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New DAC or New Streamer?

This should be fun. After I pay to get my amp upgraded at VAC next month  I plan to either upgrade my DAC or Streamer next. I should have enough for that by late spring/early summer. I'm retired so I save some each month until I have what I need. My system is in my user profile. But to keep this simple my current DAC is the Dinafrips Venus II I got a year ago. (I also have the Hermes DDC)

My streamer is the Cambridge CXN V2 via coax to the Hermes-> I2s -> DAC which is also 1 year old. I was just getting into streaming then and knew little about it. I have learned a lot this past year, a whole lot.

I think the bottle neck is leaning more toward the streamer. It seems the DAC is pretty good, I know there are much better DAC's out there but it holds it own I think. Maybe not? I cannot afford the likes of DCS, Lampizator, etc.

The next planned upgrades are a Terminator II DAC and Aurender N200 Streamer. Both are $5000-$6000. (Unless I go for the Terminator + DAC that is $7500 but I am not sure it is $2500 better than the Terminator II)

So, since both will get upgraded a year apart, which should I go for first? Which would provide the biggest upgrade?

Thanks. Happy holidays to all.

128x128fthompson251
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,236 posts
 

Or all in one streamer + dac + pre + tube...😎

Don’t know if you have followed this thread. The OP has a separate Denafrips  DAC and VAC preamplifier that he’s happy with.

Charles 

alerrico
29 posts
 

I just had to make this choice but was a level behind you.  I had the Bluesound Node 2i and the Denafrips Ares II.  I knew I wanted to upgrade both.  I assumed the streamer would be the best choice because the DAC was amazing so very pleased and want more Denafrips in the future.  It also came down to getting a super deal on a DEMO unit one generation back.  I bought an Auralic Aries G1.  The G1.1s are about $3,500, I got mine for $2,200 free shipping and full warranty. I chose Auralic because it would stream the big three natively: Amazon, Qobuz, and Tidal and the reviews of the App were great the other big two streamers Lumin and Aurrender do not stream Amazon and I hear of App issues. Going one generation back was not an issue.  One major change was only cosmetic and the other had to do with playing Apple music.  Now I have done the AMP, Speakers, DAC, and Streamer.  One more time on the DAC.  Let me know if you want to part with the Venus.

jorjlien's avatar
jorjlien
52 posts
 

@charles1dad 

of course I know, there's always an option. never try never know. enjoy music. 

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