djones51

Responses from djones51

Are "vintage" DAC's worthwhile, or is this a tech that does not age well
The job of a DAC is convert the digital signal to an analog signal without loss of information and adding audible distortion and noise. There are DACs from fairly inexpensive to outrageously expensive that can accomplish this and have been able to... 
I just bought a Steinway which sounds like a banjo.
You're talking about the circle of confusion. There is no answer unless you standardize the entire production and reproduction chain. Unless that ever happens some recordings will sound great on your gear and some will suck. The closest I've come ... 
Am I crazy? Definitely!
I don't own them but JBL would be at the top of my list for rock. https://www.musicdirect.com/speakers/JBL-S3900-Tower-Speakers 
Does removing "interface jitter" help, if my source has jitter?
Benchmark DACs and a lot of others as well, "truly lives up to that claim", since the measured distortion and noise is well beyond what humans would hear. So if I use the word "immune" that's what I mean and if it is jitter a USB cable isn't going... 
3D lifelike sound and impeccable measurements - mutually exclusive???
They aren't mutually exclusive but I'd say measurements will get you closer than your ears alone.  
Do I need a new DAC/streamer. Considering?
The reason is blind listening. You'll be surprised how alike streamers not using internal dacs sound or if you understood digital transfer you really wouldn't be surprised at all.  
Gripped By Upgrade Fever
Get Devialet Phantoms they should fit right in with their  New York appeal and Paris fashion sense.  
My journey to find a speaker + amp + setup for classical music (piano)
Looks like you’ve already ruled them out but Genelec 8351b +W371 +GLM about $26K, connect your source and dump the rest of your stuff. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3... 
Class D for a Tube Lover
NAD C298 uses purifi  but don't expect class d to sound like tubes. 
Active Speaker Choice
If you can’t do many room treatments you should look into narrow dispersion speakers and sit near or mid field, you will hear the speaker more than the room. In a room with a lot of hard surfaces, windows, etc.. like you describe you’ll get better... 
Do I need a new DAC/streamer. Considering?
Do you like the Node2i? The user interface and the connections suit your needs? If so just keep using it, if you have an itch to try something else the Lumin U1 mini or Bel Canto estream are choices you could return if they aren't to your liking. ... 
Does removing "interface jitter" help, if my source has jitter?
The Benchmark DAC 3 distortion and noise level  is -140db no need to worry about jitter induced distortion.  This is true of competently engineered modern DACs. There are even a few R2R DACs that manage to keep distortion and noise below human aud... 
I just bought a Steinway which sounds like a banjo.
I've  got a banjo that sounds like a piano. Want to swap? 
Does removing "interface jitter" help, if my source has jitter?
Yes it will. It buffers the signal and uses it's own clock if there is any jitter it's not perceptible.  
Active Speaker Choice
If you want small package full range you might give Devialet Phantoms a look.