Used Bricasti M3/w streaming card. Always available 3500-4,000 depending if you need a remote.
Run it from the XLR outputs to take advantage of its true balanced design.
I run an EtherRegen with an LHY OCK 2 clock and took it up a few mote notches.
Stock it is big and open. Great customer support.
Looking for intermediate-step Streamer: better than BS Node and not @ Bartok level pricing
Hi
I have a BS Node. Yggy DAC. BAT electronics, Shunayata PCs, AQ SC, and Vienna Acoustic Beethoven Grand Reference Speakers in a wonderful room. I also have a Linn, Shelter 901 MKII and top of the line BAT phono preamp. It all sounds lovely. I borrowed a Bartok. AMAZING!!! And then I returned it, as I cannot afford that level of playback. I am interested in upgrading my STREAMER -- I think. (Yes, I know I could upgrade my fuses, room treatment, and everything else I own....)
I am curious to learn if there is a MID-POINT step that others suggest before I spend $25K on the ultimate STREAMER/DAC setup when I retire in a zillion years. It seems absurd that my system is dependent upon a $550. piece of equipment.
I am looking for natural sound. 3-D. I listen to jazz, classical, and rock from the 60s-90s. No club music/ insane bass. When the Bartok was in my system, I felt like I was listening to vinyl. What might be a good landing place for the next DECADE or so??
Thanks in advance.
Joe
- ...
- 75 posts total
There are very few audiophile streamer+DAC combos in a single box, so your choices are extremely limited. Most have separate streamers apart from the DAC. Perhaps a used Bartok? Seems to be in the $10-13k range. Another option is a used Linn DSM streamer+DAC. I purchased a used Linn DSM/2 with the Organik DAC upgrade which is a sonic bargain - review here |
Hi All, Thanks for the may suggestions. For the next step (in an always ongoing process), I am looking to keep my Yggy DAC and -- for now -- only looking to upgrade the streamer. Again, the budget is $3k-$6k. I have heard the openness and realism of the Bartok v1. LOVED it. But it is out of my budget -- even used. Seems like Bricasti, Lumin, Simaudio, Cambridge, Aurender, PS Audio and Auralic are what is being suggested (did I forget any?). The BS app is excellent. And that has spoiled me. The DCS app is terrible. I have used Aurender app. Not bad. Any thoughts on the apps for these streamers? Now I have to go out and find these and listen!!
Joe |
@norust and @jmfawdofile I'm in the same boat. I would really like to know what you (norust) think about the Aurender N200 as that is one I'm looking at closely. I don't think I want to buy Aurender used as they don't transfer warranties and I've read from posters that the service to authorized buyers is really good with many updates to the OS. I traded a nice integrated tube amp for a T+A 200 Dac which I haven't received yet (a week or two) and I want to have local storage as well as streaming. Right now I play from a PC through an ifi IDSD dac to the receiver so I think there may be quite a lot of improvement to a system I think sounds really great right now (because of the speakers and replacement integrated tube amp). So I would definitely like to hear how others like the Aurender or anything similar. |
- 75 posts total