I would like to give you advice that is outside of the expensive solutions. I too have been chasing the perfection of music from a digital source and purchase an Uptone Audio EtherRegen switch lowered the noise floor but kept reading positive reports of almost eliminating digital noise by converting ethernet signals, that carry digital noise, to optical through a converter product like the Sonore Optical Module. It has been sold out for a while so the owner of Uptone Audio recommended the $20 TP-Link module. I took his recommendation and bought the module, 2 SPF units, and a fiber cable for $75. After installing it with a linear power supply, the noise floor is non existent and any digital harshness has disappeared making me wonder how much better the Sonore Optical Module would be with Finisar SPF modules. Pretty cheap experiment!
Which DACs are known to be sweet/rich/relaxed?
Problem
System is nicely transparant and detailed, but tends to get bright and harsh with certain (rock) recordings and at higher volume levels.
Objective
Nudge the system towards a sweeter, richer, more relaxed presentation.
Proposed solution / first step
Upgrade to a (tube based) DAC, budget $25-40k.
Current chain
- ROON Nucleus
- Mola Mola Tambaqui
- Gryphon Essence pre amp
- Gryphon Essence monoblocks
- Focal Stella Utopia EVO
- Full loom of Triode Wire Labs cables
- Dedicated power line straight into Puritan PSM156 mains filter
- System resides in the living room with some diffusors but no absorption other than sofas, chairs, and some rugs.
On my radar
Lampizator Pacific (or Golden Gate 2 since I heard it's more "tube-like")
Aries Cerat Kassandra 2 Ref or Sig
— What other DACs should I consider?
— Do you think upgrading to another (tube based) DAC will achieve that sweeter, richer, more relaxed presentation?