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Future DACs with Fibre Optical

I am going to need a DAC in Sept - Dec 2023 timeframe. I sold 2 Musetec 005's and 2 Sonore OpticalRendu's this week to buy a used Lumin X1. I am happy with the move since it replaced a bunch of boxes and streaming LPS's.

I was planning to use the Lumin X1 with my Livingroom  speakers direct to amp. However, when I tried the X1 with my Benchmark LA4 preamp and AHB2 monos I did not want it to leave the office system. It is rather nice combo to my KEF LS50 Meta speakers.

The main reason I got the X1 was the fibre optic streaming input. It is an excellent streamer to the internal DAC and also my external Benchmark DAC3B (used for headphones). I think the OpticalRendu maybe a touch better streaming, but both are great.

I kept 1 extra Sonore OpticalRendu around for a future DAC. Though I would prefer to find a DAC with built-in streaming fibre like the Lumin X1. Are there any upcoming DACs or upgrades to existing DACs that will incorporated fibre input streaming, like the Lumin X1?

My thinking on this is to use the remaining OpticalRendu streamer with either another  Musetec 005 or Mola Mola Tambaqui or get another Lumin X1 to go fibre. The X1 will also go direct to amp and the Musetec 005 and Tambaqui would be paired with a 2nd LA4 preamp. So that is a lot of boxes if I do not go Lumin X1  fibre again. In the Livingroom, a lot of living goes on, so I want to have as few boxes (or small form factor so easy to hide).

It would be very convenient if new DACs came with fibre. It is generally agreed that fibre is an excellent way to stream. I personally only stream fibre.

yyzsantabarbara
sns
3,003 posts
 

@yyzsantabarbara Yep, that is correct package. I could see this Finisar as great upgrade for any fiber capable device with removable transceiver, problem is there have been instances of incompatibility. I'd estimate this upgrade to OpticalRendu at something like 25% improvement over stock, that 25% could be in actuality a game changer. I heard improved resolution/transparency within minutes of insertion, longer term will hear more analog like presentation, more ease and relaxation, lowering jitter at the transceiver has real world consequences, very impressed. At this point I'm finished with streaming upgrades, nothing left to do and no desire to change out a thing. Going back to vinyl side, have a number of recent purchases to install, trying to get my vinyl back to being worth my time.

audioman58's avatar
audioman58
3,920 posts
 

The best way I have found ,is 1 buy a state of the art modem-router having docsis 3.1 much faster,bigger buffer then older 3.0, and wifi 6, little green computer for cheaper LPS for router, and upgrade the Dc cable ,upgrade fuse these all made a noticeable increase in fidelity then a Sonore deluxe , media converter Ethernet to fiber optic converter  with good sptmodukes for the fiber optic Finisar are the best that’s 3- linear power supplies at the end point buy the good one. I compared 6 brands in total the best build and most natural in most categories was the        Linear Tube Audio- LPS . The rest a very good separate dac, and streamer , it is extra boxes but a good dedicated dac is better then a streamer combo ,much better isolation and much better power supplies . 

audiom3
147 posts
 

My LAN is all fiber and I've been thinking about trying the iFi NEO Stream and running fiber right into it (SC), as opposed to converting back to copper to iFi's fancy FMC/re-clocker.

yyzsantabarbara OP
4,582 posts
 

A couple of other DACs that are fibre Optical are the MSB and Playback Designs units. I am thinking of cancelling my plans of buying an expensive amp and get a Playback Designs DAC instead.

The designer of the PlayBack Designs DACs is an impressive guy. He may have also been involved in the creation of my modded Sony SCD-1 SACD player that I still love to this day (20+ years later).

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