Server vs. DAC - How you split your funds between the two?

[Willgolf]

It is too bad people can't demo the Lucas Audio LDMS server readily. It is half the cost of Taiko and I will leave it at that. I do have a demo in the USA that can be arranged if seriously interested. For me, it was a dramatic improvement when paired to my Lampi Pacific and Horizon.

 

[Rexp]

Rave review of new Melco server/streamer:

Melco N1-S38 | Hifi Pig

MELCO N1-S38 REVIEW In his Melco N1-S38 review, Chris Baillie takes a listen to the latest flagship server costing almost £12,000. Is it worth this not inconsiderable outlay? The Melco name has become synonymous with high-quality audiophile music servers since first introducing their...

www.hifipig.com

 

[essrand]

I must be one of the extremes: with a 98.6% to the DAC (Nagra TUBE DAC + PSU at 50k msrp) and 1.4% for the server (a $700 Intel NUC -- Roon rock).
I don't stream, only audio files.

My NUC beat a CEC TL5 transport and an Aurender N200.

 

[exupgh12]

I must be one of the extremes: with a 98.6% to the DAC (Nagra TUBE DAC + PSU at 50k msrp) and 1.4% for the server (a $700 Intel NUC -- Roon rock).
I don't stream, only audio files.

My NUC beat a CEC TL5 transport and an Aurender N200.

Does your NUC use an LPS or switch power supply?

 

[essrand]

Switch so far. Am looking to power it with my Nagra PSU but just haven't been able to source a Lema to DC barrel adapter to make that happen.

So just a minor edit, the NUC didn't beat the CEC, but it matched up to it -- much to my surprise. I sold the CEC.

 

[Gregm]

So, how would you split your funds between your source and DAC to maximize results, is there any rule of thumb the forum members act by?

So I may be an extreme case. My DAC : server (incl the LPS) price ratio is 31:1 in other words, the budgetary split is 97% - 3%

 

[exupgh12]

So I may be an extreme case. My DAC : server (incl the LPS) price ratio is 31:1 in other words, the budgetary split is 97% - 3%

Did you try using different types of servers?

 

[Gregm]

Did you try using different types of servers?

I only listened to two very convincing servers at the time: LDMS and the MusiCHi.
Please note that I did not choose my lowly machine for sonic reasons, I just couldn't afford a dedicated server back then
It's only now that I am looking into the matter...

 

[exupgh12]

I only listened to two very convincing servers at the time: LDMS and the MusiCHi.
Please note that I did not choose my lowly machine for sonic reasons, I just couldn't afford a dedicated server back then
It's only now that I am looking into the matter...

Thank you for the answer, indeed some audiophile servers can have a steep price.

 

[ScottK]

For those who have already conducted this experiment, what percentage increase would you ascribe to the lower noise digital transport? 1-2%,? 2-5%? 5-10%? More than 10%? Is this improvement evident on every single recording?

I went from a Mac mini to Innuos Zenith mk3 w/ reclocker and found slight improvement, say 10% so my findings at this point are similar to yours.

 

[joaovieira]

My digital is 20% the Streamer and 80% the DAC.

 

[almsthere]

Could you re-iterate the contribution made by servers and DACs relative to the digital music file, room acoustics, amps, cables and speakers? Just to put perspective on this thread. Especially when we’re talking about big $$$ for Wadax, Taiko etc.

 

[Rexp]

Could you re-iterate the contribution made by servers and DACs relative to the digital music file, room acoustics, amps, cables and speakers? Just to put perspective on this thread. Especially when we’re talking about big $$$ for Wadax, Taiko etc.

I don't know about budget allocation but the source file followed by the source are 1 and 2 in order of importance.

 

[essrand]

I only listened to two very convincing servers at the time: LDMS and the MusiCHi.
Please note that I did not choose my lowly machine for sonic reasons, I just couldn't afford a dedicated server back then
It's only now that I am looking into the matter...

I am kind of in the same boat, it seems it would cost me 10K+ to better my NUC, I am not ready to outlay that cash yet while I have some bigger-bang-for-the-bucks improvements queued up.

 

[Conde]

100% DAC, 0% server. I use a CD transport to play CDs, I stream everything else. The calculations change when considering usage of an audiophile grade network switch. The DAC has a network card. JPlay is used to access Qobuz. The Ansuz switch provides a beneficial sonic improvement for streaming. For that 75% DAC, 25% switch.

 

[exupgh12]

My digital is 20% the Streamer and 80% the DAC.

Did you ever had the chance to check more expensive server in your system?

 

[exupgh12]

Could you re-iterate the contribution made by servers and DACs relative to the digital music file, room acoustics, amps, cables and speakers? Just to put perspective on this thread. Especially when we’re talking about big $$$ for Wadax, Taiko etc.

If you be the source is the critical link, then I see no-reason for allocating budget on server, just like in analog, the turntable is usually the expensive part in the chain.

 

[exupgh12]

100% DAC, 0% server. I use a CD transport to play CDs, I stream everything else. The calculations change when considering usage of an audiophile grade network switch. The DAC has a network card. JPlay is used to access Qobuz. The Ansuz switch provides a beneficial sonic improvement for streaming. For that 75% DAC, 25% switch.

When I stream directly to the dac using Ethernet, or whenever I’m streaming from the melco server there is different in the sound, the latter being better.

 

[Conde]

When I stream directly to the dac using Ethernet, or whenever I’m streaming from the melco server there is different in the sound, the latter being better.

Streaming going through a quality switch is also better than going straight to the DAC. Check out Ansuz switches. Streaming through quality switches can also exceed the performance of streaming through servers. Depends on the switch, depends on the server. I was trying to make the point that it can be beneficial to allocate a significant amount to a quality audiophile switch.

 

[exupgh12]

Streaming going through a quality switch is also better than going straight to the DAC. Check out Ansuz switches. Streaming through quality switches can also exceed the performance of streaming through servers. Depends on the switch, depends on the server. I was trying to make the point that it can be beneficial to allocate a significant amount to a quality audiophile switch.

I use SOtM switch with LPS on my system, connected to the router via FC and Ethernet to my MSB DAC, and Melco server.