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Upgrading digital source device is not easy

I am looking for recommendation for upgrade from Cary 306 SACD professional.

My current set up is Harbeth 40.2/Cary 805 AE/ Cary SLP 05/ Cary 306 SACD professional plyer
I am using MAC/Amarra 4.0 /  Halide Design S/PDIF Bridge USB-S/PDIF converter via coaxial input to CAry 306 sacd professional. Rega P8.
I am wondering what would be good upgrade for my digital end.
I have a lot of SACD and CD collection and I have 2t byte music digital file.
I want digital end upgrade but I have no confidence to have better sounds after upgrade  since this Cary 306 SACD Professional is really good one.
I will appreciate some recommendation.
Thanks


zone5
nordicnorm
173 posts
 
The DAC in the Cary is already very good.

To best it, you will have to go to something like this $23K Esoteric D-02 for $8,895.

Here’s a review of it: https://www.audiostream.com/content/esoteric-d-02-dual-mono-da-converter
audioengr
3,282 posts
 

For your computer digital sources, You can do much better. Much lower jitter.

Options:

1) Empirical Audio Interchange DLNA renderer with HDMI I2S output - you can use Jriver or Audirvana+ as players

2) Empirical Audio Off-Ramp 6 XMOS USB converter (galvanically isolated) with HDMI I2S output - no driver needed for Mac or Linux

These should match or beat your transport.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,333 posts
 
Weiss 501 or Benchmark DAC 3 or Mytek Brooklyn DAC+.

These latest DACs will outperform a 10 year old design. The biggest benefit is usually with redbook format files. More vinyl sounding but with all the detail of digital and ultra low noise floor.
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