Input/Output line level transformers for digital glare

A few  solutions for curing digital glare:
- an Audio Magic Super Fuse in the preamp - works wonders.
- balanced power conditioner for source components.
- beefy copper power cords for digital sources - avoid silver plated copper.

I still notice all the outboard Dac's, good ones, I think
still have output transformers vs other methods

i also see the transformer guys;  lyndall & Jensen advertise the output transformers as smoothing of digitis?

Some do some don't.

A good transformer will have bandwidth well past 20KHz which means its not going to do a whole lot of smoothing. In fact if not loaded correctly it can also ring (distort) which will make it sound brighter.

Lyndahl and Jensen both make excellent transformers. If used carefully they can be of some benefit, for example they can be used to go balanced even if the output of the DAC is single-ended. You **might** get some sonic advantage from doing that as if balanced line is executed correctly, the result is that the interconnect cable will cease to have an effect on the sound of the system. If it was contributing brightness prior, then this is an advantage. They can also isolate grounds; if you have a ground loop (which can allow noise in the ground to get amplified) then the ground isolation can be help out as well.

If you are willing to spend the money, get them from Jensen. They also have isolation boxes which include two transformers, and all the in and outputs you need.  By all means try it.

Did we talk about what speakers you are using though? Maybe the real problem you are having is an exaggerated top octave or two. But over the past 4 years specifically a lot of really good sounding DAC's have come onto the scene, such as Mytek, Schiit. Portables such as the Fiio, Pono and the UFO DSD DAC also sound really great.

I think you said you tried the Schiit and you found it "glare"ing. If that's true, I don't think it's the DACs you are listening to though. I find the Schiit a bit on the warm side.

Best,

Erik

Erik & Atmosphere;

I might be nuts!
You guys had a few questions:
speakers: Thiel 
I've upgraded all the cables, power and amps
All changes were smoothing, way less glare,and detail adding to the positive 

and!

I went from cd ( Mac mini) to Tidal and Amarra with parametric eq
My pants fell down over the improvement in quality of the streaming  recording from ripped crap cd's!!!!

Anway, I've tried to look at improving the Dac and preamp.

All the tubed preamps I've listened to have been marginal improvement in digital glare, so next thought is DAC 

Ive read a few reviews and listened to DAC's that have seemed to offer digital glare improvements on the 80's compressed rock that is my "test"( it's always on the cymbals sounding like they are " hissing" at me)
All good albums sound real smooth to me on my system (Peachtree DAC)

so, My dilemma is maybe not solvable?

My "test " is a Rush song called " Red Barschetta" that I found great on a lp in the treble & cymbals, but streaming or cd, nope!

So, I continue my search and incessant questions!     I am nuts!

Dac's I've listened to so far: Metrum, Exogal, benchmark, Lavry, and next Lampizator Atlantic, I'm hoping 
preamps: Conrad Johnson, Primalyna, arc, etc

Crazy Jeff