The meitner and tt2 don’t sound similar basicaly at all Fwiw. As for macrodynamics, the Totaldac is fine but not stand out. Meitner, Weiss, and bricasti all hit a bit harder and sharper. That said, what makes the tt2 boring imo isn’t macrodynamics issues. It’s instead this smoothing of the texture that removes real energy from the music. Imo, the only thing that does it as much as tt2 does is sagra. Spring 3 is a bit better but also bad about it, and may is also a step up but still bad about it. Weiss, meitner, Totaldac, and bricasti all preserve this energy well though
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Yeah I guess that’s what it is. While it seemed like there was a good resolution and separation, something was really missing from the music. It was fairly inoffensive overall which is why I think my friend likes it for background listening while working.
Currently the meitner dealer is willing to sell it for 3750. It’s a new unit but since MA3 came out, I don’t think the MA1 is really selling anymore so he’s probably trying to get rid of his stock.
Has anyone tried the T+A DACs?
I mean, if the only reason you dint want meitner is you are afraid it will sell I wouldn’t be. I tried to buy 2 different ones at 4k and they both sold within a day. They sell real quick on the used market as a general rule and an ma3 will cost you 2x that. Maybe you can find a dac 2x V2 for 5-5.5k, but that’s still a lot more.
As for t+a, I haven’t heard their stuff. The dsd specifically doesn’t seem to review very well if you don’t use dsd though. Do you know what kind fk sound you are actualy looking for in your dac?
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It’s kind of crazy that DACs are so different. I just want something that is engaging, good depth and separation, good timbre, good with female vocals, and good bass impact. Is that too much to ask? 
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you forgot it needs to be cheap too!
Yes tbh. Cause synergy matters and dacs that will give you that in one chain won’t in another. Tbh if you haven’t tried holo a spring 3 would be a solid shout in your budget and with your goals
ROFL. Exactly
After more serious listening and tubes rolled and with a Prion4 cable, I think the Sus is good on the speaker taps. I’m enjoying it enough to not think about getting an amp dedicated for the Susvara. That’s a big f’ing win for my plans.
Oh and I learned that listening with headphones and a subwoofer is kind of cool.
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If the Sonore xRendu line has similar voicing to Antipodes, has anyone tried running one through a DDC like the Berk Alpha USB? Would this potentially elevate the Ultra to the next level and retain that natural voicing?
I really want to pick up @bmn1251 S-stack, but man an Ultra would be a lot cheaper and probably still a good bit better than my Pi2AES.
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Conventional wisdom does not apply here. The answer is yes an in between DDC seems to further improve digital from an already cut above source. However, @M0N has indicated in the past that the DDC would also inject some of their signature and now you’d be dealing with an additional cable that would also have an effect. More than likely you’d want to match it to the first cable to introduce unwanted variance there.
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I haven’t been able to get my hands on a Berkeley Alpha USB yet, but my current plan is to run exactly this chain (Sonore xRendu into Berkeley Alpha USB), so I’d be excited if maybe some time in the new year, I’ll be able to come back around and answer this question. Here’s hoping!
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They come up for sale and sell PDQ.
I don’t know if I’d say is similar to antipodes overall but they do have some similar sonic goals, running a ddc like the alpha works great on it imo. It would come down to how the dac prefers it’s inputs, I might not invest in one if the dac tends to perform better via USB (and instead perhaps consider a better USB cable, power supply, and upstream networking), but if it works better via spdif types than something like the Berkeley makes a lot of sense imo
Yeah. Although I’d just go for the s stack considering the dac you have, it’s going to be pretty noticable. But an ultra + alpha USB could make equal sense as long as you really made sure your USB and aes cables were solid, along with the PSU for the sonore
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Should have mentioned it before. If you’re going to use it as a Server, then the Antipodes stack makes even more sense as M0N says.
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This might be a silly question and I think I know what the answer is going to be 
: let’s say I have a DDC-reclocker like the Totaldac digital mk2, using that downstream of a pi based mercury streamer, will that combo be as good as streamers like Antipodes S stack /DCS bridge or the EMM one?
So looking for a new streamer & Dac for my 2 channel setup. Looking to stay around $2k budget and would prefer used options for a “value”.
Currently running BlueSound Node (digital out) → Anthem STR Integrated amp (onbard dac) → Maggie 1.7i
Likely will move the BS node back to headphone rig but have a few questions:
-
I have the factory remote, mic + boom, and other accessories in route to my house as I bought used and all of these were missing. I would like to use their form of DSP/room correction “ARC”. If I buy an external DAC will it be a waste of money if I’m just using their DSP so getting reprocessed through the their onboard DAC?
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Assuming the stand alone streamer and dac or AIO options are fine when you use ARC; how should I allocate my budget most appropriately?
A) $1000 streamer / $1000 dac
B) $500 streamer /$1500 dac
C) $200 streamer /~$1800 dac
D) ~$2000 AIO streamer/dac
A)
B)
C)
D)
or
I was fairly impressed with the gold note. You could also look into an idsd signature for an AOI option
You’re not going to like this answer, it depends. If you value quality or simplicity or a slick UI or integration beyond your audio system. At that level for a secondary system I think it’s fine to give a little on sonic quality for the sake of functionality or integrating into the day to day life.
That Gold Note is a solid AIO.
If he buys the Gold Note he’ll want the separate PSU, but I guess it can be purchased later, just harder to find standalone used.
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I would definitely invest the majority in the DAC (option C) or in a AIO (option D).
The upgrades you’re looking at for streamer in the 500-100 aren’t going to be upgrades compared to the Node. More of a sidegrade imo
Have you considered replacing the integrated as well? That’ll give you even more flexibility and you can find an even better combination or AIO.
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