Upgrading my streaming/digital system- what would make the most sense?
Hello all,
I would like to improve my digital chain and I'd like to get your feedback on which component(s) are worth upgrading first. I would like to get a more natural/organic sound and more naturally layered soundstage. Don't get me wrong, it sounds good but there is a bit of digital haze ( I think the blacks could be blacker and spatial cues could be more present- thus the somewhat flat presentation), and at times the music sounds a little artificial, albeit very clean.
I use Roon to stream Tidal and Qobuz and the digital audio chain consists of ethernet cable> switch (basic cisco)> 2 ethernet cables
> Macmini (roon core)
> Moon 280d with Mind2 bridge (roon endpoint etc)
(The rest is Vinnie Rossi preamp in passive mode to Pass Labs xa60.5 mono's to Avantgarde duo's or Thiel 3.7's; cabling Nordost Heimdall 2; I also have an analogue set up).
I had always assumed that the most effective upgrade would be the dac, particularly because in this configuration the '"noisy" Macmini does no processing other than sending a stream of 1's and 0's as a Roon core/server to the Moon/Mind2 bridge as Roon endpoint/renderer.
But some have suggested that this is not the case ie the Macmini should be replaced with a Nucleus or Small Green Computer, or something else along these lines, rather than the Dac. But would that really make such a noticeable improvement rather than a considerably better dac?
Or would something else yield a better improvement?
I would like to go in stages rather that doing a wholesale replacement of the entire chain so I need a bit of help to decide what the next step should be- many thx for your thoughts and feedback.
@dougthebiker I have an Innuos Zenith MK3 but you've got me reading up on the MU1. I too have the DAVE. If I sold my Innuos and M-scaler, it would almost fund the Grimm. What $5k streamers did you compare the Grimm to? I could also offload my NUC core which would clean up my rack. Jerry |
The closest contender was the Innuos Pulsar. Also tried the T+A MA 200 which was a bit edgy in the treble no matter what I paired it with. The EVO 432 Aeon was almost as refined as the Pulsar. Nothing else was much better than my old Innuos Zen Mk3. I also am unloading my old NUC. Surprisingly, the Grimm made my old Schiit Yggy sound about twice as good. |
I used to output USB from my IMac to my DAC... Sounded OK to me. Then I got a SOtM SMS200 Ultra network streamer to feed my DAC. Everything opened up more and became both better controlled and Wider/Deeper at the same time. Every once and awhile, I got back to iMac > USB > Dac for a few days to reconfirm the rightness of my now 4-year old choice. And it has always been a joy to return to the streamer. The iMac still runs the Roon Core, but the music comes via the SMS 200 ultra via the network. I also now use HQ Player and the SOtM comes stock the the HQP NAA built in. I’m very happy with the SOtM streamer, but more than that I am just recommending the addition of a network streamer/bridge of sufficient quality rather than feeding your DAC from your Mac Mini. |
Thank for this. |
