I thought of putting this thread in Digital forum, Computer Audio in particular, but decided General Discussions, because I'd like to get as many takes as possible.
As I've been boring everyone w comments on epiphanies thick and fast w the new room, and Ron's lovely report on my sound, this has led to a decision I'd never have thought I'd have made as a died in the wool vinylphile.
In effect putting what's v likely to be my last major component upgrade budget into digital, and specifically computer audio ie new dac and streamer/server, anything up to a max of £20k.
Despite the great temptation to go to the next level in my analog, I've agonised long and hard about this, and am strongly concluding to
1- open up my musical universe w Tidal/Roon
2- at same time break my reticence to use computer audio
There are reasons not to do this
1- most of my fave music ie prog, fusion, in lots of ways still best served on cd and lp, eg King Crimson era multi cd boxsets etc, Steve Wilson remasters, tons of vault finds on cd collections
2- my current cdp is so good here, I'm wary I'll find even a close match w streamer/dac
3- majority of my music is on lp, a tt/arm upgrade gives 2/3 of my library a vitamin shot in one spend
4- I really have ZERO idea how much new music I'll really take to on Tidal
---
So these are some of my thoughts, aims and fears.
And my other main concern is I really have no idea how much the role of the streamer/server plays in SQ terms.
I've heard awful metallic tinged streamed digititis with Windows laptop that doesn't load, breaks down, and at the other end, superb analog flow from SGM, w no service issues.
I have a dac in mind that for no money in high end terms promises a lot re tone density and palpable texture (my red lines in digital), but on the streamer side there is no consensus, from those like Rodney Gold who are happy to use laptop only, to those like Blue58 and M Lavigne who swear by SGM, and many who've stuck to entry level Auralic Aries.
Just casting for thoughts, opinions, not especially specific qs answered.
If I have a burning q, it's does one really have to spend big on streamer/server to get that performance boost, so my Tidal doesn't end up the poor relation of my analog and cd collection.
As I've been boring everyone w comments on epiphanies thick and fast w the new room, and Ron's lovely report on my sound, this has led to a decision I'd never have thought I'd have made as a died in the wool vinylphile.
In effect putting what's v likely to be my last major component upgrade budget into digital, and specifically computer audio ie new dac and streamer/server, anything up to a max of £20k.
Despite the great temptation to go to the next level in my analog, I've agonised long and hard about this, and am strongly concluding to
1- open up my musical universe w Tidal/Roon
2- at same time break my reticence to use computer audio
There are reasons not to do this
1- most of my fave music ie prog, fusion, in lots of ways still best served on cd and lp, eg King Crimson era multi cd boxsets etc, Steve Wilson remasters, tons of vault finds on cd collections
2- my current cdp is so good here, I'm wary I'll find even a close match w streamer/dac
3- majority of my music is on lp, a tt/arm upgrade gives 2/3 of my library a vitamin shot in one spend
4- I really have ZERO idea how much new music I'll really take to on Tidal
---
So these are some of my thoughts, aims and fears.
And my other main concern is I really have no idea how much the role of the streamer/server plays in SQ terms.
I've heard awful metallic tinged streamed digititis with Windows laptop that doesn't load, breaks down, and at the other end, superb analog flow from SGM, w no service issues.
I have a dac in mind that for no money in high end terms promises a lot re tone density and palpable texture (my red lines in digital), but on the streamer side there is no consensus, from those like Rodney Gold who are happy to use laptop only, to those like Blue58 and M Lavigne who swear by SGM, and many who've stuck to entry level Auralic Aries.
Just casting for thoughts, opinions, not especially specific qs answered.
If I have a burning q, it's does one really have to spend big on streamer/server to get that performance boost, so my Tidal doesn't end up the poor relation of my analog and cd collection.