Naim in the Bentley Continental or Bentayga

Bermester in Porsche Panamera

Mark Levinson in the Lexus LS500

With all things equal in a system reproducing sounds the way you want, changing the DAC should be materially different for the better of what you value in reproductive sound.

Just listen and determine if there is value to you. I don’t chase perfection. I chase not messing up what I have achieved. I finally have synergy. I can listen for hours knowing it isn’t the most resolving or the biggest stage but just a magic enjoyment. Will I stop looking for more? Of course not.

All this talk about the best DAC is mute to me. There is too much competitive jostling for recognition. Camps form around different preferences. “Mine is better than yours”. Follow your ears and be prudent to your wallet. Somewhere there is a genius electrical engineer but also somewhere is a marketing department trying to part with your money.

Contact KJ West One again. Best experience and I was only a tourist. I am sure as a buying customer you will be treated well.

A pair of Sonus Faber Amator with a pair of REL T7x in the corners.

https://www.sonusfaber.com/en/products/electa-amator-iii/

I got my RasPi and DigiOne because of Darko. Gave it a try and compared to others. It was so good for the money. The U2 mini was better but with the money saved I got the chord Hugo DAC along with the lifetime Roon with money still to spare.

Now that eversolo a6 is so talked about, I know it will have to exceed the u2 mini or I don’t need bother with it.

Been reading that the best version of a song consistently is the Atmos track down mixed to 2 channel. I think there is a guy on this subreddit reviewing all the versions of a song (cd, vinyl, cd and stream) or albums.

One way to improve vinyl is a good phono preamp. Look around the used market for older top of line models. I got my slightly older $3000 original priced model for $500 used. The quietness is noticeable improvement. Still the same pops but all of a sudden my records sound like a digital version with all the magic of records retained.

Pay for what you can hear and what you like.

I hear differences and I have preferences. Also synergy is needed for the pre and power amps.

Enjoy your journey to better music.

I have compared six streamers and anxious to get my hands on the eversolo also.

There are noticeable differences. The way a device is powered (power supply) and the design to isolate the power from the computer does make a difference.

Sonos port, node 2i, Wiim mini, RasPi with DigiOne, raspi DigiOne signature and Lumin u2 mini in order of quality.

The last two are noticeable more open sounding.

Streamers make a difference if the power supply is well isolated from the digital bits/processing. I’ve compared Sonos, Node, Lumi and my ultimate solution.

That’s where you notice the biggest difference. The act of streaming is similar. This is where the theory of it’s all the same are true.

I found the Wiim mini very poor sounding compared to my Raspi w/ Allo Digione Sig. feeding the same DAC. The Wiim software is excellent though.

So much of the streamers are wasted build quality though. Pre amp features or unnecessary DACs or more aluminum chassis than needed. A good galvanic isolation from the processor is all that is needed for a good streamer IMHO.

Style is learned over years of moving to new spaces and the partner you are with.

As we age and reset spaces we always try to one better. If your finances allow.

I am on my fifth home and mostly dabble in 2 channel and HT. I tried separate spaces but ultimately like combined spaces.

When I moved into my current home I opened up walls and ran a lot of wire. Creating a media closet for the whole house audio and HT gear. For two channel, I created a rack of gear to the side at the front. I saw so many photos of others who put their 2 channel gear locked into the closet , even the turntable.

I have visited other audiophiles and their man caves. I have seen the clean and the cluttered. To each their own. It is a solitary hobby and our safe space. Build it as you like.

The difference is in the power supply. How well it is isolated from the digital components.

I compared 6 streamers when I was in the market. Used as a Pure streamer only some with DACs and some without.

All were fed to an external DAC. There are noticeable differences to soundstage and details.