A used PS Audio DS can be upgraded for free to the RedCloud update. This thing also has ROON support via the Network Bridge II card. This unit is likely my next DAC.

You may want to check out the NEW PS Audio Direct Stream since they announced another firmware (or Operating System) update yesterday.

"PS Audio's digital guru Ted Smith has been busy during the six months since the release of the Huron OS, announced at the time as "revolutionary". How do you follow a revolution?

You get to work. By diligent effort Ted has managed to improve upon Huron, the best-sounding firmware PS had ever released. The new OS, Redcloud, improves upon Huron's already-exemplary spatial presentation, dynamic contrasts, and low bass. By better-linearizing low-level signals, Ted has managed to reduce residual noise and THD even more, with startling improvements to low-level resolution, ambient hall sound, and solidity of bass performance. Blacker backgrounds, immediately-identifiable concert venues, and incredible dynamic slam are all evident with Redcloud.  

As good as Huron was, Redcloud is far better. The improvements are immediately noticeable---as Paul McGowan put it, "it's a 10-seconder. You hear how much better it is instantly."

thank you for suggestion

I see.
Then please recommend DAC for me.
My music collection is mainly classical and Jazz

Yes you can.

If I hook Cary 306 sacd pro to new DAC for CD vis digital output, can I still use this SACD player's analogue output to feed my preamp for SACDs without disconnecting digital output ?

mainly AIFF and FLAC

avlee, thank you for recommendation
I think I will go with 2 box solution.
I am listening to digital file 80% of time for digital music.
What I am concerning is that upgraded DAC might not be better than Cary 306 SACD pro as DAC.
I feel necessity of new DAC but I am not sure which one will be meaningful upgrade from my current set up.

avlee said...The only two box solution I’d recommend would be a PS audio Directstream memory player,  "combined with any DAC with an HDMI based i2s connection."    I think you’d be able to choose from a variety of DACs such as the PS audio’s own DS DAC, the wyred4sound Dac2v2 or even the exogirl comet.

If you want to utilize the DMP for the native DSD layer on all sacd's... you must use the new DMP transport in tandem with their DS  sr/jr dacs for full sacd glory.  

From PS Audio website...

DMP opens the long restricted DSD layer of SACD to PS Audio DACs. Through a unique code-handshake, DMP will deliver the raw DSD layer of copyright protected SACD directly into your PS Audio DAC. This means that for the first time you’ll uncover the wealth of audio’s finest digital medium, DSD, and hear exactly what the mastering engineers who created these discs have enjoyed all along.

With your collection of SACDs, it’s really tough to advise you *not* to get an SACD player. I suppose the question is, do you get a two box or one box solution?

Let me recommend this: get a good one box solution. Given the hodgepodge of DSD outputs on SACD players, you’re generally stuck with a DAC from the same company as the SACD player anyways. So it makes sense to just get an SACD player with a built in DAC. The Emm Labs XDS1, even v1, is one heck of a player. If you pay the 1700 or so to upgrade to v2, you’ll have a very nice solution.

Or a T+A PDP 3000HV. Excellent DAC and SACD player.  One just sold here for about 7k. 

Both of those have DACs which are considered to be outstanding.  The only two box solution I’d recommend would be a PS audio Directstream memory player, combined with any DAC with an HDMI based i2s connection.  I think you’d be able to choose from a variety of DACs such as the PS audio’s own DS DAC, the wyred4sound Dac2v2 or even the exogirl comet. 

Thank you.
I am also thinking of adding DAC instead of SACD player.
My question is which DAC will be worth it to upgrade from using Cary 306 SACD pro as DAC (that is my current set up).
So..... Please give me some recommendation.

Someone here is advertising a Meitnor 25K SACD player for around 7K