In my home system I have the Esoteric N01.
My mobile unit is the Hugo TT2 with the M Scaler.
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4 external DAC’s utilized with Roon, 3 unique types.
Would like to post quickly on 2 of them: the tried-and-true Musical Fidelity V90 DAC (~$300 full retail).
Full disclosure, for each of them, I took one look at the tiny wall-wart that came with the product and cringed. It might sound fine, but I’ve never used it. With one DAC I upgraded to the IFI wall wart power supply ($50, be careful to switch pin polarity if you do that). For the other, I’m powering it with a w4s lps. Its being fed USB from a micro rendu with a w4s recovery in the middle. this is sitting in my “big rig”. It sounds really good.
I didn’t realize how good this DAC was (particularly quality for price) until last week - always thinking and reading about great new DACs - I’ve thought of both of them as upgrade candidates for quite some time.
So last week, I swapped out my headphone system for a well-reviewed DAC/AMP that replaced one of the V90’s and then moved the V90 into a replacement system for a Sonos Connect:amp that I use for background, non-audiophile listening. This node isn’t for background listening any more,
In short, removing the V90 made the headphone system worse, and it made an orders-of-magnitude improvement over the Sonos. I’m hoping the new DAC/AMP just needs time to break-in, so I’m not listing the make/model.
For $350 all-in …
Caveat of course, is that V90 doesn’t do DSD, MQA, or PCM above 24/192. For the Roon+Qobuz+curated crowd, you might not care. (I don’t)
BTW, my replacement for the Sonos Connect:amp was AlloDigiOne+V90+Parasound Zamp v3. So $950 all-in replacing $450. A better comparison might be a Bluesound product, but alas I never went that route, so I don’t have one handy for comparison.
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Primary:
PC -> Uptone USB Regen -> Matrix X-Sabre PRO MQA -> KGSShv CarbonCC +SR-007 Mk1 Headphones.
Portable:
Fiio X7 Mkii -> Audeze iSine-10
After asking my question a few weeks ago I finally decided on my setup. So wanted to thank people for their input by reporting DAC(s) in use with Roon per the thread topic:
Setup #1 - Headphones
- Roon > RPi 3+/Roipee > RME ADI-2 DAC > Sennheiser HD820s
Great sound. Clean and distortion free. Amazing DAC and amp combo for the money. Highly recommended.
Setup #2 - Speakers
- Roon > RPi 3+/Roipee > Khadas Tone Board DAC > Hegel H190 integrated amp > Buchardt Audio S400s
Also amazing system for the $$$. Still in speaker break-in period but what crystal clear sound from the Pi+Tone Board. Performs like a DAC costing 10x.
Hope this helps someone in their journey. Happy to answer questions.
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I have a couple of these and they punch well above their weight. I am pushing mine even at DSD512 with no issues directly connected to ROCK or Allo USBridge
Wow! Lengthy thread. Here’s mine.
-Roon Core on Synology DS1515+
-Chord Mojo/Poly for portable
-Sonos (Amp, Connect, Play:One)
-Bluesound Node2
-Denon AVR4000X
Would love to see it work with my Cambridge CXN streamer one day, if it is possible.
Speakers through the house range from KEF floorstanders, to Totem wallmounts, to Polk outdoor, and Kanto desktops.
Cocktail Audio x45 - linked with Balanced out to Emotiva RMC-1
Brave man on an RMC-1…is it all doom and gloom and are you on the latest firmware 1.3?
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There are still some little issues, and Dirac is still not available. But even without all the measuring stuff, this is a great AV-Preamp. Sound is very audiophile, and the Balanced in makes it working perfect with the x45.
Roon Client is on a HTPC, Core and Data on my Server in another room.
Listen Music is just awesome.
Was a good choice to get it - and I’m the first in switzerland who got 1. And Yes - runnig on 1.3 - when you don’t work in the Setup Menu all the time - very rare issues with it.
Pretty Happy - Waiting for Dirac to get the best out of my 5.0.4 Setup.
I am still working in the XMC-1. I think about an upgrade occasionally, but to an external DAC, not to another Emotiva pre/pro. I like mine fine, but the hurdles are large and many. Some seem insurmountable, but that is the way with hi end stuff it seems.
@Mike_Rife Mike maybe you don’t know of this…https://emotiva.com/blogs/info-hub-1/xmc-1-to-xmc-2-trade-in-and-upgrade-program - I have 2 XMC-1’s and am getting itchy backside to move to Atmos capable box…XMC-2 sure is tempting as could be RMC-1L. Then Emotiva doesnt have a great track record of delivering anything on time or bug free Processor wise. Ive had several UMC-1’s and UMC200 plus a lot of other Emotiva gear over the last 8-10 years.
I know about the trade-in, but I have no use for Atmos. 5.1 is all I am interested in. I am 72, and want the process to be as simple (too late, I know) as possible.
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Recently got Ifi iDSD Nano with Pi running Ropieee for headphone listening.
I was in on the original XMC-1 wait list. After several years I gave up and bought something else. I had an original MMC-1, so I was eligible for the 40 percent discount on future processor upgrades. The MMC-1 was a nice machine, but later models had too many unresolvable firmware bugs, especially with the introduction of UMC line. Emotiva was set back a long way reputation wise due to the software problems. I don’t think I ever go back to that brand - They seem to have a handle on things now, but processor simplicity works better for me. I currently use an Anthem MRX. Made in Vietnam…very nice device.
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I am looking seriously at the SMSL SU-8. It tests above its class, the price won’t make my spouse frown, and it offers a balanced output that mates with my XMC-1.
I can’t see paying $2000, or even $1000, on a new solution. My ears aren’t what they used to be, and neither is my budget for toys.
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I just went for a hearing check with an ENT specialist…did the full workout but they only test up to 8KHz which I thought was a bit low…anyway I flunked it and have moderate to severe hearing loss in both ears over 4KHz and above - but its worth doing…first time I’ve had it done at nearly 59 years young. At least it was pretty much the same for both L&R ears and its worth getting the checkup and having all the wax cleared out.
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Just picked one up and it sounds great. My amps require balanced connections and I needed pre-amp volume control. The SU-8 has met those requirements.
Yep, I have had the tests and the clean out. I, too, have some hearing loss, like most of us at 70+. Not enough to justify wearables, just enough to make me turn it up!
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Ordered one from Az last night, along with a pair of new balanced cables. Install scheduled for Tuesday.
Question: did you experience any SQ bumps after a few hours of playback, or was the SU-8 at 100% at first turn on?
Thanks!
