Looking to upgrade my source

[Womaz]

Hi

My hifi is listed below. Have some cash and looking to replace the CLIC . Happy with the sound I get but CLIC just not ben updated and this combined with the fact that I have more cash has prompted an upgrade.

I do like detail and the MF gear does give me this.

Have a shortlist, but its becoming a long list *biggrin*

Linn Majik or Akurite , but probably need to be the Akurite to get a noticeable improvement?

Naim gear just would not go an aesthetics are also important to me. Also considering the Lumon A1 , but this is just after reading lots of positive reviews. Lindemann Notebook 25, and the Auralic gear too. Possibly the Aurender too

Difficult to demo up here apart from the Linn stuff which i may do, but I do admit always felt Linn gear expensive in value terms.

The CLIC has a DAC so would have to incorporate that or buy an additional DAC.

All my music ripped to qnap nas drive now but I dont want to use my lap top with set up

Anyone point me in the right direction

 

[CnoEvil]

You probably know all too well where I stand regarding the Linn DS....just leave all preconceptions behind and go listen. You will then know exactly where you stand vfm. Try to hear it on your own system, or as close to it as possible.

 

[Womaz]

You probably know all too well where I stand regarding the Linn DS....just leave all preconceptions behind and go listen. You will then know exactly where you stand vfm. Try to hear it on your own system, or as close to it as possible.

I do seem to recall yes.....Majik? Akurite?......cant afford the top of the range. It must work with my amp though. The dealer alreday tried to tempt me tp go for the DSM, and part with my amp. I feel the amp will only go when I can affored a M6500 or the NuVista.......I believe the AMS35 is all but gone now.

 

[CnoEvil]

You probably know all too well where I stand regarding the Linn DS....just leave all preconceptions behind and go listen. You will then know exactly where you stand vfm. Try to hear it on your own system, or as close to it as possible.

I do seem to recall yes.....Majik? Akurite?......cant afford the top of the range. It must work with my amp though. The dealer alreday tried to tempt me tp go for the DSM, and part with my amp. I feel the amp will only go when I can affored a M6500 or the NuVista.......I believe the AMS35 is all but gone now.

Here is my ongoing thread: http://www.whathifi.com/forum/hi-fi/linn-ds-dsm-thread

FWIW. The cost of the Linn DS range nearly doubles between models and to these ears, there is a noticable improvement between each...but....there is a diminishing return, which only you can put a value on.

At the time I bought the Majik DS, I didn't think there was a big enough gap to the Akurate DS....but with the introduction of the current ADS, this has now changed (imo), and it is probably the one to go for, if funds allow.

As I said, it is crucial to hear them on your amp and speakers.....if you do demo, please report back - possibly on my DS thread.

 

[Womaz]

I do have the budget for the Akurite, or very close to it. It will be a home demo as I know how important that is.

I will look at your thread ......I will add to it if I do the demo, but i am not the best at describing what I hear. I will just know if I prefer it to my CLIC......maybe its an age thing *biggrin*

Thanks for your input.

 

[Womaz]

Anyone else offer any ideas or input. Keen to explore before I decide to buy.

 

[drummerman]

Anyone else offer any ideas or input. Keen to explore before I decide to buy.

Get a nice turntable ;-)

 

[Womaz]

Anyone else offer any ideas or input. Keen to explore before I decide to buy.

Get a nice turntable ;-)

Not for me I am afriad. Just dont have the room for albums. My CD collection is already a problem, storage wise.

 

[CnoEvil]

It's me again, I'm afraid.

