Uprgrading my Metrum Octave DAC

Steve,

HNY to you.

With all due respect (and there's a LOT), it's hard to say what THE most important piece is. You could back up even farther than your "source" suggestion and talk about the recordings.

An excellent recording on 44/16 followed by high-end but mediocre downstream components will still sound better than a crap recording (mastering) on whatever rez you wish, followed by anything you wish.

To me, it ALL matters and it all matters about equally because if ANY piece is broken, it all comes tumbling down.

It's not much different than the analog chain: master>>LP>>cartridge>>tonearm>>TT>>cabling>>phono preamp>>preamp>>etc., etc.

Which one of those do you want to be really crappy? None.

Same for digital. And in my experience, this is what a large percentage of the audiophile population does not get and it results in Vinyl biggots that think digital is crap, no matter what.

Basically, they have just never heard it done right.

Regarding your list 1-4, I disagree with 3 and 4.

#3) An preamp is a preamp whether it's in the DAC or external. If you plan to control the volume, you are going to need one. The Octave does not even have a buffer and takes the output directly from the DAC chips. I choose to let a SP17 do the rest, partly because I love the ARC sound and partly because it's also a phono preamp and offers various input switching, remote volume, etc.

#4) Not interested in transformers, or capacitors anywhere they can be eliminated, especially directly in the signal path. (and yes I know the SP17 is full of caps, but that's the default world of tube amp design). Balanced cables were designed for common mode noise rejection in long runs of cables, primarily in the recording studio and performance arenas. They don't do much for a 7 inch run.

RM

Interesting Idea about coupling DAC directly to amp. Which DACs do you know of that are capable of doing this? I guess you just need a DAC with the right output impedance, why do you need balanced cables though?

Steve,

Which transformer would you recommend if implementing #4?

Lewis,

HNY to ya.

My source is a MBP running iTunes and Pure Music.

I use the free Apple Remote app to control the music selection and the SP17 remote for volume.

I can use any number of iDevices around here as a remote.

Burning my files as just wave files. Takes out the whole "which file type sounds better" issue since this is the original file.

I'm 99% 44/16 with maybe 10 higher rez albums. They sound generally a little smoother -maybe -but I find that it's really much more dependent on the original recording than the resolution.

Right now I'm just enjoying the music and about to embark on room treatments.

"An preamp is a preamp whether it's in the DAC or external. If you plan to control the volume, you are going to need one. The Octave does not even have a buffer and takes the output directly from the DAC chips. I choose to let a SP17 do the rest, partly because I love the ARC sound and partly because it's also a phono preamp and offers various input switching, remote volume, etc."

This statement use to be true, however there are new digital-only volume control technologies that allow the DAC line-out to feed the Amps directly, and I'm not talking about iTunes volume controlling 100% of the volume here. I'm taking about completely eliminating the preamp.

"Not interested in transformers, or capacitors anywhere they can be eliminated, especially directly in the signal path."

I understand your reticence, however there are also new transformer technologies available that improve sound quality dramatically. I use simple a buffer transformer after my DAC. Makes a world of difference. Here is why:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=108715.0

Steve N.
Empirical Audio