I’ve got a conditioner (Furman 15pf) but not a great one so I wasn’t sure if jumping to a p12 should be prioritized or if I should just laser focus on getting to the direct tbh.
These are already on the way luckily. Once the ones I’ve already paid for arrive I should just need XLR interconnects and one more power cable
Yeah, I think you’d see some benefit from the p12 for sure.
Yah. This I basically my current thought. Amp doesn’t have a logical upgrade nor a desire to mess with it. The dac upgrade would be like 15k. Just want to make sure I don’t have any obvious bottlenecks left to sort out before I kinda ignore my main chain and get wierd shit like an lp6ti, maybe some iems, and such
Really I want to tell you to get off a pc and get a nice streamer but I know that won’t work well for you, I do think getting a reclocker might be a good idea in stead of that (perhaps an ideon one if you wanted more clarity focus), also think the interconnects between your amp and dac are weak and those could be improved. Overall though, seemingly pretty balanced to me, those are the only 2 things I’d look to immediately improve
Take a look at the Totaldac thread and see what I just shared there! You have to buy it especially now after you’ve been told to get off the PC and buy a nice streamer/reclocker.
You’d be taking the double reclocker approach, which you can do, but to maximize value for what’s already there I’d rather focus on a streamer with an emphasis on USB output quality
Honestly, I have no idea what I would even do with that. I can’t use the streamer section and I already have the reclocker mk1 (can upgrade to mk2 for just under 1k though Totaldac themselves). Tbh I seriously struggle to think doubling up the same reclocker would be even vaugeky worth it over just getting half way to an upgrade to the digital mk2 + direct + driver
Sounds good. Interconnects are easy and will get put into work as soon as I get the rest of my cables and see what direction I want to go. Slightly surprised I should prioritize the reclocker over a better power regenerator but it’s very good to know! Ideon stuff seems nice too so I’ll keep an eye out. I figured I should also keep an eye on the Phoenix reclocker but haven’t read into this much yet tbh
The power regen would be a good step and might be the easiest way to go at first, but I just didn’t mention it since it was already mentioned beforehand lol. And with that some perhaps power cable upgrades?
Ah, got it. Yah. I figured regen, USB reclocker, and interconnects were the next upgrades, just wasn’t sure how important each would be/how to prioritize
What would you do with a Phoenix? Daisy chain that with the Totaldac reclocker?
I have heard of people doing this with Mutec MC3. I wonder how much of a difference that makes
I would basically go PC → USB regen → totaldac ddc → totaldac dac. Given the d1 digital can take in spdif sources you could elect to use another ddc, but I don’t know if that would be worthwhile or not
Yes. Use the phonix to clean the USB and then do cleaner USB into the Totaldac. I just wasn’t sure if that would be more worthwhile than saving up for direct tbh
I mean, direct is a massive and I mean massive step up, it’s just that it’s going to be even more dependent on the digital source, but I’d still rather take a direct over a dual/single regardless of digital source, but I would say the value there would be weak without a proper digital frontend for that direct
Basicaly what I figured. Direct is a ways out anyways so I’ve got time to figure out the digital side. Hell it’s far enoygh out I may not even be at the same company and have different rules by then tbh
This might be the wrong place to come to for frugal purchase decisions, but my Berkeley dac is coming and I still need a ddc and would appreciate the input.
I’ve basically narrowed it down to the Matrix Audio XSPDIF 2 or the Mutec MC-3+ USB. They’re essentially different price classes and I’m aware that for the most part more money will get you more. However, my intrinsic cheapskate is hitting me over the head and is trying to stop me spending more. On the other hand, I’ve already overshot my 2022 budget by a few miles and am now sitting on the moon. Consequently, my passion for audio is making the honestly great argument that a few hundred more don’t matter.
Would anyone happen to have any thoughts or advice?
The only DDC I can personally vouch for is the Singxer SU-2 KTE, which can often be had around $500-ish used. I think the Singxer SU-6 goes for a little bit more, but both are under $1K new, so they should be pretty reasonable used.
Berkeley also has their own DDC (the Berkeley Alpha USB) which goes for a little over $1K used, but they don’t stay on the market long, so you need to be a little lucky.
I don’t want to get stung but let me poke this hornet nest with a stick.
What kind of input do you need? That’s going to impact your choices. The Berkley Alpha USB is the intended match but it’s USB in only. It’s such a resolving DAC that I’m sure you’d get quite the different flavors from the various USB/reclockers out there. You’d get improvements from anything higher end I’m sure but it’s the flavor you’re probably going to want to best match after you figure out your connectivity requirement.
The Alpha USB can be found in the wild for $1100 to $1200 with some patience. And IMO maybe just live with it until you can afford to bump your budget. At the level you’re at with the DAC it will ultimately be the right thing to do.
EDIT: afterthought… You could also look at streamers or bridges, they higher end ones will have very good clocks and perhaps allow you to kill two birds with one stone.
Matrix released an updated 3 recently. I’m happy with my 2 and an external psu.
The SU-2 I did consider briefly, but from what I gather it leans a little warmer and if I’ve learned anything I like sound that stabs you in the ear so I will go for bright and aggressive all the way. In the toss-up between the SU-6 and the Mutec MC3+ USB the latter won out due to synergy.
Very true. That’s the one I would love to have. Unfortunately, Berkeley offers gear in only specific voltage and I am sitting in Europe so I’d have to find a unit in Europe that has 230V. This will make it exceedingly difficult to find one - especially when I’m still struggling with patience when it comes to the hobby.
Though perhaps this could also be the right way to go about it for now do appease both arguments my mind’s making? Get the XSPDIF for now, then wait for an Alpha USB to pop up somewhere.
Oh, please do 
Yeah, USB. So the Berkeley Alpha USB would work, but is second choice due to the reasons above.
A very good point. I’ve only briefly considered streamers so far and would have to look into how they work and what I’d need. I do like the idea of them. Will look through the forum for more info. They’d be a bit more expensive than ddcs, yeah?
Oh nice, good to know! Maybe that’ll bring more of the 2 on the used market.
What do you use yours with?
Btw since I just have you roped into a conversation: I also connected the MZ3 to my Mojo 2 and it was the best dac for it (from the ones I have) since it offers the most brightness and aggression. I found it very amusing to see that you found the pairing slightly fatiguing whereas I’m sitting there like “…it’s not enough”.
https://www.sonusapparatus.com/2022/10/m0ns-shit-list/#source
Take a look at all of the ones listed on the Shit List, a very good launching point that will help you get to a short list based on your needs.