Another possiility that I haven't heard, but if it sounds like their EMC 1UP, it will be good:

http://www.electrocompaniet.com/products/classic/digital/ECM_2

Review: http://www.hifiplus.com/articles/electrocompaniet-ecm-2/

 

[Womaz]

Once again Cno thanks for the post, mind that is one ugly piece of kit *biggrin*

Looks like you are the only one who can offer me guidance, this forum not like it used to be. I started using it about 5 year ago and it was invaluable for the help and wealth of information people were willing to pass on. Now it seems to have changed and its a lot of bickering and sniping. Mind its still helpful even if it is a handfull of members who do try. Thanks again

 

[CnoEvil]

Here is a thread that might be a guide, as a magazine has put a value on Streamer performance....includes ADS/1 / MDS and MF M1 Clic: http://www.whathifi.com/forum/hi-fi/streamer-league-table

 

[matt49]

Some streamers cost a lot of money, and I really do wonder whether they're worth it. In a couple of months (June?) I plan to do some proper testing.

One view is that there's no point in spending big. A Raspberry Pi can do most things for pennies. A Sonos Connect comes in under £300. Is it really worth spending more? Has anyone tested the SQ of these streamers properly?

I'm open minded and sceptical.

 

[CnoEvil]

I'm open minded and sceptical.

So was I. *biggrin*

 

[iQ Speakers]

Well the problem is what is the definition of streamer? Must it have a DAC? I think it should and in which case it's all about the quality of the analogue output stage. And in the case of lower resolution source up sampling ability. Matt can you bring that test forward 4 months?

 

[matt49]

Well the problem is what is the definition of streamer? Must it have a DAC? I think it should and in which case it's all about the quality of the analogue output stage. And in the case of lower resolution source up sampling ability. Matt can you bring that test forward 4 months?

IMO a streamer outputs a digital signal; a DAC is a different piece of kit altogether. But we can agree to disagree about that.

From an engineering POV, the important thing is where the clock is. It makes most sense for the clock to be in the DAC. An async USB or ethernet DAC is the way to go. In which case the streamer has very little to do and has very little it can do wrong.

 

[iQ Speakers]

I don't necessary disagree, however from a consumer point of view if you got a CD player home and it had no DAC in you would be a little miffed! I think from an industry point of view the product, streamer should have a recognised set of functions.

 

[Womaz]

Here is a thread that might be a guide, as a magazine has put a value on Streamer performance....includes ADS/1 / MDS and MF M1 Clic: http://www.whathifi.com/forum/hi-fi/streamer-league-table

Thanks again Cno. what would I do without you *biggrin*

If those figures are correct the Akurate DS will blow me away. I have narrowed it down to that or the Auralic Aries with the Auralies Vega DAC. Fairly new to the UK but creating a bit of a buzz by all accounts. Audition would be a 400 mile round trip though

 

[Womaz]

Well the problem is what is the definition of streamer? Must it have a DAC? I think it should and in which case it's all about the quality of the analogue output stage. And in the case of lower resolution source up sampling ability. Matt can you bring that test forward 4 months?

As I have found out some do and some dont. I had similar thoughts , like if no DAC how can the streamer alone significantly alter the SQ. read so much over last week or so and the general impression I get is that it can..........just from what I have read

 

[matt49]

I don't necessary disagree, however from a consumer point of view if you got a CD player home and it had no DAC in you would be a little miffed! I think from an industry point of view the product, streamer should have a recognised set of functions.

Fair enough. But a CD player isn't a streamer.

I actually want a streamer with no DAC, and I'm not alone, as many new amps contain DACs. IMO the future is amplification with built-in DAC.

 

[DocG]

I don't necessary disagree, however from a consumer point of view if you got a CD player home and it had no DAC in you would be a little miffed! I think from an industry point of view the product, streamer should have a recognised set of functions.

Fair enough. But a CD player isn't a streamer.

I actually want a streamer with no DAC, and I'm not alone, as many new amps contain DACs. IMO the future is amplification with built-in DAC.

+1.

Very happy with my (DAC-less) NAD M50, feeding 1s and 0s into my Devialet 120. The M50 also serves as an easy ripping solution (just reripped my collection in FLAC: piece of cake, though it took a while) and can even play the odd CD. And it has BlueSound firmware aboard, so can be used in a multiroom set-up.

