10 sota digital rigs

Thieliste · Aug 29, 2018

Hi guys, i have decided to put down on paper 10 SOTA rigs for streaming hires files from Tidal, Qobuz and NAS from brands that i already auditioned and some that i yet have to discover.
I didn't put any speakers, you are free to suggest the ones you would like to hear with those rigs, mine are Thiel CS 3.7 .
Please vote for the 3 rigs that in your opinion have the best performance/price ratio.

RIG 1 : Aries Cerat Impera II Signature
Aries Cerat Concero 65 Signature
Totaldac d1-Twelve mk2 + d1-server

RIG 2 : Dan d'Agostino M400 monoblocks
MSB Reference DAC + preamp module + renderer

RIG 3 : Ypsilon PST 100 mk2
Ypsilon Hyperion monoblocks
Totaldac d1-Twelve mk2 + d1 server

RIG 4 : Dartzeel NHB-18NS
Dartzeel NHB-108 model 2
Totaldac d1-Twelve mk2 + d1 server

RIG 5 : Dartzeel NHB-18 NS
KR Audio Kronzilla DX monoblocks
Totaldac d1-Twelve mk2 + d1 server

RIG 6 : CH Precision C1 + streaming board
CH Precision X1 PSU
CH Precision M1 stereo amp

RIG 7 : Ayre KXR-Twenty
Ayre MXR-Twenty monoblocks
Totaldac d1-Twelve mk2 + d1 server

RIG 8 : Nagra Classic preamp
Nagra MPS PSU
Luxman M900U monoblocks
Totaldac d1-Twelve mk2 + d1 server

RIG 9 : VAC Master line stage
Karan KA-S 600 stereo amp
MSB Reference DAC + renderer

RIG 10 : Boulder 2110 preamp
Boulder 2160 stereo amp
MSB Reference DAC + renderer

Enjoy

Thieliste · Aug 29, 2018

Sorry this thread was to be posted in the "General Audio Forum".

GMKF · Aug 30, 2018

My vote goes to CH.

My second suggestion would be Ypsilon without pre amp and with MSB DAC with preamp module.

My third suggestion would be soulution 511 with a tube pre amp..

JackD201 · Aug 30, 2018

I already voted with my wallet. Rig 6.

Bobbi · Aug 30, 2018

Rig #1. But replace the Totaldac with Kassandra.

Thieliste · Aug 30, 2018

You guys love CH

Thieliste · Aug 30, 2018

How about MSB Ref DAC or CH C1+X1 in Rig 1 ?

rsorren1 · Aug 31, 2018

From your list I have heard rig 2, rig 6, and rig 10. Like JackD201 I purchased the CH Precision D1/C1/X1 with streaming and USB boards. To me, it’s the best digital I’ve heard. As I’ve said here several times, an all CH Precision approach yields results better than any one component in a system. So if you decide on the C1/X1 with streaming, I would highly encourage you to hear an A1 or M1 with it. Yes, we guys love CH.

Thieliste · Aug 31, 2018

rsorren1 said:
From your list I have heard rig 2, rig 6, and rig 10. Like JackD201 I purchased the CH Precision D1/C1/X1 with streaming and USB boards. To me, it’s the best digital I’ve heard. As I’ve said here several times, an all CH Precision approach yields results better than any one component in a system. So if you decide on the C1/X1 with streaming, I would highly encourage you to hear an A1 or M1 with it. Yes, we guys love CH.

I'm surprised you still preffer the CH rig over a d'Agostino-MSB rig or boulder rig, d'Agostino amps beeing more recent gear.
I did audition at a dealer's a CH L1/C1/X1/M1 rig driving Wilson Sabrinas and did like it very much and strangely the big CH rig at Munich 2017 driving Göbel speakers didn't blow me away, perhaps show conditions.

rsorren1 · Sep 1, 2018

Thieliste said:
I'm surprised you still preffer the CH rig over a d'Agostino-MSB rig or boulder rig, d'Agostino amps beeing more recent gear.
I did audition at a dealer's a CH L1/C1/X1/M1 rig driving Wilson Sabrinas and did like it very much and strangely the big CH rig at Munich 2017 driving Göbel speakers didn't blow me away, perhaps show conditions.

