2. digital
  3. 130649-101474

Which dac or other suggestions

First time poster here. I am looking for advice to increase the sound quality of my existing system. I have a Marantz SR7009 being used as a pre-amp powered by Emotiva's XPA-5, 2 revel m22 bookshelf speakers serving as my L & R, revel c52 center speakers and 2 revel timber matched C563 in ceiling rear surrounds. I mainly listen to music and switch between L &R stereo only and sometimes "all stereo" or matrix through all speakers. We do watch movies but seem happy with our home theater experience thus far although always open to suggestions. We mostly listen to music through a Sonos connect but we also do have an Orbit turntable. I know that the turntable will one day need to be upgraded to maybe a Rega RP3 or similar. I am in the process of adding two SVS SB12-nsd subs to the mix. Our room is large at 20x30x10 and I hope these subs will make some sort of impact. We also use an Apple TV. Now for my question.

I am looking to increase the sound quality of my Sonos driven music. I spoke to an audiophile (owner of Echo audio in Seattle) and he suggested a dac. In particular, because he knows I'm cheap haha!, he suggested the California Labs Sigma ii, Enlightened Audio Designs DSP-7000 mkiii, and some Krell dacs (stealth and ??) that I have never seen listed for sale. I missed an opportunity on both the Cal Labs and the EAD and I'm kicking myself. With ALL this being said, what other dacs should I consider? My budget is $750 or less and I would prefer $400 or less. Old vs new? Tube? NOS? DSD? Yadda yadda. I am looking for an increased sound stage and dynamic range. If I get more clarity and warmth then yee haw!

I appreciate all of your input in advance. Thanks for letting this first timer ramble.

Btw, I listen to mostly indie rock but I seriously dive into ALL types of music and yes I like it loud.
troydunnagan
williewonka
1,826 posts
 
@gdhal - re ....

Question for you (or others on thread).... I have an Oppo UDP-205. I’m very happy with the sound. So too are many others. That said, have you or anyone else on the thread had a chance to hear the Oppo and if so, how would you compare the sound to the Node 2? I’m only interested in sound comparison. Features are besides the point. They likely sound different because Oppo uses Sabre ESS DAC and I believe Node 2 uses Burr Brown.

You are correct - the Node2 apparantly uses the  Burr Brown PCM5122

Unfortunately I have no knowledge of the Oppo - other than they are very well respected in audio circles according to many of the posts I have read.

From your post above to @Kalali

RE: - 
 If the USB were plug-and-play it would be a no brainer and I'd jump on it immediately. I don't like the fact that I'd need software on my computer to deal with selecting the playlist, but I may have to swallow that pill.
Personally - I found removing the computer completely from the path...
- improved the sound quality - no more USB related issues
- made life so much more simpler - no more OS/SOftware upgrade related issues - their is only one update source and that is from Bluesound - before I had MAC OS, iTunes and Audirva updates that had to allign - just like the stars some days :-)

RE - 
 I don't like the fact that I'd need software on my computer to deal with selecting the playlist, but I may have to swallow that pill.
I've found that even with Bluesound,  I prefer the interface of the App on my computer to create playlists - just because for me, the interface seems the easier place to perform that specific function

Hope that helps

4hannons's avatar
4hannons
166 posts
 

I have found more differences between lower priced dac's than higher priced dac's. 

In terms of the higher priced dac's you pay more for that last 5-10%, but generally they all sound very good above $2,000.

With sub $1000 dac's I've found a wide margin of difference. Some cannot resolve enough detail, some cannot produce a wide or deep soundstage. Some can.

Choose wisely.


shadorne's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
shadorne
7,333 posts
 
The Gustard X20 Pro with Singer SU-1 sounded as good as a $2000 previous generation Benchmark DAC 2 to me. That would be my budget recommendation. 
nordicnorm
173 posts
 
A few months ago, I replaced my Teac UD-501 with a Gustard x20Pro/Singxer SU-1 combo.

It was a huge leap in sonic performance. I've since cleaned up the SU-1s' power supply by installing the 4.5V SBooster Ultra board between the internal power supply and Singer main board.
stfoth
435 posts
 
I'll second the suggestions to consider a Bluesound Node 2 and, alternatively, the Denafrips Ares, for the budget mentioned.

I recently acquired a Vault 2, but have a Node 2 coming on the BBT, today.  I suspect they will sound identical.  The Vault 2 sounds better than I expected it would and much better than the DAC in a Sonos Connect.  It will, at least until another upgrade bug strikes, be used as a transport, however, in a $20k+ system.  Will probably get another one for a smaller system using its own DAC at some point fairly soon.

Just also acquired the Denafrips Ares.  It sounds much different from other inexpensive DACs (including the internal Sonos, Bluesound, and Oppo 95).  To my ears, better.  Certainly "more clarity and warmth" than particularly the Sonos.  So, at least with a small sample, with regard to the comments about all cheap DACs sounding the same, I strongly disagree.  It is likely to taste and may be just the r2r thing, but, to my ears in my systems, the Ares sounds very different.  For today, have a Sonos connect running Tidal Hifi and the library in the Vault 2 from wifi, into the Ares, into an Inspire pre, into an Inspire SEP, into Omega 3 HOs.  It's not bad, at all.  The Ares makes a huge difference over the Sonos DAC.

Not bashing Sonos--I think it's fantastic for what it is.
More to discover