What are the links in such a set up?
- The quality of the digital file
- The music system such as ROON
- Connecting lead
- The bridge
- Connecting lead
- The DAC
- Connecting lead
- Headphone amplifier
- Connecting lead
- Headphones
- Ears
Note the above does eliminate several significant problems caused by the CDP at one end and the speaker/room interaction at the other. It also has the potential to yield far better audio quality at significantly less cost.
A weakness anywhere in the chain will affect audio quality but IMHO the most significant culprits are the transducers (headphones) and the DAC, not necessarily in that order. It could well be a wrong move to upgrade the headphones if there is a weak link earlier as better headphones will faithfully reproduce the distortions caused by earlier links in the chain. Logically then the DAC should be the component to upgrade first.
The importance of hi-rez digital, files over CD quality remains questionable to me. Yes I do hear differences and prefer the hi-rez files but wonder if the more TLC engineering devoted to them is more the reason for improved audio than the basic format. CD quality can be extraordinarily good (as it was bad in the early days of crude DACs when I hated digital and worshipped the LP).
I’m no fan of wireless so use LAN cabling to the bridge but must admit to not experimenting with different types but have installed category 5 and that seems to work OK here. But from here on it becomes challenging.
I sense the bridge is more important than many realise as a quality unit can significantly reduce jitter to make the job of the DAC easier. And I’m VERY happy with the Auralic G1. The cabling used to carry the digital signal to the DAC is also important, something not appreciated earlier. Appropriate balanced Canare cable is used here with a Henry Engineering powered 4 way AES digital splitter to send quality balanced digital to 4 sites in the house. And yes, cable quality elsewhere in the system can be significant, but in my experience it is less important than the major components bridge, DAC, amplifier and last the headphones.
Two of the frequently used end systems here have L.K.S. DA004 DACs, modified by Rick Schultz. I’m still playing around with headphone amplifiers, items currently being re-appraised for their importance. The two main headphone systems currently use a Violectric V280 and a Auralic Taurus 2 but the Taurus is about to be replaced by a audio gd master 9. I sense that any improvement in AQ will not be dramatic as it is already very high quality, but such is the madness of Audiophilia.
The preferred headphones here are Focal Utopia although I also like the Sennheiser HD800S, maybe not as revealing of the inner music detail as the Focals, but more comfortable and display a superb soundstage.
The last item on the list, the ears, an extension of the brain, can be a dominant factor as is frequently illustrated by the futile arguments on some forums about differences of AQ of components. Ultimately there is no right or wrong about judgements as they are so subjective. What is important is one’s own personal satisfaction with components and that is a compound mixture both of genetics and music listening experience.
It is embarrassing how often I’ve proclaimed to have achieved the “best” I require, only to turn around and be seduced by another component. That is the nature of this “hobby” which can easily turn into an obsession. But what better obsession can one have than be immerged in a head full of beautiful music? That is my excuse anyway