Oh no! I have to correct something in my response. After reading your response and then re-reading your original post you are asking about MSB REFERENCE DAC. I owned MSB Diamond DAC IV and auditioned Diamond DAC V in the D'Agostino system (and at home) and the Boulder 2100 system. My bad. I have not heard the REFERENCE DAC in these systems.

I was at the Munich show too. I thought the two CH rooms presented well. I really enjoyed the CH room with Stenheim Reference towers, subs, and CH/Stenheim external crossovers. Show conditions are difficult but I did find some good sounds at the show.

I originally had Wilson Alexia with my initial CH set-up (D1/C1/X1/A1). Very nice so not surprised that you liked the CH/Sabrina pairing.

Thieliste · Sep 2, 2018

rsorren1 said:
Oh no! I have to correct something in my response. After reading your response and then re-reading your original post you are asking about MSB REFERENCE DAC. I owned MSB Diamond DAC IV and auditioned Diamond DAC V in the D'Agostino system (and at home) and the Boulder 2100 system. My bad. I have not heard the REFERENCE DAC in these systems.

I was at the Munich show too. I thought the two CH rooms presented well. I really enjoyed the CH room with Stenheim Reference towers, subs, and CH/Stenheim external crossovers. Show conditions are difficult but I did find some good sounds at the show.

I originally had Wilson Alexia with my initial CH set-up (D1/C1/X1/A1). Very nice so not surprised that you liked the CH/Sabrina pairing.

I really like CH but perhaps i'm afraid of having some kind of glare in the treble region on aluminum tweeters like the one i have on my CS 3.7s
Am i wrong to think that ?
For a 90K rig i'm not ready to live with such imperfections.

Blue58 · Sep 2, 2018

Thieliste said:
I really like CH but perhaps i'm afraid of having some kind of glare in the treble region on aluminum tweeters like the one i have on my CS 3.7s
Am i wrong to think that ?
For a 90K rig i'm not ready to live with such imperfections.

Investigate the Audionet Stern/Heisenberg amps getting great reviews as an alternative to CH or Dartzeel.

Thieliste · Sep 2, 2018

Blue58 said:
Investigate the Audionet Stern/Heisenberg amps getting great reviews as an alternative to CH or Dartzeel.

Too expensive.

Blue58 · Sep 2, 2018

Sorry, just checked the price. That’s an awful lot of commitment.
Just wonder how they stack up to the big M1?

Thieliste · Sep 2, 2018

Blue58 said:
Sorry, just checked the price. That’s an awful lot of commitment.
Just wonder how they stack up to the big M1?

CH is much more competitive, even d'Agostino is cheaper than Audionet flagship.

Ron Resnick · Sep 2, 2018

I would vote for MSB Reference, Absolare Hybrid amplifiers and Rockport Technologies Lyra loudspeakers. This surely is a "final destination" system for a digital source.

Thieliste · Sep 2, 2018

Ron Resnick said:
I would vote for MSB Reference, Absolare Hybrid amplifiers and Rockport Technologies Lyra loudspeakers. This surely is a "final destination" system for a digital source.

Thanks Ron for your suggestion

bazelio · Sep 2, 2018

I vote for...

Rigs 2,4,10

PS I'm not sure I'm sold on CH except for the P1.

Thieliste · Sep 2, 2018

Guys any thoughts on the Dartzeel NHB-18NS - KR Audio Kronzilla DX monos combo ?

Thieliste · Sep 2, 2018

bazelio said:
I vote for...

Rigs 2,4,10

PS I'm not sure I'm sold on CH except for the P1.

What didn't you like about CH ?

10 sota digital rigs

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

VIP/Donor

WBF Founding Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Site Co-Owner, Administrator

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Similar threads