 

[iQ Speakers]

Have a look at Melco saw them at the show, Japenese very well made some models had 4Tb of storage on board twin PSU's Available from http://www.zogaudio.com. I didn't want to comment but I did not get on with my Linn Majik, but then I stream from Spotify 99.99 %. using a UPnP server yielded better results.

Matt thats the point a CD is a kind of streamer it takes 0's and 1's, controls and feeds them to your amp. Surley as an industry it would be better for the poor non computer savy people to know when buying a streamer what they will get? Just an observation and i dont think DAC's belong in amps with the exception of yours, and low end kit.

Edit, its a market maturing to a new technology and does not know which way to go. Amps are current for decades, DAC's are computer based, change happens faster in this world. So unless all amps become like your Devialet computer based and upgradable surley DAC's belong outside or in streamers?

 

[andyjm]

Edit, its a market maturing to a new technology and does not know which way to go. Amps are current for decades, DAC's are computer based, change happens faster in this world. So unless all amps become like your Devialet computer based and upgradable surley DAC's belong outside or in streamers?

Very good point. I am on my third streaming solution, but still with my original amp. In terms of support over the long term, separate boxes are definitely the way to go.

However, it is open to discussion where everything should be for the 'best' sound quality. My own view is that it should all be integrated with the speaker. You wouldn't buy a body from BMW, a chassis from Mercedes, and engine from Jaguar. You buy a fully integrated solution. The same will (IMO) be true of Hifi.

In the same way modern electronics have tamed the mechanical systems in cars, DSP multi amp solutions do the same for home Hifi. It is already happening in the one box solutions (Sonos, Muso etc), Meridian has being doing it for years and it is commonplace in the pro market. Just give it a while for the home Hifi market to catch up.

 

[unsleepable]

Edit, its a market maturing to a new technology and does not know which way to go. Amps are current for decades, DAC's are computer based, change happens faster in this world. So unless all amps become like your Devialet computer based and upgradable surley DAC's belong outside or in streamers?

Very good point. I am on my third streaming solution, but still with my original amp. In terms of support over the long term, separate boxes are definitely the way to go.

[…]

For me it was quite inconvenient when I had separate integrated amp and DAC. Most of the time, my sources are all digital, and only every now and then connected something analogue. So I had to do with two remote controls to select the source and change the volume—unless when I've been lucky enough that the DAC remote would have volume buttons that would work with the integrated. And when I connected the odd analogue source, selecting source would become sometimes a two-step operation.

So for me, the DAC belongs, well, not really in the amp, but in the preamp. I also think the preamps keep evolving, although slowly. In my opinion, it's in particular power amps that remain current for decades—or at least it's been like that until now, but Devialet is showing that the game could change.

Anyways, if we continue this trend in which vendors stop producing separate preamp and power amps, and rather focus on integrated amps, it's only normal that the DAC would go in the integrated.

 

[mond]

I would like your dealer suggests go for a Linn Majik DSM - or a secondhand DSI which is very similar. Infact if you were to search ebay you might find a nearly mint one going for half the price of a new DSM (Not me or anyone I know selling it by the way, had my eye on it myself, but will probably wait a bit before I get one - due to funds)

With this option you also get a new amp, and you can use it as a pre amp + streamer, or as a one box solution.

 

[Womaz]

I would like your dealer suggests go for a Linn Majik DSM - or a secondhand DSI which is very similar. Infact if you were to search ebay you might find a nearly mint one going for half the price of a new DSM (Not me or anyone I know selling it by the way, had my eye on it myself, but will probably wait a bit before I get one - due to funds)

With this option you also get a new amp, and you can use it as a pre amp + streamer, or as a one box solution.

Hi I am really not prepared to let my amp go. Me and the dealer are looking at the Akurate range as I more or less have the budget for that. Thank you for the input though.