Upgrade Conundrum, DAC, Streamer, OR??

[Lurch]

As many of you know from my various wafflings on here, I have a very good Analogue and CD setup and my current streaming rig isn't to shabby (Pimped Node2/SBooster ECO/Ultra > Mutec > Black Ice Glass fx DSD using Coax) though probably mid-fi.
I currently have my IA MB845SEs out for audition if sold, there's the resultant possibility of £2.8k burning a hole in my pocket and depending on what I change then another £500 - £800 could be added to that. This would give me a reasonably healthy budget of £3.3k - £3.6k (happy to spend less) to really give my digital a kick.
For the moment I've been looking at DACs and 2 that have caught my attention are currently in the Wam classifieds, an Audio-GD R-7 HE 2020 R2R DAC (£1650) and an Aqua La Scala MKII Optological DAC(£3600) VALVES!! 😍😍😍 but 💷💷💷💷.
I really love the sound of my BI DAC, but it's inability to do 24/192 on SPDIF & Toslink is bugging me. What else is out-there that would give me that wonderful smooth, non-digital sound within budget?
OR
Would I be better upgrading my streaming transport and if so to what?

NOT!!! Interested in the Pi route, anything that's only available in SILVER, 🤮 or relies on an Apple device to control it (don't own any so added expense).
Happy buying used to get serious vfm.

 

[Psilonaught]

That Audio-GD in the classifieds looks excellent. Worth a punt I would say.

That given you budget for a decent streamer, you could get an Auralic G1 s/h.

That's a great combo for circa £3k

 

[ChemMan]

For the moment I've been looking at DACs and 2 that have caught my attention are currently in the Wam classifieds, an Audio-GD R-7 HE 2020 R2R DAC (£1650) and an Aqua La Scala MKII Optological DAC(£3600) VALVES!! 😍😍😍 but 💷💷💷💷.

Back when you helped me acquire a Jolida, I believe I recall you writing, similar to me, you don't hear much difference in DACs. Why spend all that hard earned on an Aqua? I tested out the Lampizator Amber 3 (valves) for more than a week with a very expensive digital out, and I couldn't tell whether it was the pimped Node or the Lamp. Thus, a streamer. Good hunting John.

Sooner or later the lads will offer up the streamers: Auralic Aries G.1 and one of the Innuos.

 

[Psilonaught]

Back when you helped me acquire a Jolida, I believe I recall you writing, similar to me, you don't hear much difference in DACs. Why spend all that hard earned on an Aqua? I tested out the Lampizator Amber 3 (valves) for more than a week with a very expensive digital out, and I couldn't tell whether it was the pimped Node or the Lamp. Thus, a streamer. Good hunting John.

Sooner or later the lads will offer up the streamers: Auralic Aries G.1 and one of the Innuos.

No difference between DACs 🤣

Not in your system maybe.

 

[DomT]

Back when you helped me acquire a Jolida, I believe I recall you writing, similar to me, you don't hear much difference in DACs. Why spend all that hard earned on an Aqua? I tested out the Lampizator Amber 3 (valves) for more than a week with a very expensive digital out, and I couldn't tell whether it was the pimped Node or the Lamp. Thus, a streamer. Good hunting John.

Sooner or later the lads will offer up the streamers: Auralic Aries G.1 and one of the Innuos.

Hi Steve. I have heard differences between the various DACs that I have at home. Some people may say the differences are small and others large. I also have three streamers at home. They all sound different. There isn’t a consensus on streamer or DAC and so the best thing is to get some home demos. John has a good ear and he will figure it out. My money is on a streamer as John already has a great DAC. Auralic or Innuos.

 

[Leeken]

My money would be on sorting the room if it wasn’t already and if it’s possible,waf etc,there‘s one of the biggest differences you will make,if that’s as good as can be then I’d get demoing stuff,what one person subjectively likes may well not suit your probably completely different system.

 

[antonio66]

@Lurch John doesn't want anything run by Apple which discounts Auralic.

 

[tuga]

I really love the sound of my BI DAC, but it's inability to do 24/192 on SPDIF & Toslink is bugging me.

From what I have read the Node2 can only output 24/96 over Toslink or S/PDIF anyway.
If that is correct then you shouldn't stream sample rates higher than 96kHz to avoid using the Node's internal SRC for downsampling (it's unlikely to be any good).

If you "really love" the BI I don't see any advantage in changing it to one which takes higher samples rates unless you intend to use upsampling whether by software (i.e. HQPlayer, Audirvana) or hardware (i.e. Chord, dCS).
Higher rates will give more resolution, better decay and smoother treble but a different DAC won't produce the same presentation as the BI.

 

[StingRay]

From what I have read the Node2 can only output 24/96 over Toslink or S/PDIF anyway.
If that is correct then you shouldn't stream sample rates higher than 96kHz to avoid using the Node's internal SRC for downsampling (it's unlikely to be any good).

Where did you read that?

 

[tuga]

Where did you read that?

Bluesound support forum.

 

[StingRay]

Bluesound support forum.

Bluesound say no processing is done when using coax and toslink outlets, as it bypasses the DAC.

"When using TOSLink Optical out or COAX digital out on the NODE or VAULT, you are bypassing our DAC and no processing occurs."

Why would they be downsampling?

 

[tuga]

Bluesound say no processing is done when using coax and toslink outlets, as it bypasses the DAC.

"When using TOSLink Optical out or COAX digital out on the NODE or VAULT, you are bypassing our DAC and no processing occurs."

Why would they be downsampling?

If the Node2 can only output 24/96 then it has to re-sample.

I am surprised that the manufacturer specifications don't list the bit-depth and sample rate for each output type.

 

[StingRay]

If the Node2 can only output 24/96 then it has to re-sample.

I am surprised that the manufacturer specifications don't list the bit-depth and sample rate for each output type.

Its 24/192, where are you getting this nonsense from? The DAC in the Node2 handles 24/192.

 

[tuga]

Its 24/192, where are you getting this nonsense from? The DAC in the Node2 handles 24/192.

Handles, yes. It even converts 24/192 to analogue internally.
But does it output 192kHz? I can't find that information in the specs sheet...

 

[mac72]

Its 24/192, where are you getting this nonsense from? The DAC in the Node2 handles 24/192.

Hasn’t OP mentioned BI inability to output anything above 24/92 over Toslink S/PDIF?

 

[tuga]

Its 24/192, where are you getting this nonsense from? The DAC in the Node2 handles 24/192.

In ASR's Node 2i review thread someone is able to output 192kHz over coax.

 

[StingRay]

Hasn’t OP mentioned BI inability to output anything above 24/92 over Toslink S/PDIF?

Thats the BI DAC.

 

[mac72]

Thats the BI DAC.

Ah , ok I’ve misread it my bad

 

[StingRay]

Ah , ok I’ve misread it my bad

Bluesound Node2 does not do USB out Which may reduce options.

Im also considering doing an upgrade from my Node and Jolida DAC but I have less money to spend than Lurch. I use an ipad so have more choice. Really not sure if its going to be worth upgrading.

But some Jolida/Black Ice users get 24/192 using coax, so Im not sure now.

 

[mac72]

Bluesound Node2 does not do USB out Which may reduce options.

Im also considering doing an upgrade from my Node and Jolida DAC but I have less money to spend than Lurch. I use an ipad so have more choice. Really not sure if its going to be worth upgrading.

I would read this thread and advice with an interest as Linn announced last week that Akurate is no more so no future Organik upgrade , thinking about possibly ditching Linn altogether or going up to Klimax maybe but other options like going transport/DAC would be considered .